§1The market
The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metropolitan statistical area had 6 private wood container and pallet manufacturing establishments (NAICS 321920) in the 2024 QCEW annual average, 32% of Connecticut's 19. Among the 128 metro areas with at least five such plants, it ranks 96th by count.
That is up from 4 in 2020 (+50.0%).
BLS disclosed employment of 89 for 2024, with average annual pay of $45,900, against $49,260 statewide and $53,506 nationally.
3 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) were also counted in the metro in 2024.
Diesel in the New England (PADD 1A) region averaged $6.452 a gallon in October 2026 (EIA), the freight context for deliveries here.
§2By year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
| 2021 | 4 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
| 2022 | 6 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
| 2023 | 6 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
| 2024 | 6 | 89 | $45,900 |
BLS had not published 2025 metro-area figures when this page was built; state pages carry 2025.
§3Buying here
With 6 plants, the Hartford, CT area has a small local field; invite bidders from the wider state as well, and compare delivered cost, not price at the plant. An establishment is a location, not a company, so two plants may belong to one supplier.
The nearest metro clusters in neighbouring states: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (61), Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (22), Rochester, NY (11), Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (10).