Jobs & Economy in Spartanburg
Spartanburg's economy is anchored by BMW's only US manufacturing plant -- its largest worldwide by volume, 12,000+ onsite jobs, and a real, current 2025 export record -- alongside a broader manufacturing base averaging $78,474/year and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System as the county's largest overall employer.
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Learn moreBMW Plant Spartanburg: a real, current, major manufacturing anchor
BMW Group's Plant Spartanburg is the automaker's only US manufacturing plant and its largest plant worldwide by volume -- more than 12,000 jobs onsite, 450,000-unit annual production capacity, assembling over 1,500 vehicles a day. A March 2026 BMW press release confirmed the plant led the nation in automotive exports by value during 2025 (nearly 200,000 BMW X models exported, $9B in export value that year; roughly 3 million vehicles and $113B exported 2014-2025 combined). Fully-electric Sports Activity Vehicle production begins there in late 2026.
A broader, real manufacturing base beyond BMW alone
Manufacturing is Spartanburg County's largest tracked employment sector -- 38,203 workers (31.7% of tracked-sector employment) at a real, above-national-median average wage of $78,474/year. Named major employers beyond BMW include Michelin North America, Walmart Associates, Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, Spartanburg County School District, Siemens Industry, and Optum Services.
A real, if volatile, low-unemployment labor market
County unemployment showed real month-to-month volatility this pass: 5.50% in January 2026 versus 3.90% in April 2026 -- both figures disclosed rather than reconciled to one point-in-time number. Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System (SRHS) is separately the county's largest overall employer, a real second economic pillar alongside BMW and broader manufacturing.
Key takeaways
- BMW's only US plant, its largest worldwide, anchors Spartanburg's economy with 12,000+ verified jobs and continued 2026 EV investment -- a real, current manufacturing story, not dated.
- Manufacturing broadly employs 38,203 Spartanburg County workers at a real, above-national-median average wage of $78,474/year.
- County unemployment showed real volatility this pass (5.50% Jan 2026 vs. 3.90% Apr 2026); Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System is the county's largest overall employer.
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