§1The market
Florida had 109 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 3.5% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 8th of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is up 19.8% from 91 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 1,553 in 2025 (−9.5% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $56,488, 4.0% above the industry's national average.
For raw material, Florida had 63 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 1,765 in 2025. Pallet plants outnumber sawmills in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 25 counties in 2025.
Freight context: retail diesel in the Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) region averaged $5.744 a gallon in October 2026, +58.3% on a year earlier (EIA).
§2Florida by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 91 | 1,716 | $44,115 |
| 2021 | 96 | 1,571 | $50,229 |
| 2022 | 101 | 1,685 | $54,513 |
| 2023 | 107 | 1,600 | $53,743 |
| 2024 | 106 | 1,618 | $56,323 |
| 2025 | 109 | 1,553 | $56,488 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Florida: 2020 61, 2021 59, 2022 60, 2023 62, 2024 64, 2025 63.
§3What it means for buyers
With 109 plants, Florida 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 Miami, FL, Tampa, FL, Lakeland, FL; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: Missouri (108), Indiana (130), Wisconsin (103), Tennessee (132).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 29 | 375 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 18 | not disclosed |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 12 | 466 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 12 | 270 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 10 | 45 |