§1The market
Alabama had 82 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 2.6% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 16th of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is up 9.3% from 75 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 1,409 in 2025 (−4.1% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $51,811, 4.6% below the industry's national average.
For raw material, Alabama had 101 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 5,088 in 2025. Sawmills outnumber pallet plants in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 38 counties in 2025.
Freight context: retail diesel in the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) region averaged $5.871 a gallon in October 2026, +77.0% on a year earlier (EIA).
§2Alabama by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 75 | 1,469 | $40,932 |
| 2021 | 72 | 1,469 | $44,672 |
| 2022 | 78 | 1,472 | $48,910 |
| 2023 | 81 | 1,396 | $49,484 |
| 2024 | 82 | 1,385 | $49,318 |
| 2025 | 82 | 1,409 | $51,811 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Alabama: 2020 113, 2021 113, 2022 113, 2023 112, 2024 107, 2025 101.
§3What it means for buyers
With 82 plants, Alabama supports a competitive RFQ inside the state: invite suppliers close to each delivery point, since freight is a large share of delivered price.
Supply clusters in Birmingham, AL, Montgomery, AL, Mobile, AL; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: South Carolina (64), Kentucky (85), Minnesota (62), New York (95).
Ask each bidder which plant will ship to you, and price delivery as its own line in the bid-leveling sheet.
§4Metro areas
| Metro area | Plants | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 14 | 144 |
| Montgomery, AL | 8 | not disclosed |
| Mobile, AL | 6 | 56 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 5 | not disclosed |
| Huntsville, AL | 5 | 38 |
§5Neighbouring states
| State | Plants | Average pay (latest disclosed) |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 132 | $50,325 |
| Florida | 109 | $56,488 |
| Georgia | 96 | $65,149 |
| Mississippi | 42 | $61,015 |