§1The market
Texas had 190 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 6.0% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 2nd of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is up 14.5% from 166 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 4,524 in 2025 (+15.3% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $54,508, 0.4% above the industry's national average.
For raw material, Texas had 88 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 3,106 in 2025. Pallet plants outnumber sawmills in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 54 counties in 2025.
Freight context: retail diesel in the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) region averaged $5.871 a gallon in October 2026, +77.0% on a year earlier (EIA).
§2Texas by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 166 | 3,924 | $40,243 |
| 2021 | 170 | 3,815 | $44,118 |
| 2022 | 173 | 3,934 | $49,401 |
| 2023 | 177 | 4,201 | $50,800 |
| 2024 | 182 | 4,363 | $52,281 |
| 2025 | 190 | 4,524 | $54,508 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Texas: 2020 84, 2021 91, 2022 94, 2023 95, 2024 94, 2025 88.
§3What it means for buyers
With 190 plants, Texas 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 Houston, TX, Dallas, TX, Austin, TX; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: Ohio (189), California (364), Pennsylvania (189), Illinois (169).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 50 | 650 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 44 | 1,157 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 12 | 171 |
| El Paso, TX | 8 | 102 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 8 | 366 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 6 | not disclosed |
| Amarillo, TX | 5 | 48 |
§5Neighbouring states
| State | Plants | Average pay (latest disclosed) |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 48 | $39,847 |
| Oklahoma | 29 | $48,931 |
| Louisiana | 24 | $43,921 |
| New Mexico | 6 | $39,253 |