Which companies made Fortune's "Best Companies To Work For" list this year? Here are the top 10.
1. Google
2012 Fortune 500 rank: 73
2012 Best Companies rank: 1
No. of U.S employees: 18500
Most common job title and or function: N.A
Avg. annual compensation for that job: N.A
Everything was up at Google last year – revenue, profits, share price, paid search clicks, hiring and so, too, was employee love; the search giant climbed three slots in our ranking to reclaim the top spot. The reason? Employees rave about their mission, the culture, and the famous perks of the Plex: bocce courts, a bowling alley, eyebrow shapping (for a fee) in the New York office. Then there’s the food: some 25 cafes companywide, all gratis. Wrote one Googler. “Employees are never more than 150 feet away from a well stocked pantry.”
2. NetApp
2012 Fortune 500 rank: 474
2012 Best Companies rank: 6
No. of U.S. employees: 6887
Most common job title and or function: Member of Technical Staff Software
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $143,077
The data storage firm’s pay for performance program triggered huge bonuses last year when revenues shot up from $3.9 billion of $5 billion. Employees received payouts of up to 31 percent of their salary.
3. NuStar Energy
2012 Fortune 500 rank: 377
2012 Best Companies rank: 15
No. of U.S. employees: 1512
Most common job title and or function: Terminal Manager
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $90094
The company has never had a layoff, pays 100 percent of its workers’ health insurance premium, and matches 401(k) contributions up to 6 percent of pay. It also lends the corporate jet to employees in times of crisis.
4. Qualcomm
2012 Fortune 500 rank: 178
2012 Best Companies rank: 23
No. of U.S. employees: 13353
Most common job title and or function: Engineer, Staff
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $132000
The mobile telecom firm has long been known for a culture that fosters innovation and encourages diversity; it also boasts a perk filled campus with one of the most extensive recreational facilities on our list.
5. Devon Energy
2012 Fortune 500 rank: 232
2012 Best Companies rank: 28
No. of U.S. employees: 3286
Most common job title and or function: Engineer
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $178305
In March the company began moving into a new 50 story tower, the tallest building in the state. When planning the new building, management incorporated employee requests, including a coffee shop and a dry cleaner.
6. Whole Food Market
2012 Fortune 500 rank: 264
2012 Best Companies rank: 32
No. of U.S. employees: 60213
Most common job title and or function: Associate Store Team Leader
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $80199
Occupy protesters might look kindly at the nation’s biggest natural foods grocer, since it caps salaries of executives at 19 times the average full time salary. Co founder John Mackey’s 2006 pay reduction to $1 a year is still in effect.
7. Intel
2012 Fortune 500 rank: 51
2012 Best Companies rank: 46
No. of U.S. employees: 44209
Most common job title and or function: Component Design Engineer
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $133826
The chipmaker moves people to new positions every 18 to 24 months, on average to encourage them to explore new fields. (New hires are told, “Welcome to your next five jobs.”)
8. Marriott International
2012 Fortune 500 rank: 217
2012 Best Companies rank: 57
No. of U.S. employees: 108939
Most common job title and or function: Event Manager
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $50056
The hotel giant works hard to create opportunities to move its employees upward: More than 3000 managers started in hourly jobs.
9. American Express
2012 Fortune 500 rank: 95
2012 Best Companies rank: 60
No. of U.S. employees: 27235
Most common job title and or function: Manager Finance
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $113880
AmEx employees stay for the long haul. Turnover is a low 7 percent for full timers, 9% for part timers; 16 percent of its U.S. workforce has been there 20 years.
10. Nordstrom
2012 Fortune 500 rank: 242
2012 Best Companies rank: 61
No. of U.S. employees: 52431
Most common job title and or function: Sales Department Manager
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $49500
The average wage for retail salespeople is $12 an hour; at Nordstrom its $19.18. With commissions, some make more than $200000 a year.