The best companies to work for in the United States offer a mix of good pay, opportunities for advancement, a sense of belonging and flexible work-from-home policies.
That’s according to U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Companies to Work For 2025-26” report, which considered those metrics and more to find out the best companies to work for in the country and Washington state.
U.S. News’s rankings include both publicly traded and privately owned companies, and it drew on a “range of different data points” to evaluate the businesses. It acknowledges that “best” may not mean the same thing to everyone, but the media company attempted to focus on “universally desired factors” that might apply to most workers.
Nearly 500 companies received a best overall rating from U.S. News.
Here are the ones based in Washington state:
U.S. News named 11 companies with headquarters in Washington state in its “Best Companies to Work For 2025-26” report:
U.S. News rated this energy and resources company highly in work-life balance, stability and belongingness. It was founded in 1889. The company’s website states it is “guided by this simple principle: do what is right in a manner that is fair and worthy of trust.”
This hospitality company was rated very highly for quality of pay, work-life balance and safety, according to U.S. News. The company’s benefits package includes adoption assistance and offers gym discounts to promote healthy lifestyles. It was founded in 1994.
This information technology company’s best categories in the U.S. News report are quality of pay, belongingness, and safety. The business fosters a “big company with a small company” culture and offers job-site flexibility, according to its website. The company was founded in 1996.
Founded in 1995, this media and communications company received top scores in U.S. News’ quality of pay, work-life balance, and stability categories. Its benefits package includes matching 401(k) contributions and international work opportunities.
This engineering and construction company was started in 1960 and rated highly in the report’s quality of pay, work-life balance, and stability categories, according to U.S. News. The company boasts its “PeopleFirst Culture” that focuses on employee well-being, according to its website.
A transportation and logistics company, Saltchuk was founded in 1982 and rated highly in U.S. News’ report for its quality of pay, stability, and safety. The company’s website offers a “generous” matching 401(k) program to help employees plan for retirement.
U.S. News scored this consulting and human resources company highly for its quality of pay, work-life balance, and safety. Slalom offers performance-based pay that rewards good work and a benefits package that supports employees’ mental and financial well-being, according to its website. It was founded in 2001.
Smartsheet’s best categories in the U.S. News report were quality of pay, belongingness, stability and work-life balance. This information technology company offers flexible paid time off, remote work opportunities and mental health support, according to its website. The company was started in 2005.
While this real estate and facilities management company received high marks for quality of pay, work-life balance and stability, U.S. News also recognized its good sense of belongingness and professional development opportunities. It was started in 1972.
The popular information technology company built a home in the real estate space and received high marks for its sense of belongingness, work-life balance, and pay quality. It was founded in 2004 and offers fertility assistance, wellness reimbursements and tuition help.
The top categories for this real estate and facilities management company were professional development, comfort, work-life balance, and quality of pay, according to U.S. News. It was founded in 2008 and offers flexible working opportunities.
U.S. News also ranked the best law firms in the country, selecting three with headquarters in Washington state:
These 11 Washington state companies are the best to work for, US News finds – Kitsap Sun
