§1The market
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area had 111 private wood container and pallet manufacturing establishments (NAICS 321920) in the 2024 QCEW annual average. Among the 128 metro areas with at least five such plants, it ranks 2nd by count.
The metro area spans IL, IN, so its plants are not all in Illinois; compare with the state pages for each.
That is up from 95 in 2020 (+16.8%).
BLS disclosed employment of 1,616 for 2023, with average annual pay of $56,926, against $53,322 statewide and $52,196 nationally.
3 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) were also counted in the metro in 2024.
Diesel in the Midwest (PADD 2) region averaged $6.344 a gallon in October 2026 (EIA), the freight context for deliveries here.
§2By year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 95 | 1,431 | $44,254 |
| 2021 | 101 | 1,462 | $53,221 |
| 2022 | 106 | 1,541 | $56,067 |
| 2023 | 113 | 1,616 | $56,926 |
| 2024 | 111 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
BLS had not published 2025 metro-area figures when this page was built; state pages carry 2025.
§3Buying here
With 111 plants, the Chicago, IL 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 Illinois: Rockford, IL (9).
Larger metro clusters in neighbouring states: Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (30), Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (25), St. Louis, MO-IL (22).