Pacific Life Insurance Co. has announced plans to establish its new East Coast hub in Mecklenburg County, bringing 301 new jobs to the region over the next five years. The company’s office will be located in Charlotte’s South End, an area recognized as a significant center for the insurance industry. This marks Pacific Life’s third location in the United States.
“Attracting and developing leading talent is central to Pacific Life’s growth strategy,” said Pacific Life president and CEO Darryl Button. “Charlotte is home to a thriving workforce, and we look forward to welcoming new talent to the Pacific Life team to help drive our long-term success. This expansion effort was a true partnership between many in North Carolina, and we want to thank Governor Stein, the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina for all their efforts and support in the decision-making process.”
The newly created positions will cover areas such as actuarial work, finance, technology, and human resources. The average wage for these roles will be $177,584, which exceeds the median wage for the metropolitan statistical area. Some technology-related positions will not require a college degree.
Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Chair Mark Jerrell commented on Pacific Life’s selection: “The quality of the jobs a company brings matters for our residents, but the quality of the company also matters. Pacific Life Insurance’s commitment to supporting local initiatives through community grants along with its national recognition for corporate citizenship show it is a great fit for Mecklenburg County.”
Pacific Life’s investment totals $12.3 million in capital spending. The company has secured an 11-year lease at Queensbridge Collective in South End, aiming for occupancy by 2028. Until then, Pacific Life will operate from leased space nearby in Charlotte’s central business district.
“We are proud to welcome Fortune 500 Pacific Life to Charlotte,” said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. “With our strategic location, global connectivity and deep talent pool, Charlotte offers global companies a gateway to major markets and the resources they need to thrive. Pacific Life, recognized for its leadership in ethics and compliance and its deep-rooted commitment to the communities it serves, will make our city even stronger.”
Founded nearly 160 years ago and headquartered in Newport Beach, California, Pacific Life provides life insurance, annuity products, employee benefits solutions, and investment services nationwide. The company has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute for eight consecutive years.
The company also announced that its charitable arm—the Pacific Life Foundation—will allocate $9.5 million in community grants throughout 2025 to support local initiatives where employees live and work.
“Companies like Pacific Life know they can find the deep pool of specialized talent they need in North Carolina,” said Governor Josh Stein, who first announced the expansion. “Charlotte’s national reputation as one of the nation’s top financial services centers continues to attract great companies to our state. We’re proud to welcome Pacific Life.”
This project involved collaboration between Mecklenburg County, City of Charlotte officials, state economic agencies including the Department of Commerce and General Assembly, as well as educational partners like the North Carolina Community College System.
In related trends within Mecklenburg County’s public sector context: Enrollment at county schools dropped by 0.4% during the 2022-23 academic year compared to previous enrollment figures (https://www.dpi.nc.gov/), with total enrollment reaching 153,537 students during that period (https://www.dpi.nc.gov/).
Over the past year alone—including projects from companies such as Citigroup, AssetMark, and SoFi Technologies—economic development efforts by Mecklenburg County and Charlotte have resulted in more than 2,400 new jobs created locally alongside $215.3 million invested into capital projects.
