§1The market
Oregon had 61 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 1.9% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 19th of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is up 10.9% from 55 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 940 in 2025 (+16.2% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $54,605, 0.5% above the industry's national average.
For raw material, Oregon had 102 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 5,464 in 2025. Sawmills outnumber pallet plants in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 17 counties in 2025.
Freight context: retail diesel in the West Coast less California (PADD 5) region averaged $6.567 a gallon in October 2026, +61.7% on a year earlier (EIA).
§2Oregon by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 55 | 809 | $41,905 |
| 2021 | 52 | 864 | $48,357 |
| 2022 | 50 | 964 | $52,062 |
| 2023 | 59 | 936 | $51,376 |
| 2024 | 64 | 958 | $53,096 |
| 2025 | 61 | 940 | $54,605 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Oregon: 2020 109, 2021 109, 2022 110, 2023 112, 2024 108, 2025 102.
§3What it means for buyers
With 61 plants, Oregon supports a competitive RFQ inside the state: invite suppliers close to each delivery point, since freight is a large share of delivered price.
Supply clusters in Portland, OR, Salem, OR, Albany, OR; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: New Jersey (60), Minnesota (62), Virginia (60), South Carolina (64).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 27 | 434 |
| Salem, OR | 14 | not disclosed |
| Albany, OR | 8 | 159 |
§5Neighbouring states
| State | Plants | Average pay (latest disclosed) |
|---|---|---|
| California | 364 | $53,762 |
| Washington | 46 | $62,746 |
| Idaho | 24 | $50,281 |
| Nevada | 23 | $52,280 |