§1The market
Kentucky had 85 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 2.7% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 15th of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is up 4.9% from 81 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 2,487 in 2025 (−10.3% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $56,370, 3.8% above the industry's national average.
For raw material, Kentucky had 134 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 1,942 in 2025. Sawmills outnumber pallet plants in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 46 counties in 2025.
Freight context: retail diesel in the Midwest (PADD 2) region averaged $6.344 a gallon in October 2026, +74.3% on a year earlier (EIA).
§2Kentucky by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 81 | 2,774 | $47,561 |
| 2021 | 79 | 2,645 | $46,338 |
| 2022 | 80 | 2,690 | $52,775 |
| 2023 | 84 | 3,039 | $53,925 |
| 2024 | 87 | 3,032 | $55,356 |
| 2025 | 85 | 2,487 | $56,370 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Kentucky: 2020 145, 2021 145, 2022 145, 2023 146, 2024 139, 2025 134.
§3What it means for buyers
With 85 plants, Kentucky 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 Louisville, KY; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: Alabama (82), New York (95), South Carolina (64), Georgia (96).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 30 | 966 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 26 | 478 |