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The basics:

• Forbes releases its 2025 Best Employers by State list
• 90 companies rank for NJ, 40 headquartered locally
• Out-of-state-based Wegmans, Grainger and Lockheed Martin lead local rankings
• In-state firms include J&J, Horizon BCBS, Merck

To help job-seekers decide on their next move, Forbes once again compiled its annual Best Employers by State list. 

For its seventh annual ranking, released Aug. 21, Forbers partnered with market research firm Statista to survey more than 160,000 employees across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. 

Companies that employ more than 500 people in the U.S. are eligible, and businesses do not pay to be included. 

Survey respondents were asked: 

• How likely they were to recommend their employer
• To evaluate their workplace based on criteria such as wage parity, work culture, paths to advancement and whether the employer addresses serious issues, like sexual harassment 
• To evaluate their previous employers within the past two years  
• To evaluate organizations within their industry or through acquaintances who work there 

Researchers also incorporated data from the past three years to compile the findings. Companies that received the highest scores in each state made the final cut. Across the nation, 1,417 companies were named to this year’s list.

In New Jersey, 90 companies were named among the state’s best employers, with 40 of those headquartered in the Garden State. 

New Jersey’s Best-In-State Employers for 2025, according to Forbes:

Garden State-headquartered companies denoted in red

No. 1: Wegmans Food Markets, Rochester, N.Y.
Industry: Retail and Wholesale 

No. 2: Grainger, Lake Forest, Ill.
Industry: Retail and Wholesale 

No. 3: Lockheed Martin, Bethesda, Md.
Industry: Aerospace & Defense 

No. 4: Fidelity Investments, Boston, Mass.
Industry: Banking and Financial Services 

No. 5: Exelon, Chicago, Ill.
Industry: Utilities 

No. 6: Google, Mountain View, Calif.
Industry: IT Software & Services 

No. 7: Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick
Industry: Drugs & Biotechnology 

No. 8: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Newark
Industry: Insurance 

No. 9: IBM, Armonk, N.Y.
Industry: IT Software & Services 

No. 10: Apple, Cupertino, Calif.
Industry: Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering 

No. 11: Merck & Co., Kenilworth
Industry: Drugs & Biotechnology 

No. 12: Hilton Worldwide Holdings, McLean, Va.
Industry: Travel & Leisure 

No. 13: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark
Industry: Education 

No. 14: PSEG (Public Service Enterprise Group), Newark
Industry: Utilities 

No. 15: Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, Ill.
Industry: Medical Equipment & Services 

No. 16: Verizon Communications, New York, N.Y.
Industry: Telecommunications Services, Cable Supplier 

No. 17: MGM Resorts, Las Vegas, Nev.
Industry: Travel & Leisure 

No. 18: Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 19: Atlantic Health System, Morristown
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 20: Oracle, Redwood Shores, Calif.
Industry: IT Software & Services 

No. 21: TD Bank, Cherry Hill
Industry: Banking and Financial Services 

No. 22: Automatic Data Processing, Roseland
Industry: Business Services & Supplies 

No. 23: Microsoft, Redmond, Wash.
Industry: IT Software & Services 

No. 24: Compass Group, Chertsey, U.K.
Industry: Business Services & Supplies 

No. 25: Holman, Mount Laurel
Industry: Automotive (Automotive and Suppliers) 

No. 26: Rowan University, Glassboro
Industry: Education 

No. 27: Amazon, Seattle, Wash.
Industry: Retail and Wholesale 

No. 28: JPMorganChase, New York, N.Y.
Industry: Banking and Financial Services 

No. 29: Princeton University, Princeton
Industry: Education 

No. 30: Jefferson Health, Philadelphia, Pa.
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 31: Rutgers University, New Brunswick
Industry: Education 

No. 32: TJX Cos., Framingham, Mass.
Industry: Retail and Wholesale 

No. 33: PNC Financial Services, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Industry: Banking and Financial Services 

No. 34: Allstate, Northbrook, Ill.
Industry: Insurance 

No. 35: MetLife, New York, N.Y.
Industry: Insurance 

No. 36: Cooper University Health Care, Camden
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 37: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Parsippany-Troy Hills
Industry: Travel & Leisure 

No. 38: Prudential Financial, Newark
Industry: Banking and Financial Services 

No. 39: University Hospital Newark, Newark
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 40: Bank of America, Charlotte, N.C.
Industry: Banking and Financial Services 

No. 41: William Paterson University, Wayne
Industry: Education 

No. 42: Virtua, Marlton
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 43: Catalent, Somerset
Industry: Drugs & Biotechnology 

No. 44: Anywhere Real Estate Inc., Madison
Industry: Business Services & Supplies 

No. 45: Hackensack Meridian Health, Edison
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 46: Capital Health, Trenton
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 47: Target, Minneapolis, Minn.
Industry: Retail and Wholesale 

No. 48: Allied Universal, Conshohocken, Pa.
Industry: Business Services & Supplies 

No. 49: BAYADA Home Health Care, Pennsauken Township
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 50: Comcast, Philadelphia, Pa.
Industry: Media & Advertising 

No. 51: Morgan Stanley, New York, N.Y.
Industry: Banking and Financial Services 

No. 52: Selective Insurance, Branchville
Industry: Insurance 

No. 53: The Home Depot, Atlanta, Ga.
Industry: Retail and Wholesale 

No. 54: New Jersey Transit, Newark
Industry: Transportation and Logistics 

No. 55: Inspira Health Network, Mullica Hill
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 56: Aramark, Philadelphia, Pa.
Industry: Business Services & Supplies 

No. 57: Wawa, Wawa, Pa.
Industry: Retail and Wholesale 

No. 58: AT&T, Dallas, Texas
Industry: Telecommunications Services, Cable Supplier 

No. 59: Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa.
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 60: FedEx, Memphis, Tenn.
Industry: Transportation and Logistics 

No. 61: Lowe’s, Mooresville, N.C.
Industry: Retail and Wholesale 

No. 62: Panasonic, Newark
Industry: Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering 

No. 63: Burlington Stores, Burlington
Industry: Clothing, Shoes, Sports Equipment 

No. 64: Best Buy, Richfield, Minn.
Industry: Retail and Wholesale 

No. 65: RWJBarnabas Health, West Orange
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 66: Crestron Electronics, Rockleigh
Industry: Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering 

No. 67: Becton Dickinson and Co. (BD), Franklin Lakes
Industry: Medical Equipment & Services 

No. 68: Darden Restaurants, Orlando, Fla.
Industry: Restaurants 

No. 69: State of New Jersey, Trenton
Industry: Government Services 

No. 70: Bristol Myers Squibb, New York, N.Y.
Industry: Drugs & Biotechnology 

No. 71: Church & Dwight, Ewing
Industry: Packaged Goods 

No. 72: Novartis, East Hanover
Industry: Drugs & Biotechnology 

No. 73: FOX Rehabilitation, Cherry Hill
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 74: Fresenius Medical Care, Waltham, Mass.
Industry: Medical Equipment & Services 

No. 75: Cigna, Bloomfield, Conn.
Industry: Insurance 

No. 76: HelloFresh, Berlin, Germany
Industry: Retail and Wholesale 

No. 77: SHI International, Somerset
Industry: IT Software & Services 

No. 78: Cognizant, Teaneck
Industry: IT Software & Services 

No. 79: NJM Insurance Group, West Trenton
Industry: Insurance 

No. 80: Freedom Mortgage, Mount Laurel
Industry: Banking and Financial Services 

No. 81: Citigroup, New York, N.Y.
Industry: Banking and Financial Services 

No. 82: Mondelez International, Deerfield, Ill.
Industry: Food, Soft Beverages, Alcohol & Tobacco 

No. 83: Ahold Delhaize USA, Quincy, Mass.
Industry: Retail and Wholesale 

No. 84: Geico, Chevy Chase, Md.
Industry: Insurance 

No. 85: Rite Aid, Camp Hill, Pa.
Industry: Retail and Wholesale 

No. 86: United Airlines, Chicago, Ill.
Industry: Transportation and Logistics 

No. 87: Ansell, Melbourne, Australia
Industry: Medical Equipment & Services

No. 88: United Parcel Service, Atlanta, Ga.
Industry: Transportation and Logistics 

No. 89: DaVita, Denver, Colo.
Industry: Healthcare & Social Services 

No. 90: UnitedHealth Group, Minnetonka, Minn.
Industry: Insurance 

Company kudos 

Organizations are sharing their reactions to their rankings with NJBIZ: 

“This recognition underscores NJM’s focus on creating an engaged workplace where all employees feel valued and heard. NJM’s culture of continuous learning, inclusion, and career development is the foundation of our commitment to serving policyholders.”
–  Carol Voorhees, NJM Insurance Group president and CEO 

“We are honored that Forbes has once again recognized NJ TRANSIT as one of New Jersey’s best employers. This achievement is a reflection of the dedication and passion of our nearly 12,000 employees who keep our state moving every day. At NJ TRANSIT, we are committed to fostering a workplace culture that values innovation, growth and opportunity while continuing to provide safe and reliable service to the communities we serve.”
–  Kris Kolluri, NJ Transit president and CEO  

“I am proud of William Paterson’s dedicated faculty and staff, whose shared commitment to the success of our students creates a strong campus culture, where talented people can grow professionally and advance their careers. We are honored to be recognized by Forbes and believe that William Paterson, the great place to work, is inextricably linked to William Paterson, the greatest place for New Jersey students to get a great, affordable college education.”
–  Richard Helldobler, William Paterson University president