§1The market
The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metropolitan statistical area had 90 private wood container and pallet manufacturing establishments (NAICS 321920) in the 2024 QCEW annual average, 25% of California's 362. Among the 128 metro areas with at least five such plants, it ranks 3rd by count.
That is up from 55 in 2020 (+63.6%).
BLS disclosed employment of 1,257 for 2024, with average annual pay of $50,091, against $53,735 statewide and $53,506 nationally.
4 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) were also counted in the metro in 2024.
Diesel in the California region averaged $8.143 a gallon in October 2026 (EIA), the freight context for deliveries here.
§2By year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 55 | 861 | $39,360 |
| 2021 | 60 | 1,047 | $45,751 |
| 2022 | 65 | 1,084 | $49,284 |
| 2023 | 82 | 1,170 | $49,163 |
| 2024 | 90 | 1,257 | $50,091 |
BLS had not published 2025 metro-area figures when this page was built; state pages carry 2025.
§3Buying here
With 90 plants, the Riverside, CA area can usually support a local RFQ with several bidders inside a short delivery radius. An establishment is a location, not a company, so two plants may belong to one supplier.
Other metro areas in California: Los Angeles, CA (116), San Diego, CA (19), Sacramento, CA (17), Fresno, CA (16), Modesto, CA (12), San Jose, CA (11), Stockton, CA (11), San Francisco, CA (10), Napa, CA (9), Santa Rosa, CA (8), Bakersfield, CA (7), Visalia, CA (7), Oxnard, CA (5).