§1The market
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metropolitan statistical area had 5 private wood container and pallet manufacturing establishments (NAICS 321920) in the 2024 QCEW annual average, 11% of Iowa's 47. Among the 128 metro areas with at least five such plants, it ranks 126th by count.
That is down from 7 in 2020 (−28.6%).
BLS did not disclose employment or wages for this metro in any year from 2020 to 2024.
1 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 | 7 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
| 2021 | 6 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
| 2022 | 6 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
| 2023 | 5 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
| 2024 | 5 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
BLS had not published 2025 metro-area figures when this page was built; state pages carry 2025.
§3Buying here
With 5 plants, the Waterloo, IA 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 Iowa: Des Moines, IA (6), Davenport, IA (5), Sioux City, IA (5).
Larger metro clusters in neighbouring states: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (111).