§1The market
North Carolina had 99 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 3.1% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 12th of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is up 6.5% from 93 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 2,710 in 2025 (−11.1% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $49,542, 8.8% below the industry's national average.
For raw material, North Carolina had 106 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 3,256 in 2025. Sawmills outnumber pallet plants in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 49 counties in 2025.
Freight context: retail diesel in the Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) region averaged $5.744 a gallon in October 2026, +58.3% on a year earlier (EIA).
§2North Carolina by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 93 | 3,048 | $39,861 |
| 2021 | 97 | 3,049 | $42,367 |
| 2022 | 99 | 2,998 | $48,304 |
| 2023 | 102 | 2,906 | $49,209 |
| 2024 | 104 | 2,723 | $48,348 |
| 2025 | 99 | 2,710 | $49,542 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in North Carolina: 2020 125, 2021 125, 2022 125, 2023 123, 2024 116, 2025 106.
§3What it means for buyers
With 99 plants, North Carolina 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 Charlotte, NC, Hickory, NC, Winston, NC; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: Georgia (96), Michigan (101), New York (95), Wisconsin (103).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 38 | 932 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 8 | 300 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 6 | 216 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 6 | 78 |
§5Neighbouring states
| State | Plants | Average pay (latest disclosed) |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 132 | $50,325 |
| Georgia | 96 | $65,149 |
| South Carolina | 64 | $47,981 |
| Virginia | 60 | $53,621 |