§1The market
Kansas had 22 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 0.7% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 34th of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is down 15.4% from 26 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 408 in 2025 (+19.0% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $53,405, 1.7% below the industry's national average.
For raw material, Kansas had 3 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025. Pallet plants outnumber sawmills in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 11 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).
§2Kansas by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 26 | 343 | $39,259 |
| 2021 | 27 | 399 | $44,433 |
| 2022 | 27 | 471 | $46,879 |
| 2023 | 27 | 433 | $49,081 |
| 2024 | 24 | 423 | $52,135 |
| 2025 | 22 | 408 | $53,405 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Kansas: 2020 4, 2021 3, 2022 3, 2023 4, 2024 4, 2025 3.
§3What it means for buyers
Kansas's 22 plants give a workable in-state field, but a secondary supplier may need to come from a neighbouring state; Missouri has the most nearby capacity (108 plants).
Supply clusters in Wichita, KS; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: Nebraska (22), Nevada (23), Colorado (21), Maryland (23).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | 5 | 106 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 14 | 450 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | 5 | not disclosed |