Survey Reveals the Most Coveted Companies to Work For, Based on Perks and Benefits

What really holds employees to a company when the salary isn’t the whole story?

Looking at a lineup of top U.S. employers—from Google’s tech empire to the quieter King Arthur Baking Company shows there’s no single answer.

Money’s a draw, sure, but it’s not the only thing that sticks.

Our survey of 3,023 workers across the U.S. dug into some of the standout workplaces nationwide, spotlighting perks like travel deals and every day boosts that seem to keep people on board.

The below table shows which businesses employees in each state would most like to work for, based on their perks and benefits.

Big players like Google and Microsoft come with hefty perks—free lunches, stock shares—that fit their reputations.

But then there’s Vermont’s King Arthur Baking Company and New Hampshire’s W.S. Badger Co., smaller names that lean on close-knit teams and goals like going green.

It’s a hint that keeping people doesn’t always mean having the loudest name in the room.

Airlines like Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines give free or cheap flights to employees and their families.

It’s almost like the job doubles as another passport—though waiting on standby might dampen the thrill a bit.

Still, for anyone itching to see the world, it’s hard to beat.

Spots like Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia use their medical roots to offer top-shelf health benefits and wellness setups.

Not the flashiest draw, maybe, but for employees who know how much that stuff counts, it’s a rock-solid reason to stay.

Walmart, Costco Wholesale, and Publix Super Markets are flipping the script with tuition support, better wages, and shares of the profits.

The old idea of retail as a grind doesn’t hold up here—these places are making a case to be taken seriously in the hunt for good people.

Companies like L.L.Bean in Maine, Chick-fil-A in Georgia, and Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Mountain Resort bake in a bit of home-gear deals, that southern hospitality, or a lift ticket. It’s the kind of thing that probably makes workers with roots nearby feel a little more anchored.

Salesforce, Adobe, and Cisco Systems keep their edge with flex time and chances to grow, which tracks.

But seeing Micron Technology in Idaho and GoDaddy in Arizona pull similar moves shows tech’s tricks aren’t just for the big-city crowd—those benefits travel well.

Ford Motor Company and General Motors hang onto classics like pensions, while Patagonia and Etsy play up fresh ideas—saving the planet, letting creativity loose.

That combo seems to catch both the old hands and the new blood without missing a beat.

NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and the State of Wyoming don’t fit the usual “dull public job” mold.

One’s got the pull of space, the other a steady life with a hint of wild country—enough to make you wonder if public work’s been underrated all along.

Ben & Jerry’s, Starbucks, and Tyson Foods slip in ice cream, coffee, or meat as little perks.

It’s not just about eating—it’s a steady pat on the back, something that might lift your day more than you’d expect.

USAA’s four-day week and Marriott International’s life-work balance push show a shift toward bending, not breaking.

It’s less about big showy rewards and more about letting people breathe—could be that’s the quiet key to sticking around.

The way these employers mix it up says something about where work’s heading.

Cash and the usual benefits still hold sway, no denying that, but the real glue often lies in the details—a schedule that bends, a nod to the hometown feel.

What these companies show is that keeping people isn’t just about piling on goodies; it’s about building a place that feels worth sticking with.

That back-and-forth between the obvious and the subtle points to a smarter way of holding onto talent—something any outfit navigating today’s job world might want to chew on.

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