§1The market
Iowa had 44 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 1.4% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 24th of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is down 13.7% from 51 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 865 in 2025 (−6.3% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $55,226, 1.7% above the industry's national average.
For raw material, Iowa had 22 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025. Pallet plants outnumber sawmills in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 32 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).
§2Iowa by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 51 | 923 | $45,407 |
| 2021 | 48 | 875 | $48,582 |
| 2022 | 50 | 958 | $53,398 |
| 2023 | 48 | 900 | $53,720 |
| 2024 | 47 | 867 | $56,425 |
| 2025 | 44 | 865 | $55,226 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Iowa: 2020 26, 2021 27, 2022 26, 2023 27, 2024 24, 2025 22.
§3What it means for buyers
Iowa's 44 plants give a workable in-state field, but a secondary supplier may need to come from a neighbouring state; Illinois has the most nearby capacity (169 plants).
Supply clusters in Des Moines, IA, Davenport, IA, Sioux City, IA; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: Mississippi (42), Washington (46), Arizona (40), Arkansas (48).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 6 | 161 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 5 | 278 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 5 | 127 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 5 | not disclosed |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 7 | 192 |