The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) has released its expanded 2026 Wage Report, introducing a new Sales Staff and Compensation Report while restoring Canadian wage benchmarking for the first time since 2022. Together, the additions provide participating paperboard packaging manufacturers with broader workforce intelligence and expanded compensation benchmarking across North America.
The 2026 Wage Report now includes seven regional compensation reports spanning six U.S. regions and Canada, allowing participating companies to benchmark wages against employers within their regional labor markets. The new Sales Staff and Compensation Report expands the program beyond production and administrative positions by providing insight into sales compensation structures, incentive programs, and compensation trends.
“Compensation continues to be one of the most important tools organizations have for attracting and retaining talent,” said Emily Leonczyk, President of PPC. “By expanding our benchmarking to include sales compensation and restoring Canadian data, we’re giving participating member companies a more complete picture of today’s workforce and the market intelligence they need to make informed business decisions.”
The return of Canadian benchmarking marks the first time since 2022 that the report includes dedicated Canadian compensation data, providing manufacturers with more relevant regional comparisons across North America.
The 2026 Wage Report includes data from the following regions:
· Region 1: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York
· Region 2: Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania
· Region 3: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas
· Region 4: Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin
· Region 5: Colorado, Utah
· Region 6: California, Oregon, Washington
· Region 7: Canada
The PPC Wage Report is one of the association’s flagship benchmarking resources, providing confidential compensation data to help manufacturers evaluate workforce trends, remain competitive in local labor markets, and make informed decisions related to recruiting, retention, and compensation planning. The report is available exclusively to participating PPC members.
Learn more by visiting: https://paperbox.org/programs/benchmarking/
For nearly 100 years, the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) has served as the premier North American association for converters of paperboard packaging and their suppliers. PPC is the voice of the folding carton industry and the forum where manufacturers and supplier partners unite to grow, promote, and protect paperboard packaging. Through leadership development, workforce initiatives, advocacy, market intelligence, benchmarking, education, and collaboration, PPC equips its members to strengthen their businesses and advance the industry’s future. For more information, visit www.paperbox.org.