Pacific Life Insurance Co. Selects Mecklenburg County for East Coast Hub, Creating 301 New Jobs

 After a competitive search, Pacific Life Insurance Co. has selected Mecklenburg County for its new East Coast hub, creating 301 new jobs over the next five years. 

The office will be in Charlotte’s South End, a significant hub for the insurance industry. This will be Pacific Life’s third U.S.-based location.  

“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.”  

New positions include actuarial, finance, technology and human resources roles, with an average wage of $177,584, well above the MSA median. Several positions, including those in technology roles, do not require a college degree. 

“The quality of the jobs a company brings matters for our residents, but the quality of the company also matters,” said Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Chair Mark Jerrell. “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.” 

The project is a $12.3 million capital investment. Pacific Life has secured an 11-year lease at the Queensbridge Collective in South End, with occupancy expected in 2028. In the interim, the company has leased office space less than a mile away 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.” 

Pacific Life is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Newport Beach, California. For nearly 160 years, it has delivered on its purpose to provide confidence for generations to its members, customers and distribution partners. Pacific Life offers a wide range of life insurance, annuity and employee benefit products that support individuals and families with their financial needs, along with a variety of investment products and services to individuals, businesses and pension plans.

For eight consecutive years the company has been named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute for its commitment to business integrity. The Pacific Life Foundation, the company’s charitable giving arm, will provide $9.5 million in community grants throughout 2025. One of the foundation’s funding pillars is to support the communities 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.”  

Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte partnered on the project with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the General Assembly, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolinam, and the North Carolina Community College System. 

During the past 12 months, Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte have collaborated on several economic development projects to support relocations and expansions, including Citigroup, AssetMark and SoFi Technologies. These efforts have created more than 2,400 new jobs and $215.3 million in capital investment in the city.