§1The market
The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan statistical area had 19 private wood container and pallet manufacturing establishments (NAICS 321920) in the 2024 QCEW annual average, 5% of California's 362. Among the 128 metro areas with at least five such plants, it ranks 27th by count.
That is up from 18 in 2020 (+5.6%).
BLS disclosed employment of 145 for 2024, with average annual pay of $59,598, against $53,735 statewide and $53,506 nationally.
Diesel in the California region averaged $8.143 a gallon in October 2026 (EIA), the freight context for deliveries here.
§2By year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 18 | 149 | $52,676 |
| 2021 | 16 | 120 | $52,317 |
| 2022 | 18 | 131 | $75,884 |
| 2023 | 20 | 141 | $59,141 |
| 2024 | 19 | 145 | $59,598 |
BLS had not published 2025 metro-area figures when this page was built; state pages carry 2025.
§3Buying here
With 19 plants, the San Diego, CA area has a small local field; invite bidders from the wider state as well, and compare delivered cost, not price at the plant. An establishment is a location, not a company, so two plants may belong to one supplier.
Other metro areas in California: Los Angeles, CA (116), Riverside, CA (90), Sacramento, CA (17), Fresno, CA (16), Modesto, CA (12), San Jose, CA (11), Stockton, CA (11), San Francisco, CA (10), Napa, CA (9), Santa Rosa, CA (8), Bakersfield, CA (7), Visalia, CA (7), Oxnard, CA (5).