§1The market
Georgia had 96 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 3.1% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 13th of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is up 6.7% from 90 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 2,396 in 2025 (−8.1% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $65,149, 20.0% above the industry's national average.
For raw material, Georgia had 166 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 5,821 in 2025. Sawmills outnumber pallet plants in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 53 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).
§2Georgia by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 90 | 2,606 | $48,108 |
| 2021 | 94 | 2,700 | $50,076 |
| 2022 | 95 | 2,656 | $59,204 |
| 2023 | 94 | 2,695 | $56,091 |
| 2024 | 102 | 2,536 | $62,126 |
| 2025 | 96 | 2,396 | $65,149 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Georgia: 2020 159, 2021 173, 2022 177, 2023 165, 2024 161, 2025 166.
§3What it means for buyers
With 96 plants, Georgia 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 Atlanta, GA; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: New York (95), North Carolina (99), Kentucky (85), Michigan (101).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 43 | 1,532 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 6 | 89 |
§5Neighbouring states
| State | Plants | Average pay (latest disclosed) |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 132 | $50,325 |
| Florida | 109 | $56,488 |
| North Carolina | 99 | $49,542 |
| Alabama | 82 | $51,811 |
| South Carolina | 64 | $47,981 |