§1The market
The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan statistical area had 43 private wood container and pallet manufacturing establishments (NAICS 321920) in the 2024 QCEW annual average, 42% of Georgia's 102. Among the 128 metro areas with at least five such plants, it ranks 7th by count.
That is up from 40 in 2020 (+7.5%).
BLS disclosed employment of 1,532 for 2023, with average annual pay of $64,690, against $56,091 statewide and $52,196 nationally.
25 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) were also counted in the metro in 2024.
Diesel in the Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) region averaged $5.744 a gallon in October 2026 (EIA), the freight context for deliveries here.
§2By year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 40 | 1,391 | $58,371 |
| 2021 | 41 | 1,442 | $59,694 |
| 2022 | 42 | 1,490 | $68,930 |
| 2023 | 39 | 1,532 | $64,690 |
| 2024 | 43 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
BLS had not published 2025 metro-area figures when this page was built; state pages carry 2025.
§3Buying here
With 43 plants, the Atlanta, GA 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.
The nearest metro clusters in neighbouring states: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (38), Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL (29), Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (24), Memphis, TN-MS-AR (20).