§1The market
Missouri had 108 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 3.4% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 9th of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is up 0.9% from 107 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 2,048 in 2025 (−20.0% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $62,948, 15.9% above the industry's national average.
For raw material, Missouri had 162 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 1,635 in 2025. Sawmills outnumber pallet plants in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 52 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).
§2Missouri by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 107 | 2,561 | $43,652 |
| 2021 | 104 | 2,341 | $49,806 |
| 2022 | 105 | 2,311 | $57,590 |
| 2023 | 103 | 2,244 | $60,401 |
| 2024 | 109 | 2,149 | $63,894 |
| 2025 | 108 | 2,048 | $62,948 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Missouri: 2020 189, 2021 188, 2022 182, 2023 179, 2024 168, 2025 162.
§3What it means for buyers
With 108 plants, Missouri 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 St. Louis, MO, Kansas City, MO, Joplin, MO; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: Wisconsin (103), Florida (109), Michigan (101), Indiana (130).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 22 | 315 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 14 | 450 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | 5 | not disclosed |