§1The market
The Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metropolitan statistical area had 21 private wood container and pallet manufacturing establishments (NAICS 321920) in the 2024 QCEW annual average, 16% of Indiana's 133. Among the 128 metro areas with at least five such plants, it ranks 25th by count.
That is down from 23 in 2020 (−8.7%).
BLS disclosed employment of 541 for 2023, with average annual pay of $58,582, against $49,762 statewide and $52,196 nationally.
5 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) were also counted in the metro in 2024.
Diesel in the Midwest (PADD 2) region averaged $6.344 a gallon in October 2026 (EIA), the freight context for deliveries here.
§2By year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 23 | 446 | $48,143 |
| 2021 | 23 | 450 | $53,881 |
| 2022 | 21 | 481 | $59,419 |
| 2023 | 21 | 541 | $58,582 |
| 2024 | 21 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
BLS had not published 2025 metro-area figures when this page was built; state pages carry 2025.
§3Buying here
With 21 plants, the Indianapolis, IN area can usually support a local RFQ with several bidders inside a short delivery radius. An establishment is a location, not a company, so two plants may belong to one supplier.
Other metro areas in Indiana: Elkhart, IN (8), Evansville, IN (6), Bloomington, IN (5), Fort Wayne, IN (5), South Bend, IN (5).