§1The market
South Carolina had 64 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 2.0% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 17th of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is up 6.7% from 60 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 839 in 2025 (−18.3% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $47,981, 11.7% below the industry's national average.
For raw material, South Carolina had 48 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 1,558 in 2025. Pallet plants outnumber sawmills in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 31 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).
§2South Carolina by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 60 | 1,027 | $35,831 |
| 2021 | 61 | 946 | $36,368 |
| 2022 | 68 | 1,023 | $39,721 |
| 2023 | 68 | 987 | $42,050 |
| 2024 | 66 | 900 | $44,224 |
| 2025 | 64 | 839 | $47,981 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in South Carolina: 2020 50, 2021 52, 2022 49, 2023 44, 2024 48, 2025 48.
§3What it means for buyers
With 64 plants, South 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 Greenville, SC, Columbia, SC, Florence, SC; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: Minnesota (62), Alabama (82), Oregon (61), Kentucky (85).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 12 | 175 |
| Columbia, SC | 7 | 137 |
| Florence, SC | 6 | 142 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 6 | not disclosed |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 38 | 932 |
§5Neighbouring states
| State | Plants | Average pay (latest disclosed) |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 99 | $49,542 |
| Georgia | 96 | $65,149 |