Work in Myrtle Beach, SC: Career Growth, Top Employers & Remote Work

Planning on working in Myrtle Beach? While 30 million people visit the Grand Strand for the sand and surf, thousands more call this region home for the growing Myrtle Beach job market. The Myrtle Beach economy has moved far beyond its ‘resort town’ roots, emerging as a Southeast leader in healthcare, aerospace, and remote work infrastructure. Whether you are researching top employers in Myrtle Beach for a corporate role or bringing your own business to the coast, here is a guide for what you need to know about professional life in the ‘Hub of the Grand Strand.’

The Myrtle Beach job market is currently undergoing a “Professional Renaissance.” While tourism remains a foundational pillar, the region has pivoted to become one of the fastest-growing professional hubs in the Southeast. In 2026, Myrtle Beach led the nation with a 3.88-to-1 inbound move ratio (MoveBuddha), driven largely by young professionals and remote workers seeking a higher quality of life without sacrificing career stability.

Job Market & Industry Landscape

Economic Diversification: Beyond the Beach

The Myrtle Beach economy is no longer seasonal. Local leadership has successfully cultivated a “year-round” industrial base, with over 169 new economic development projects announced in the first quarter of 2026 alone. These projects focus heavily on manufacturing, distribution, and technology, moving the city toward a more resilient, diversified future.

• Healthcare Boom: To keep pace with the massive influx of residents, the healthcare sector is in a state of hyper-expansion. Grand Strand Health is currently executing a $350 million investment across the region, including the brand-new South Strand Hospital, while McLeod Health is slated to complete its $90 million Carolina Forest campus in late 2026. This has created a massive demand for clinical, administrative, and informatics roles.
• Aerospace & Technical Innovation: Myrtle Beach is a rising star in the aerospace industry, with employment in this sector exploding by 600% over the last few years. Anchored by the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA), the region is now a preferred location for aircraft maintenance and advanced manufacturing firms. Entry-level aerospace roles and mid-career healthcare positions now average 12–18% above the state median, according to the latest Horry County EDC data.
• Logistics & Distribution: Strategically located between Charleston and Wilmington, Myrtle Beach is emerging as a regional logistics hub. The rise of “light industrial” corridors along SC-31 and U.S. 501 has attracted major distribution players, offering stable, high-growth opportunities in supply chain management and operations.
• Remote Work Shift: Roughly 40% of inbound movers to the Grand Strand in 2026 are remote workers or “location-neutral” professionals. This shift has flooded the local economy with high-earning households and fueled the growth of the local tech and creative services scene.

Top Employers in Myrtle Beach

While hospitality is the Grand Strand’s traditional engine, the “Professional Core” of Myrtle Beach is built on healthcare, education, and technical innovation. These sectors provide the high-wage stability that has turned the region from a vacation spot into a top-tier relocation destination.

The Healthcare Titans

Healthcare is currently the fastest-growing professional sector in South Carolina. Three major systems compete for talent, offering everything from surgical roles to health informatics.

• Grand Strand Health (HCA): The region’s largest healthcare provider. They are currently completing the $220 million South Strand Hospital expansion, adding 59 beds and hundreds of new clinical roles.
• McLeod Health: A major regional player. Their new $50 million Carolina Forest campus is slated for completion in late 2026, creating a massive hiring surge for the north end of the city.
• Tidelands Health: A community-focused system with a strong presence in Murrells Inlet. They recently secured $5 million in federal funding to expand specialized care for women and children.

Education & Public Service

For those seeking state-backed benefits and long-term security, the public sector is the region’s largest employer.

• Horry County Schools (HCS): The single largest employer in the region. HCS employs over 6,400 people, including 3,100+ teachers. With 58 schools and 47,000+ students, it is the 3rd largest district in the state.
• Coastal Carolina University (CCU): Located just inland in Conway, CCU employs nearly 3,000 faculty and staff. It is a major anchor for the local “knowledge economy,” particularly in marine science and business.
• City & County Government: Between the City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County Council, over 3,000 civil service roles support the infrastructure of the Grand Strand.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

• Horry Telephone Cooperative (HTC): As the nation’s largest telephone cooperative, HTC is the backbone of the region’s tech infrastructure, employing hundreds in engineering, customer service, and IT.

Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing: a Technical Frontier

Myrtle Beach has quietly become a technical powerhouse. This sector offers the highest “entry-level-to-wage” ratio in the city.

• Executive HeliJet / Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA): This partnership has turned Myrtle Beach into a hub for aircraft maintenance. Employment in local aerospace has grown by 600% recently.
• AVX Corporation & Metglas, Inc.: These advanced manufacturing firms provide high-skill roles in electronic components and amorphous metal ribbon, proving that “Made in Myrtle Beach” goes far beyond saltwater taffy.

Pro-Tip for Career Scouting:

If you are moving from a major metro like DC or New York, pay close attention to the Horry County Schools benefits package. In 2026, the district has become highly competitive, offering specialized “Magnet Academy” teaching roles that rival private school environments in more expensive cities.

Company/Organization	Industry	Approx. Employees	Highlight
Horry County Schools	Education	6,400+	Largest single employer in the county.
Grand Strand Health	Healthcare	2,500+	Primary provider of Level 1 Trauma care.
McLeod Health	Healthcare	1,800+	Rapidly expanding into Carolina Forest.
Coastal Carolina Univ.	Education	2,800+	The academic anchor of the region.
City of Myrtle Beach	Government	1,000+	Core municipal services and public safety.
HTC	Technology	750+	Provides the fiber-optic infrastructure.

Remote Work: Coworking & Connectivity

Top Coworking Spaces

Working from home is great, but building a local network requires getting out of the house. Myrtle Beach has a growing ecosystem of coworking spaces tailored to different professional vibes:

• eMYRge (Downtown Myrtle Beach): Located on 9th Avenue North, this is the beating heart of the city’s tech and startup scene. Offering 24/7 access, dedicated desks, and a highly collaborative environment, it is the go-to spot for creatives, software developers, and remote entrepreneurs who want a high-energy community.
• Myrtle Beach Business Center (Highway 544): If you need a more polished, corporate environment, this center offers executive office suites, mail handling, and fully equipped conference rooms. It is perfectly positioned for those living in the southern end of the city (Surfside or Murrells Inlet) who need to host occasional client meetings.
• ATTA Business Center (North Myrtle Beach): For remote workers located on the North Strand, ATTA provides flexible day passes (starting around $15/day) and quiet, professional desk space without having to commute down Highway 17 into the main city.

Work-Life Integration

The true draw of remote work in Myrtle Beach is the schedule flexibility. In a single day, you can clear your inbox at a local favorite like Grand Strand Coffee, take a 1:00 PM screen-break to walk the dog at Myrtle Beach State Park, and finish your afternoon meetings on a shaded patio overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.

Entrepreneurship & Business Opportunities

Myrtle Beach has actively engineered one of the most pro-business climates in the Southeast. If you are bringing a startup to the coast or looking to launch a new venture, the region offers a surprisingly robust support system designed to help founders bridge the gap from idea to execution.

Startup Ecosystem & Support Centers

The local business community is tightly knit and highly accessible. You do not need to be a major corporation to get a seat at the table here.

• The SBDC at Coastal Carolina University: The Small Business Development Center (SBDC), located at CCU’s Atlantic Center, is the first stop for relocating entrepreneurs. They offer free, confidential business consulting, help navigating South Carolina’s state tax incentives, and direct assistance with securing SBA and USDA business loans.
• eMYRge & The HTC Aspire Hub: Located downtown on 9th Avenue North, eMYRge is the beating heart of the city’s tech and startup scene. Beyond just a coworking space, it acts as an incubator, hosting pitch competitions, investor meet-and-greets, and specialized training for tech entrepreneurs.
• SCORE Grand Strand: Supported by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, this active chapter of experienced local executives provides free mentorship and low-cost training to help new founders navigate the unique, rapidly growing coastal market.

Diversity, Networking & Community Empowerment

Building a business is about building a network, and Myrtle Beach has moved heavily into year-round business networking.

• Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC): Far from a sleepy local chamber, the MBACC is a powerhouse of data and networking. They provide relocating business owners with massive consumer data reports, cost-of-living calculators, and highly active “Chamber Connections” networking events.
• The Black Business Expo: Held annually in February, this major community event highlights Black-owned businesses, local entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment across the Grand Strand. It serves as a vital networking and showcase hub for minority entrepreneurs, creatives, and local vendors.
• Grand Strand Young Professionals (GSYP): For the influx of younger relocators, GSYP connects under-40 professionals through dedicated development workshops, philanthropic events, and casual happy hours, making it incredibly easy to plug into the local scene immediately.

Plan A Career Scouting Trip

Taking a new job or relocating your business is a massive life decision. Before you pack the moving boxes, the absolute best way to see if the Myrtle Beach professional scene aligns with your lifestyle is to experience it firsthand.

We highly recommend booking a Career Scouting Trip. Treat it like a “test drive” for your future daily routine:

• Test the “Commute”: Spend a Tuesday morning answering emails from a local spot like Grand Strand Coffee, or grab a day pass at a coworking space like eMYRge. See what the Wi-Fi, the traffic, and the professional community actually feel like during business hours.
• Scout the Neighborhoods: When you log off for the day, skip the tourist strip and drive the local routes. Take the quick trip out to Carolina Forest or cruise the tree-lined streets of The Market Common to visualize where your home office might actually be.
• Experience the After-Hours: The biggest perk of coastal living is what happens after 5:00 PM. Trade the boardroom for the boardwalk, hit the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk for dinner, and see why locals love calling the Grand Strand home year-round.

Ready to start planning your scouting trip?

More to Devour: Things To Do + More Food & Drink

Be sure to check out our ultimate Myrtle Beach Bucket List, featuring 60+ local attractions, outdoor adventures, and even more hidden food and drink gems to pair with your professional scouting trip.