America’s Top-Rated Employers, State by State
Key Takeaways
- Microsoft is the top-rated employer in nine states, the most of any organization, while Google leads in seven.
- Tech companies rank first in 19 states, more than any other sector.
- The winners range from NASA and Toyota to healthcare providers, banks, and major consumer brands.
This map shows the top-rated employer in every U.S. state in 2026, offering a snapshot of which large organizations earn the strongest marks from workers across the country.
The ranking is based on a Forbes survey of more than 245,000 employees. It covers organizations with at least 500 employees and considers pay, benefits, career growth, management, flexibility, and employee recommendations.
Big Tech Has the Widest Reach
Microsoft ranks first in nine states and Google in seven, meaning the two tech giants collectively lead nearly one-third of the country. Overall, tech companies take the top spot in 19 states.
| State | Company | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | NASA | Government |
| Alaska | Providence St. Joseph Health | Healthcare |
| Arizona | Apple | Tech |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield | Finance |
| California | Trader Joe’s | Consumer |
| Colorado | Microsoft | Tech |
| Connecticut | ASML Holding | Tech |
| Delaware | Mountaire | Consumer |
| District of Columbia | Tech | |
| Florida | Charles Schwab | Finance |
| Georgia | Microsoft | Tech |
| Hawaii | United Airlines | Industrial |
| Idaho | WinCo Foods | Consumer |
| Illinois | Tech | |
| Indiana | Tech | |
| Iowa | Hormel Foods | Consumer |
| Kansas | Pfizer | Healthcare |
| Kentucky | Toyota North America | Industrial |
| Louisiana | Lockheed Martin | Industrial |
| Maine | IDEXX Laboratories | Healthcare |
| Maryland | Microsoft | Tech |
| Massachusetts | Tech | |
| Michigan | Delta Air Lines | Industrial |
| Minnesota | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota | Finance |
| Mississippi | University of Mississippi Medical Center | Healthcare |
| Missouri | Fabick Cat | Industrial |
| Montana | First Interstate Bank | Finance |
| Nebraska | Bryan Health | Healthcare |
| Nevada | JPMorganChase | Finance |
| New Hampshire | Demoulas Super Markets | Consumer |
| New Jersey | Tech | |
| New Mexico | Home Depot | Consumer |
| New York | Microsoft | Tech |
| North Carolina | Microsoft | Tech |
| North Dakota | Essentia Health | Healthcare |
| Ohio | Microsoft | Tech |
| Oklahoma | IBM | Tech |
| Oregon | Microsoft | Tech |
| Pennsylvania | Lockheed Martin | Industrial |
| Rhode Island | Fidelity Investments | Finance |
| South Carolina | Honeywell Technologies | Industrial |
| South Dakota | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | Government |
| Tennessee | Tech | |
| Texas | Microsoft | Tech |
| Utah | Delta Air Lines | Industrial |
| Vermont | M&T Bank | Finance |
| Virginia | Microsoft | Tech |
| Washington | Tech | |
| West Virginia | Sheetz | Consumer |
| Wisconsin | Kimberly-Clark | Consumer |
| Wyoming | State of Wyoming | Government |
Outside of tech, the results span a wide range of employers.
NASA leads in Alabama, Lockheed Martin in Louisiana, Toyota in Kentucky, and Trader Joe’s in California. Healthcare, finance, government, industrial, and consumer organizations also claim top spots across the country.
What Makes a Great Employer?
Pay is only one part of how Americans evaluate their workplaces. Benefits, career development, management, flexibility, and job security can also shape overall satisfaction.
In 2026, overall U.S. job satisfaction reached 68.9%, the highest level in 39 years and the 16th consecutive annual increase. That marks a sharp recovery from 2010, when satisfaction fell to 42.6% amid a weak post-recession labor market.
Income remains a major dividing line. Satisfaction ranged from 45.3% among workers in households earning under $25,000 to 76% among those earning $150,000 or more.
At the same time, the labor market remains uncertain, which may make job security more important to workers. Nearly four in 10 workers also said advanced AI improved their job satisfaction, adding another dimension to the changing workplace landscape.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the 30 highest-paying jobs in America.
