§1The market
Ohio had 189 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 6.0% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 3rd of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is down 6.9% from 203 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 4,216 in 2025 (+13.1% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $51,124, 5.9% below the industry's national average.
For raw material, Ohio had 88 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 1,214 in 2025. Pallet plants outnumber sawmills in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 54 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).
§2Ohio by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 203 | 3,727 | $45,375 |
| 2021 | 202 | 3,891 | $48,564 |
| 2022 | 202 | 4,121 | $49,896 |
| 2023 | 201 | 4,237 | $50,534 |
| 2024 | 193 | 4,294 | $50,930 |
| 2025 | 189 | 4,216 | $51,124 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Ohio: 2020 91, 2021 90, 2022 92, 2023 88, 2024 89, 2025 88.
§3What it means for buyers
With 189 plants, Ohio 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 Cleveland, OH, Cincinnati, OH, Columbus, OH; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: Pennsylvania (189), Texas (190), Illinois (169), California (364).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | 32 | not disclosed |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 26 | 478 |
| Columbus, OH | 22 | 597 |
| Akron, OH | 6 | not disclosed |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 6 | 103 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | 6 | 215 |
| Lima, OH | 5 | 146 |
| Toledo, OH | 5 | 109 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 5 | not disclosed |
§5Neighbouring states
| State | Plants | Average pay (latest disclosed) |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 189 | $53,952 |
| Indiana | 130 | $49,987 |
| Michigan | 101 | $63,447 |
| Kentucky | 85 | $56,370 |
| West Virginia | 15 | $43,005 |