Mapped: The Best Employer in Every U.S. State (2026) — who tops each state and what the results mean

The useful part

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. NASA leads in Alabama, Lockheed Martin in Louisiana, Toyota in Kentucky, and Trader Joe's in California.

How it works

• 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.
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• Key Takeaways Washington has the highest share of AI-exposed jobs, at 5.7% of its workforce.
• This visualization maps all 50 states and Washington, D.C., by the share of workers employed in occupations considered highly exposed to AI-related disruption.

What to take from it

Healthcare, finance, government, industrial, and consumer organizations also claim top spots across the country. Benefits, career development, management, flexibility, and job security can also shape overall satisfaction. job satisfaction reached 68.9%, the highest level in 39 years and the 16th consecutive annual increase.

Example or evidence

• The state's large technology sector helps explain its position, with companies such as Microsoft and Amazon supporting a significant concentration of software developers, programmers, database specialists,...
• Published September 30, 2026 9:52 am By Gabriel Cohen Does Your State Trade More With China or the EU?
• Profit Margins of the World's Largest Companies Who Makes the World's Electronics?

Details worth keeping

Tech companies rank first in 19 states, more than any other sector. This map shows the top-rated employer in every U.S. The ranking is based on a Forbes survey of more than 245,000 employees.

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