§1The market
Indiana had 130 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 4.1% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 7th of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is down 2.3% from 133 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 2,819 in 2025 (+10.9% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $49,987, 8.0% below the industry's national average.
For raw material, Indiana had 70 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 1,205 in 2025. Pallet plants outnumber sawmills in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 59 counties in 2025.
Freight context: retail diesel in the Midwest (PADD 2) region averaged $6.344 a gallon in October 2026, +74.3% on a year earlier (EIA).
§2Indiana by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 133 | 2,542 | $41,404 |
| 2021 | 127 | 2,497 | $47,586 |
| 2022 | 134 | 2,824 | $49,558 |
| 2023 | 132 | 2,938 | $49,762 |
| 2024 | 133 | 2,892 | $50,934 |
| 2025 | 130 | 2,819 | $49,987 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Indiana: 2020 99, 2021 84, 2022 85, 2023 81, 2024 75, 2025 70.
§3What it means for buyers
With 130 plants, Indiana 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 Indianapolis, IN, Elkhart, IN, Evansville, IN; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: Florida (109), Tennessee (132), Missouri (108), Illinois (169).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 21 | 541 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 8 | 157 |
| Evansville, IN | 6 | not disclosed |
| Bloomington, IN | 5 | 24 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 5 | 79 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 5 | 31 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 111 | 1,616 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 30 | 966 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 26 | 478 |