North Carolina’s Career Coast

Nestled on the coast of southeastern North Carolina, Wilmington, NC is the best-kept-secret city making waves on the national stage. Wilmington is where coastal cool meets classic Carolina charm – with access to beaches, mountains and city amenities all within an easy drive. This port city’s irresistible blend of perks attracted a higher percentage of new residents in 2022 than any other city in the U.S. It’s no wonder. We have a stellar climate, an engaged, entrepreneurial community and the secret sauce for striking the perfect work-life balance. And with a cost of living 5% lower than the national average, you benefit from exceptional value for less. So, what are you waiting for? Experience the Wilmington way for yourself.

Our business community lives and breathes the motto, “business made casual,” offering a unique blend of diverse, fast-paced careers at companies with excellent work-life balance. And with globally recognized such as Corning Incorporated, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Thermo Fisher Scientific leading the way, there’s truly never been a better time to enter the Wilmington job market. In fact, multiple Wilmington-based companies made Inc. Magazine‘s top 5,000 fastest-growing companies in the U.S. list — including Innovative Financial Group coming in at an impressive 78th place.

Located in the southeast corner of the best state for business in the U.S., Wilmington ranks second globally for its startup ecosystem against cities with similar-sized populations. The poster children of Wilmington’s urban startup scene are nCino, a cloud-based banking software company, and spin-off of Live Oak Bank, and Vantaca, a community management performance software — both startups have twice earned a place on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies. Close behind are Apiture, a joint venture between First Data Corporation and Live Oak; Essential Personnel, a SaaS company that provides performance management and wellness solutions to first responders; and OpiAid, the world’s first technology assisted therapy to address opioid abuse. Starting businesses isn’t just a dream here in Wilmington – it’s what we do.

Wilmington, NC, may be the seventh oldest city in North Carolina, but we’re way more than our historic charm and legendary maritime legacy. Today, Wilmington is making waves with our burgeoning brewery scene, taste-bud-tingling restaurants and state-renowned festivals. Considered one of the 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America, Wilmington is home to two Live Nation venues, Live Oak Bank Pavilion, which sells out shows for artists like Tyler Childers or Tame Impala, and the outdoor music venue Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, which hosts artists spanning indie rock to alt-country. Whether you come for the history and stay for the food, or simply enjoy everything else in between, Wilmington has a lifetime of culture to soak up.

From the Atlantic Ocean to the Cape Fear River — there are endless ways to soak up the Carolina sunshine in Wilmington, NC. Surf’s up at Carolina, Kure and Wrightsville beaches. Ranked as some of the best beaches in the state by Travel+Leisure, and some of the best places to surf on the East Coast by Salty, these navy blue waters are less than a 45-minute drive from downtown Wilmington — with Wrightsville being the closest, just 15 minutes away. While proximity to beaches is a perk, living an active lifestyle in Wilmington isn’t reserved for those scouting sand and surf. As the third best city for outdoor activity in the state, there are endless ways to experience the great outdoors here.

If you’re looking for a welcoming community where you can truly make an impact, look no further than Wilmington, NC. Here, we prioritize work-life balance and a culture of giving back, so you can clock out of work and clock in to your community at five. From volunteering with local non-profit organizations, such as NourishNC, WARM NC or Paws4People, to attending networking events for the Port City Young Professionals or 3LW, which bridges connections for local Black professionals, there are endless ways to make your mark And with the city being ranked as the No. 6 Best Place in North Carolina for LGBTQ+ families, Wilmington is truly a welcoming place for all.

Whether it’s catching an epic wave or navigating the path less traveled, in Wilmington, your little explorers will have endless opportunities to learn and have fun in the great outdoors. It’s also oh so easy to squeeze in a history lesson, as this city and surrounding region are home to some of the most historically important places in North Carolina. From the USS North Carolina WWII Battleship to the Children’s Museum, you and your family can immerse yourselves in Wilmington’s vibrant history and culture on a daily basis. Families also benefit from Wilmington’s highly rated public and private schools, including Wilmington School of the Arts and Isaac Bear Early College High School, which are ranked in the top 20% of public schools and the 20^th best public high school in North Carolina, respectively.