What makes a great employer stand out among others? Many people will tell you it’s the salary, benefits, and work/life balance. Just as many others will tell you it’s the people, including one’s peers and the bosses. While some companies foster a culture in which dragging yourself to the office is a struggle, others are clearly thinking about how to make employees feel happy and fulfilled.
This year’s Employees’ Choice Award winners from Glassdoor will give you a glimpse into the best companies to work for, as rated by employees. To come up with the winners, Glassdoor analyzed the millions of company reviews posted anonymously by employees over the past year. Ratings are based on a five-point scale, with 1.0 being very dissatisfied and 5.0 being very satisfied.
Here are the 15 best companies in America to work for, according to Glassdoor. Comments on what it’s like to work at each company are taken from Glassdoor reviews. Scroll through to see the 15 best employers – and to find out which big tech company fought its way into the top spot.
15. Salesforce
Salesforce made Glassdoor’s list of best companies to work for. | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images- Rating: 4.5
- Since last year: Moved up 2
- Average account executive salary: $85,000
Salesforce is a cloud computing company, headquartered in San Francisco, which employs 25,000 people. The company, founded in 1999, provides customer relationship software to a range of businesses. Salesforce made the No. 1 spot Forbes World’s Most Innovative Company list in six recent years.
What it’s like to work there: “Leadership is great from the top down. Incentives and bonuses are amazing. Great team and plenty of opportunities to move around internally.”
Next: An 84-year-old, family-owned winery made the list.
14. E.&J. Gallo Winery
E.&.J. Gallo Winery was founded in 1933. | Scott Olson/Getty Images- Rating: 4.5
- Since last year: Moved up 33
- Average account manager salary: $83,000
Founded in 1933, this family-owned winery in Modesto, California, produces more than 90 wine and spirit brands, including Barefoot Wines, Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers, and LaMarca prosecco. With 6,500 employees, the winery made No. 80 in 2016 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies.
What it’s like to work there: “Every day is an amazing challenge with a full supportive team. Sometimes I can’t believe this is my job. It is absolutely rewarding.”
Next: This company employs 150,000 real estate agents.
13. Keller Williams
House for sale | iStock/Getty Images- Rating: 4.5
- Since last year: Moved up 18
- Average real estate agent salary: $42,000
Keller Williams is a real estate franchise company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Founded in 1983, it employs 150,000 agents in more than 700 locations worldwide. A team of more than 200 writers, coaches, developers, and others supports the real estate agents.
What it’s like to work there: “The training and atmosphere they offer are second to none. The staff truly want you to succeed in your endeavors and want you to grow your own business.”
Next: It’s been called “the most prestigious consulting firm.”
12. McKinsey & Company
A consultant makes a presentation. | Getty Images- Rating: 4.5
- Since last year: Moved down 1
- Average associate salary: $140,000
McKinsey is a worldwide management consulting company with more than 20,000 employees, including 10,000 consultants. The company works with clients to improve their business. The New York Times called McKinsey the most “prestigious consulting firm of all.”
What it’s like to work there: “McKinsey really cares for your happiness and motivation, it has a lot of different strategies to make you feel passionate about working in it.”
Next: A German-based company is moving up the ranks.
11. SAP
SAP headquarters in Walldorf, Germany, as seen in 2013. | Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images- Rating: 4.5
- Since last year: Moved up 4
- Average account executive salary: $100,000
SAP is a global software company, based in Germany, which employs more than 84,000 people in more than 130 countries. It provides software that helps business manage operations and customer relations. SAP has about 350,000 customers.
What it’s like to work there: “They are good to their people. There is a work hard/play hard mentality with a heavy emphasis on work/life balance.”
Next: Fortune magazine also ranked this employer high.
10. Ultimate Software
Ultimate Software provides cloud-based human resources software. | Ultimate Software- Rating: 4.5
- Since last year: New to the list this year
- Average account manager salary: $58,000
Ultimate Software provides cloud-based human resources software to other companies. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Weston, Florida, the company employs more than 3,700 people and has offices in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Singapore. In 2017, Fortune ranked No. 7 of 100 Best Companies to Work For.
What it’s like to work there: “Everyone is welcome, women are empowered, minorities are empowered. Hard work is recognized and pays off. Great benefits, and work/life balance is encouraged.”
Next: A non-profit ranks high among employers.
9. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
A scientist works with a microscope. | Getty Images- Rating: 4.5
- Since last year: New to the list this year
- Average manager salary: $84,000
Founded in 1962, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a pediatric research institution. Its mission is to advance cures for and prevention of pediatric catastrophic diseases. This nonprofit organization employees 4,180 people and made the list of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For.
What it’s like to work there: “The Administration at SJ really wants all employees to have work/life balance.”
Next: Employees work with Fortune 500 clients.
8. World Wide Technology
World Wide Technology building | Work Wide Technology via Facebook- Rating: 4.5
- Since last year: Moved down 3
- Average inside sales rep salary: $47,000
World Wide Technology is systems integration company founded in 1990 with more than 4,000 employees today. The company is headquartered in St. Louis and has sales offices and distribution centers worldwide. Clients include Boeing, AT&T, and Microsoft.
What it’s like to work there: “Good company that cares about its people and their professional development. Good people as well.”
Next: This employer provides unlimited vacation.
7. HubSpot
HubSpot develops software for marketing and sales. | Getty Images- Rating: 4.6
- Since last year: New to the list this year
- Average account executive salary: $62,000
HubSpot is a developer and marketer of software products for marketing and sales. Its software can be used for social media marketing, content management, web analytics, and search engine optimization. The company was founded in 2006 and made Fortune’s 2016 list of Best Medium Workplaces in Tech. Fortune listed company benefits including unlimited vacation, meals and snacks at the office, an on-site gym, and education reimbursements.
What it’s like to work there: “Great people, great culture and facilities. Always something new and exciting to work on.”
Next: This company wants employees to work in yoga pants.
6. Lululemon
A woman leads a yoga class while dressed in Lululemon Athletica yoga clothes. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images- Rating: 4.6
- Since last year: Moved up 38
- Average store manager salary: $58,000
Lululemon, founded in Vancouver, Canada, in 1998, describes itself as a “technical athletic apparel company for yoga, running, training, and most other sweaty pursuits.” The clothing line, which has a dedicated following of wearers, is sold in stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company employs around 2,900 people.
What it’s like to work there: “The best part of the job is the sense of community with your coworkers and free yoga/workout classes every week at almost any studio or gym.”
Next: The company behind the world’s most-visited website
5. Google
Google headquarters with bikes on foreground | SpVVK/iStock/Getty Images- Rating: 4.6
- Since last year: Moved down 1
- Average account manager salary: $79,000
Unsurprisingly, Google is the most visited website in the world. The company behind the search site is legendary for its free employee lunches (including on-site food trucks), as well as other perks through the roof (like massages, music lessons, and the option to bring their dogs to the office). Google employs almost 74,000 people worldwide out of 70 offices in more than 40 countries.
What it’s like to work there: “Fantastic benefits. And at work you’re treated like a human being, not a cog.”
Next: If hired, will you get the secret sauce recipe?
4. In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger | SweetBabeeJay/Getty Images- Rating: 4.6
- Since last year: Moved up 3
- Average assistant manager salary: $58,000
In-N-Out Burger, founded in 1948, operates 326 locations through the U.S., mainly in the Southwest. On Quora, employees have said In-N-Out is great place to work. The average worker earns $12 an hour and get free lunches. Customers have also praised the restaurant’s open concept, where you can watch your food being made – except for the secret “spread” sauce, of course. That’s kept under wraps.
What it’s like to work there: “All around great company! Benefits and culture are great and who does not love a good burger?!”
Next: Employees say telecommuting is allowed.
3. Boston Consulting Group
A meeting presentation is given. | iStock- Rating: 4.6
- Since last year: Stayed the same
- Average consulting salary: $145,000
Boston Consulting Group is a management consulting firm founded in 1963 that advises clients in private, public, and nonprofit sectors. The company employs 14,000, including 6,200 consultants. Fortune describes this company by saying “hard work is balanced by an emphasis on self care (think sabbaticals, fitness centers, and telecommuting).”
What it’s like to work there: “Extremely happy with benefits which include location flexibility, great insurance coverage, low co-pays, vacation.”
Next: A great place for new dads to work
2. Bain & Company
A meeting takes place with consultants. | Getty Images- Rating: 4.6
- Since last year: Moved down 1
- Average consultant salary: $139,000
Bain & Company is one of the “big three” management consulting firms in the U.S., providing advice on corporate strategy, restructuring, and more. The 44-year-old Boston-based company has 55 locations around the world. There are around 7,000 employees in all. Bain made Fatherly’s 2016 list of Best Places to Work for New Dads.
What it’s like to work there: “Great work environment and culture. Love all the work I do and the people I work with! Feel very respected.”
Next: The No. 1 company is Silicon Valley’s big blue giant.
1. Facebook
An employee eats lunch at Facebook’s headquarters. | Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images- Rating: 4.6
- Since last year: Moved up 1
- Average account manager salary: $82,000
Facebook is a fast-paced, innovative company. Perks employees enjoy include free meals and snacks and generous maternity/paternity leave. As of December 2016, Facebook employed 17,048 people, up from just 150 in 2006. Every year, the company throws itself a birthday party where employees are given a present – like pajama bottoms, socks, and watches.
What it’s like to work there: “Fast paced company with high expectations, but incredibly fair. You won’t find a place that cares more about its people.”
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