Forget the corporate slogans. Here’s what 245,000 employees really think.
Forbes and Statista surveyed workers at companies with 500+ people across every state and D.C. They ranked employers on recommendation scores, pay, culture, advancement, and how they handle serious issues. Result: 2,499 spots filled by 1,365 companies. Healthcare dominates. A few giants show up everywhere—Amazon in 38 states, VA in 28, Home Depot in 26.
The standouts
**Burns & McDonnell (No. 3, Missouri)**
Employee-owned. That’s the whole game. Rashmi Menon, chief people officer: “Ownership drives our culture.” No distant investors. Just teams that build massive infrastructure and own the outcome. Passion isn’t a perk—it’s the business model.
**Providence St. Joseph Health (No. 1, Alaska)**
119,000 caregivers. Mission-first, not-for-profit Catholic system. Free and assisted tuition, apprenticeships, mentoring, backup childcare, mental-health support, competitive pay. Mark Smith, chief talent officer: Workers don’t just clock in—they feel the difference they make for the poor and vulnerable.
**Duke Energy (No. 4 South Carolina, No. 9 North Carolina)**
They keep the lights on. Managers notice the little things—names in meetings, gift cards, team lunches. Annual turnover (excluding retirement): 3%. Paid parental leave, training, solid benefits. Cameron McDonald: “The best recognition is often very personal.”
**Norton Healthcare (No. 9 Kentucky, No. 12 Indiana)**
80% of the workforce is women. So the benefits match: fertility coverage, adoption help, pregnancy and postpartum support, lactation resources, paid parental bonding leave for birth and adoptive parents. Katina Greer: “Supporting women isn’t a separate initiative—it’s central.”
These aren’t the companies with the flashiest perks decks. They’re the ones whose people would actually recommend them to a friend.
Full list: [America’s Best Employers By State 2026](https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-employers-by-state/).