The Best Place To Work in Your State

The pandemic changed American workplace culture more than any other single event in modern history. Millions of new telecommuters forced to work from home found for the first time that they were able to work from anywhere — relocation without job dislocation was now possible for the masses. Many others lost their jobs and were forced to switch industries, careers and locations. Either way, it’s good to know which employers are considered the best depending on where you live should your own employment situation change in the future. 

Read More: 24 Tips To Change Your Career and Land Your Dream Job

Using data from Statista, Forbes and Glassdoor, GOBankingRates identified the best employer in each state, how many people work there, where it’s headquartered, when it was founded, how employees and former employees feel about it, and more. If you’re one of the many Americans who was forced to change jobs or has the option of changing locations or careers, these employers might be worth considering. 

Alabama

• Company: University of Alabama, Birmingham
• Employees: 23,000
• Headquarters: Birmingham, Alabama
• CEO: Ray L. Watts
• Year founded: 1969
• Review: 4.1
• Recommend to a friend: 84%

Read: 45 Jobs That Can Make You a Millionaire Before Retirement

Alaska

• Company: ConocoPhillips
• Employees: 5,304
• Headquarters: Houston
• CEO: Ryan M. Lance
• Year founded: 1875
• Review: 4.1
• Recommend to a friend: 82%

Find Out: Should Employers Require Workers To Take Time Off?

Arizona

• Company: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
• Employees: 34,000
• Headquarters: San Antonio
• CEO: Wayne Peacock
• Year founded: 1922
• Review: 3.7
• Recommend to a friend: 66%

Did You Know: Companies That Let You Work From Anywhere

Arkansas

• Company: Entergy
• Employees: 13,000
• Headquarters: New Orleans
• CEO: Leo P. Denault
• Year founded: 1913
• Review: 3.9
• Recommend to a friend: 77%

Stay Remote: 40 Legit Companies That Will Pay You To Work From Home

California

• Company: Delta Air Lines
• Employees: 88,680
• Headquarters: Atlanta
• CEO: Edward Herman Bastian
• Year founded: 1924
• Review: 4.5
• Recommend to a friend: 92%

How It’s Changed: Handshakes and More Office Rules Changed by COVID

Colorado

• Company: Boulder Valley School District
• Employees: 3,680
• Headquarters: Boulder, Colorado
• CEO: Rob Anderson
• Year founded: 1960
• Review: 4
• Recommend to a friend: 81%

Find Out: What It’s Like To Job Hunt During a Pandemic

Connecticut

• Company: ESPN
• Employees: 6,500
• Headquarters: Bristol, Connecticut
• CEO: James Pitaro
• Year founded: 1979
• Review: 3.9
• Recommend to a friend: 78%

Read: How To Interview For a Job When You’re Wearing a Mask

Delaware

• Company: ChristianaCare
• Employees: 11,856
• Headquarters: Wilmington, Delaware
• CEO: Janice Nevin
• Year founded: 1888
• Review: 3.7
• Recommend to a friend: 67%

Helpful Tips: How To Protect Yourself When You Return to Your Office

Florida

• Company: Costco Wholesale
• Employees: 163,000
• Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington
• CEO: Walter Craig Jelinek
• Year founded: 1983
• Review: 4.1
• Recommend to a friend: 84%

Be Prepared: How To Interview for a Job Over Zoom

Georgia

• Company: Houston County Schools
• Employees: 5,001 to 10,000
• Headquarters: Perry, Georgia
• CEO: Mark Scott
• Year founded: 1870
• Review: 4
• Recommend to a friend: 78%

In the News: 5 Financial Takeaways from the Georgia Senate Race

Hawaii

• Company: Marriott International
• Employees: 133,227
• Headquarters: Bethesda, Maryland
• CEO: Arne M. Sorenson, Fumio Takashima
• Year founded: 1927
• Review: 4.1
• Recommend to a friend: 83%

Read: 6 Career Mistakes To Avoid During an Economic Downturn

Idaho

• Company: MDU Resources Group
• Employees: 13,359
• Headquarters: Bismarck, North Dakota
• CEO: David L. Goodin
• Year founded: 1924
• Review: 3.1
• Recommend to a friend: 55%

Find Out: Highest-Paying Work-From-Home Jobs

Illinois

• Company: Northwestern Medicine
• Employees: 33,700
• Headquarters: Chicago
• CEO: Den M. Harrison
• Year founded: 1859
• Review: 4
• Recommend to a friend: 81%

Read More: 50 US Cities With Plenty of Jobs and Cheap Housing

Indiana

• Company: Salesforce.com
• Employees: 36,000
• Headquarters: San Francisco
• CEO: Marc Russell Benioff
• Year founded: 1999
• Review: 4.4
• Recommend to a friend: 89%

Find Out: Is Your Resume Up To Par With the Competition?

Iowa

• Company: Principal Financial Group
• Employees: 10,000
• Headquarters: Des Moines, Iowa
• CEO: Daniel Joseph Houston
• Year founded: 1879
• Review: 4
• Recommend to a friend: 78%

Looking Back: How the Pandemic Is Controlling Our Finances and Other Things We Learned in 2020 Studies

Kansas

• Company: Blue Valley Schools
• Employees: 1,001 to 5,000
• Headquarters: Overland Park, Kansas
• CEO: Cindy Bowling
• Year founded: 1965
• Review: 4.1
• Recommend to a friend: 79%

Feeling the Impact: Extended Unemployment and More Challenges Older Workers Face in 2021

Kentucky

• Company: Fayette County Public Schools
• Employees: 5,902
• Headquarters: Lexington, Kentucky
• CEO: Manny Caulk
• Year founded: 1890
• Review: 3.9
• Recommend to a friend: 56%

Watch the Signs: 15 Signs Your Employer Wants You To Retire

Louisiana

• Company: Stuller
• Employees: 1,001 to 5,000
• Headquarters: Lafayette, Louisiana
• CEO: Matt Stuller
• Year founded: 1970
• Review: 3.1
• Recommend to a friend: 56%

Looking Ahead: Experts Predict What the Economy Will Look Like at the End of 2021

Maine

• Company: L.L. Bean
• Employees: 5,400
• Headquarters: Freeport, Maine
• CEO: Stephen M. Smith
• Year founded: 1912
• Review: 3.8
• Recommend to a friend: 74%

In the News: Private Sector Unexpectedly Lost 123,000 Jobs in December as Pandemic Rages On

Maryland

• Company: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
• Employees: 10,000
• Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
• CEO: Paul Wiedefeld
• Year founded: 1967
• Review: 3.7
• Recommend to a friend: 64%

Find Out: 5 Things To Negotiate at Your Job Other Than Salary

Massachusetts

• Company: Boston Children’s Hospital
• Employees: 5,001 to 10,000
• Headquarters: Boston
• CEO: Sandra L. Fenwick
• Year founded: 1869
• Review: 4.1
• Recommend to a friend: 83%

Did You Know: 15 Work Conversations That Could Cost You Your Job

Michigan

• Company: Grand Valley State University
• Employees: 3,000
• Headquarters: Allendale, Michigan
• CEO: Philomena Mantella
• Year founded: 1960
• Review: 4.2
• Recommend to a friend: 82%

Get Trained: 10 Job Skills Worth Six-Figure Salaries

Minnesota

• Company: Presbyterian Homes and Services
• Employees: 6,000
• Headquarters: St. Paul, Minnesota
• CEO: Dan Lindh
• Year founded: 1955
• Review: 3.9
• Recommend to a friend: 70%

Looking Ahead: How To Bounce Back Financially in 2021

Mississippi

• Company: Rankin County School District
• Employees: 2,130
• Headquarters: Brandon, Mississippi
• CEO: Sue Townsend
• Year founded: 1940
• Review: 4
• Recommend to a friend: 91%

In the News: How the Coronavirus Outbreak Is Devastating the Livelihood of Hourly Workers

Missouri

• Company: Veterans United
• Employees: 2,379
• Headquarters: Columbia, Missouri
• CEO: Nathan Long
• Year founded: 2002
• Review: 4.8
• Recommend to a friend: 96%

Find Out: What To Do If You Haven’t Heard Back About That Dream Job

Montana

• Company: Costco Wholesale
• Employees: 163,000
• Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington
• CEO: Walter Craig Jelinek
• Year founded: 1983
• Review: 4.1
• Recommend to a friend: 84%

Go Shopping: Best and Worst Deals at Costco To Watch Out For

Nebraska

• Company: Lincoln Public Schools
• Employees: 8,170
• Headquarters: Lincoln, Nebraska
• CEO: Dr. Steve Joel
• Year founded: 1871
• Review: 3.9
• Recommend to a friend: 91%

Read More: 22 Tips for Landing a Job During the Health Crisis

Nevada

• Company: Las Vegas Valley Water District
• Employees: 1,250
• Headquarters: Las Vegas
• CEO: Marilyn Kirkpatrick
• Year founded: 1954
• Review: 5
• Recommend to a friend: 100%

Looking Ahead: How To Budget For the Year With COVID-19 Uncertainty

New Hampshire

• Company: Southern New Hampshire University
• Employees: 6,297
• Headquarters: Manchester, New Hampshire
• CEO: Paul J. LeBlanc
• Year founded: 1932
• Review: 4.2
• Recommend to a friend: 86%

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New Jersey

• Company: Apple
• Employees: 90,000
• Headquarters: Cupertino, California
• CEO: Tim Cook
• Year founded: 1976
• Review: 4.2
• Recommend to a friend: 84%

Get Hired: High-Paying Jobs at Apple, Facebook and Google That Don’t Require a Degree

New Mexico

• Company: Home Depot
• Employees: 400,000
• Headquarters: Atlanta
• CEO: Craig A. Menear
• Year founded: 1978
• Review: 3.8
• Recommend to a friend: 75%

Looking Back: Companies That Performed Exceptionally Well in 2020

New York

• Company: Amtrak
• Employees: 19,600
• Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
• CEO: Richard H. Anderson
• Year founded: 1971
• Review: 3.4
• Recommend to a friend: 54%

Find Out: How To Budget and Plan For a Vacation in 2021

North Carolina

• Company: SAS Institute
• Employees: 6,908
• Headquarters: Cary, North Carolina
• CEO: Jim Goodnight
• Year founded: 1976
• Review: 4
• Recommend to a friend: 79%

Get Ahead: A Month-By-Month Guide to Expanding Your Savings Account in 2021

North Dakota

• Company: United Parcel Service
• Employees: 399,000
• Headquarters: Atlanta
• CEO: David P. Abney
• Year founded: 1907
• Review: 3.5
• Recommend to a friend: 64%

Looking Back: Industries That Practically Disappeared in 2020

Ohio

• Company: Procter & Gamble
• Employees: 97,000
• Headquarters: Cincinnati
• CEO: David S. Taylor
• Year founded: 1837
• Review: 4.2
• Recommend to a friend: 86%

Read More: 25 Tried-and-True Jobs That Will Last Through Any Recession

Oklahoma

• Company: ConocoPhillips
• Employees: 5,304
• Headquarters: Houston
• CEO: Ryan M. Lance
• Year founded: 1875
• Review: 4.1
• Recommend to a friend: 82%

Planning Ahead: A Month-by-Month Guide for Your 2021 Financial Check-Ins

Oregon

• Company: Alaska Airlines
• Employees: 23,000
• Headquarters: Seattle
• CEO: Brad Tilden
• Year founded: 1932
• Review: 3.9
• Recommend to a friend: 76%

Read: Industries Set To Bounce Back in 2021

Pennsylvania

• Company: Carnegie Mellon University
• Employees: 6,077
• Headquarters: Pittsburgh
• CEO: Farnam Jahanian
• Year founded: 1900
• Review: 4.6
• Recommend to a friend: 92%

Find Out: Best (and Worst) States for Work-Life Balance

Rhode Island

• Company: International Game Technology (IGT)
• Employees: 12,100
• Headquarters: Las Vegas
• CEO: Marco Sala
• Year founded: 1974
• Review: 3.4
• Recommend to a friend: 64%

Learn More: High-Paying Jobs Where Women Outnumber Men

South Carolina

• Company: Southeastern Freight Lines
• Employees: 6,600
• Headquarters: Lexington, South Carolina
• CEO: W.T. Cassels III
• Year founded: 1950
• Review: 4
• Recommend to a friend: 81%

New Year, New You: America’s Top Money Resolutions for 2021 — and How To Make Them a Reality

South Dakota

• Company: Midcontinent Communications
• Employees: 1,000
• Headquarters: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• CEO: Pat McAdaragh
• Year founded: 1931
• Review: 3.9
• Recommend to a friend: 87%

Be Prepared: Smart Ways You Can Prepare For Job Loss While You’re Still Employed

Tennessee

• Company: 3M
• Employees: 37,412
• Headquarters: St. Paul, Minnesota
• CEO: Michael F. Roman
• Year founded: 1902
• Review: 3.9
• Recommend to a friend: 78%

Did You Know: 30 Cities Where You Can Thrive Without a Full-Time Job

Texas

• Company: H-E-B
• Employees: 90,000
• Headquarters: San Antonio
• CEO: Charles Butt
• Year founded: 1905
• Review: 4.4
• Recommend to a friend: 91%

Read: 20 Ways To Improve Your Chances of Getting a Job

Utah

• Company: University of Utah Health Care
• Employees: 8,000
• Headquarters: Salt Lake City
• CEO: Gordon Crabtree
• Year founded: 1965
• Review: 4.3
• Recommend to a friend: 80%

Find Out More: 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time Job

Vermont

• Company: Middlebury College
• Employees: 501 to 1,000
• Headquarters: Middlebury, Vermont
• CEO: Laurie Patton
• Year founded: 1800
• Review: 4.5
• Recommend to a friend: 84%

Did You Know: Most and Least Educated Cities in America

Virginia

• Company: Raytheon Technologies
• Employees: 67,000
• Headquarters: Waltham, Massachusetts
• CEO: Gregory J. Hayes
• Year founded: 1922
• Review: 3.8
• Recommend to a friend: 74%

Find Out: 20 Top Jobs for Millennials Who Want To Make Six Figures

Washington

• Company: Northern Quest Resort & Casino
• Employees: 1,001 to 5,000
• Headquarters: Airway Heights, Washington
• CEO: Nick Pierre
• Year founded: 2000
• Review: 3.1
• Recommend to a friend: 65%

Read: The Biggest Salary Negotiation Mistakes You’re Making

West Virginia

• Company: Toyota North America
• Employees: 179,000
• Headquarters: Plano, Texas
• CEO: Akio Toyoda
• Year founded: 1933
• Review: 4
• Recommend to a friend: 77%

Find Out: 15 Great Cars To Own for More Than 15 Years

Wisconsin

• Company: ProHealth Care
• Employees: 4,700
• Headquarters: Waukesha, Wisconsin
• CEO: Susan Edwards
• Year founded: 1914
• Review: 3.4
• Recommend to a friend: 51%

Know the Signs: 10 Warning Signs That Online Job Offer Is a Money Scam

Wyoming

• Company: State of Wyoming
• Employees: 15,100
• Headquarters: Cheyenne, Wyoming
• CEO: Mark Gordon
• Year founded: 1890
• Review: 3.1
• Recommend to a friend: 37%

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Photo Disclaimer: Photos are for representational purposes only.

Methodology: GOBankingRates used data gathered by Forbes and Statista through a 2020 survey of 80,000 Americans on the company rated most positively by its employees in each state. Then, GOBankingRates listed each state’s (1) best company to work for, (2) number of employees, (3) location of company headquarters, (4) company CEO, and (5) the year of the company’s founding. Then, this information was paired with company reviews from Glassdoor to get the (6) overall employee review score out of 5 and (7) the percentage of employees who would recommend the company to a friend. All information was gathered on and up to date as of Dec. 22, 2020.

About the Author

Andrew Lisa

Andrew Lisa has been writing professionally since 2001. An award-winning writer, Andrew was formerly one of the youngest nationally distributed columnists for the largest newspaper syndicate in the country, the Gannett News Service. He worked as the business section editor for amNewYork, the most widely distributed newspaper in Manhattan, and worked as a copy editor for TheStreet.com, a financial publication in the heart of Wall Street’s investment community in New York City.

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