§1The market
Maryland had 23 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 32nd of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is down 8.0% from 25 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 385 in 2025 (+7.8% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $62,160, 14.5% above the industry's national average.
For raw material, Maryland had 21 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 460 in 2025. Pallet plants outnumber sawmills in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 10 counties in 2025.
Freight context: retail diesel in the Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) region averaged $6.490 a gallon in October 2026, +67.2% on a year earlier (EIA).
§2Maryland by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 25 | 357 | $47,016 |
| 2021 | 25 | 351 | $50,582 |
| 2022 | 25 | 408 | $59,432 |
| 2023 | 23 | 423 | $58,822 |
| 2024 | 22 | 424 | $63,281 |
| 2025 | 23 | 385 | $62,160 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Maryland: 2020 14, 2021 14, 2022 20, 2023 18, 2024 20, 2025 21.
§3What it means for buyers
Maryland's 23 plants give a workable in-state field, but a secondary supplier may need to come from a neighbouring state; Pennsylvania has the most nearby capacity (189 plants).
Supply clusters in Baltimore, MD; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: Nevada (23), Louisiana (24), Kansas (22), Idaho (24).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 17 | 365 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 34 | 664 |
§5Neighbouring states
| State | Plants | Average pay (latest disclosed) |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 189 | $53,952 |
| Virginia | 60 | $53,621 |
| West Virginia | 15 | $43,005 |
| Delaware | 4 | $53,591 |