§1The market
Michigan had 101 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 3.2% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 11th of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is up 13.5% from 89 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 1,917 in 2025 (+21.1% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $63,447, 16.8% above the industry's national average.
For raw material, Michigan had 100 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 1,585 in 2025. Pallet plants outnumber sawmills in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 40 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).
§2Michigan by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 89 | 1,583 | $47,182 |
| 2021 | 97 | 1,608 | $56,167 |
| 2022 | 105 | 1,762 | $61,883 |
| 2023 | 113 | 1,877 | $62,136 |
| 2024 | 100 | 1,869 | $61,600 |
| 2025 | 101 | 1,917 | $63,447 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Michigan: 2020 100, 2021 102, 2022 106, 2023 114, 2024 100, 2025 100.
§3What it means for buyers
With 101 plants, Michigan 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 Grand Rapids, MI, Detroit, MI; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: North Carolina (99), Wisconsin (103), Georgia (96), Missouri (108).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 26 | 818 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 21 | 374 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 5 | 31 |