When we set out to find the best place to work in the Chicago metro area this year, we decided to ask the people who know best -- the employees.
Below are the local companies that workers credited with having dynamic, supportive and inclusive cultures. We list this year’s winners in categories for large, medium and small companies. We also list companies who didn’t finish in the top of their categories but met key Top Workplaces standards in the "More" category.
See where Top Workplaces are located »
| Rank | Internal Rank | Category | Company | Founded | Sector | Headquarters | IL Locations | IL Employees | US Employees | US Employees Internal | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.0 | Large | Athletico Physical Therapy | 1991 | Physical Therapy, Orthopedic Rehabilitation | Oak Brook | 72 | 1343 | 1350 | 1350.0 | |
| 1 | 2.0 | Midsize | Charles Rutenberg Realty of IL, LLC | 2004 | Agents / Brokers | Naperville | 2 | 714 | 714 | 714.0 | |
| 1 | 3.0 | Small | PPM America, Inc. | 1990 | Investment Management | Chicago | 2 | 219 | 226 | 226.0 | |
| 2 | 4.0 | Midsize | Assurance Agency, Ltd. | 1961 | Insurance Consultants & Brokers | Schaumburg | 1 | 286 | 286 | 286.0 | |
| 2 | 5.0 | Large | Baird & Warner, Inc. | 1855 | Agents / Brokers | Chicago | 24 | 1839 | 1839 | 1839.0 | |
| 2 | 6.0 | Small | Kale Realty | 1951 | Real Estate Brokerage Services | Chicago | 3 | 135 | 135 | 135.0 | |
| 3 | 7.0 | Large | Abt Electronics | 1936 | Retail Sales/Service of Electronics & Appliances | Glenview | 1 | 1062 | 1062 | 1062.0 | |
| 3 | 8.0 | Small | Town & Country Pediatrics, S.C. | 1972 | Physicians Practice | Chicago | 3 | 118 | 118 | 118.0 | |
| 3 | 9.0 | Midsize | Vi | 1987 | Senior Living | Chicago | 2 | 287 | 2600 | 2600.0 | |
| 4 | 10.0 | Large | Copley Memorial Hospital | 1995 | Healthcare - Hospitals | Aurora | 1 | 1665 | 1665 | 1665.0 | |
| 4 | 11.0 | Small | Webster Dental | 1976 | Dentistry | Lincolnwood | 8 | 150 | 150 | 150.0 | |
| 4 | 12.0 | Midsize | West Monroe Partners LLC | 2002 | Management and IT Consulting | Chicago | 1 | 273 | 329 | 329.0 | |
| 5 | 13.0 | Large | Cancer Treatment Centers of America | 1988 | Specialty Care Hospital (oncology/hematology) | Schaumburg | 3 | 1798 | 4651 | 4651.0 | |
| 5 | 14.0 | Small | LeasePlan USA | 1983 | Fleet Management Company | Alpharetta, GA | 1 | 145 | 489 | 489.0 | |
| 5 | 15.0 | Midsize | Salesforce.com | 1999 | Information Technology | San Francisco, CA | 1 | 440 | 4000 | 4000.0 | |
| 6 | 16.0 | Midsize | Edward Jones | 1922 | Financial Services | St. Louis, MO | 294 | 614 | 35353 | 35353.0 | |
| 6 | 17.0 | Large | Hyatt Hotels Corporation | 1957 | Hotel | Chicago | 9 | 3700 | 45000 | 45000.0 | |
| 6 | 18.0 | Small | Perkins Coie LLP | 1912 | Law | Seattle, WA | 1 | 177 | 1996 | 1996.0 | |
| 7 | 19.0 | Large | BP | 1909 | Petroleum, Gas, & Petroleum Products | Houston, TX | 3 | 2485 | 20000 | 20000.0 | |
| 7 | 20.0 | Midsize | Coyote Logistics | 2006 | Transportation | Chicago | 2 | 995 | 1335 | 1335.0 | |
| 7 | 21.0 | Small | Geneca | 1998 | Custom Software Development & Consulting | Oakbrook Terrace | 1 | 101 | 102 | 102.0 | |
| 8 | 22.0 | Midsize | Slalom Consulting | 2001 | Consulting | Seattle, WA | 1 | 310 | 2200 | 2200.0 | |
| 8 | 23.0 | Small | Transwestern | 1978 | Real Estate | Houston, TX | 1 | 148 | 1833 | 1833.0 | |
| 8 | 24.0 | Large | Whole Foods Market | 1980 | Food / Grocery | Austin, TX | 18 | 4200 | 75000 | 75000.0 | |
| 9 | 25.0 | Large | FedEx | 1973 | Distribution, Logistics, & Freight | Memphis, TB | 13 | 2400 | 260000 | 260000.0 | |
| 9 | 26.0 | Small | NovaCare Rehabilitation | 1991 | Physical Therapy | Mechanicsburg, PA | 31 | 107 | Not reported | -1.0 | |
| 9 | 27.0 | Midsize | Sentinel Technologies Inc. | 1982 | Information Technology Consulting Services | Downers Grove | 2 | 285 | 400 | 400.0 | |
| 10 | 28.0 | Midsize | @properties | 2000 | Agents / Brokers | Chicago | 11 | 597 | 600 | 600.0 | |
| 10 | 29.0 | Large | Lou Malnati's Pizzeria | 1971 | Restaurants and Carry Outs | Northbrook | 37 | 1840 | 1840 | 1840.0 | |
| 10 | 30.0 | Small | Sram LLC | 1987 | Bicycle Components | Chicago | 1 | 133 | 475 | 475.0 | |
| 11 | 31.0 | Midsize | National Futures Association | 1982 | Self Regulatory Agency | Chicago | 1 | 305 | 353 | 353.0 | |
| 11 | 32.0 | Small | True Partners Consulting LLC | 2005 | Certified Public Accountants & Consultants | Chicago | 1 | 101 | 212 | 212.0 | |
| 11 | 33.0 | Large | W.W. Grainger, Inc. | 1927 | Industrial Distribution | Lake Forest | 25 | 3980 | 15655 | 15655.0 | |
| 12 | 34.0 | Large | Advocate Health Care | 1995 | Healthcare - Hospitals | Oakbrook | 200 | 18632 | 32000 | 32000.0 | |
| 12 | 35.0 | Small | Red Frog Events | 2007 | Active Entertainment Industry | Chicago | 1 | 126 | 126 | 126.0 | |
| 12 | 36.0 | Midsize | Rust-Oleum Corporation | 1921 | Manufacturing/Paint | Vernon Hills | 1 | 285 | 1493 | 1493.0 | |
| 13 | 37.0 | Large | Accenture | 1989 | Consulting/Technology/Outsourcing | New York, NY | 3 | 5500 | 40000 | 40000.0 | |
| 13 | 38.0 | Midsize | Mercy Home for Boys & Girls | 1887 | Non-profit | Chicago | 2 | 283 | 283 | 283.0 | |
| 13 | 39.0 | Small | TRIS3CT LLC | 2005 | Advertising | Chicago | 1 | 137 | 144 | 144.0 | |
| 14 | 40.0 | Midsize | Flexco | 1907 | Manufacturing | Downers Grove | 3 | 301 | 500 | 500.0 | |
| 14 | 41.0 | Small | Oil-Dri Corporation of America | 1941 | Sorbent Minerals | Chicago | 2 | 132 | 700 | 700.0 | |
| 14 | 42.0 | Large | Sidley Austin LLP | 1866 | Law | Chicago | 1 | 1202 | 2900 | 2900.0 | |
| 15 | 43.0 | Small | Czarnowski | 1947 | Exhibit Marketing | Chicago | 1 | 145 | 400 | 400.0 | |
| 15 | 44.0 | Large | Discover Financial Services | 1986 | Direct Banking and Payment Services | Riverwoods | 1 | 3090 | 13000 | 13000.0 | |
| 15 | 45.0 | Midsize | Options Clearing Corp | 1973 | Securities | Chicago | 1 | 273 | 411 | 411.0 | |
| 16 | 46.0 | Small | Anderson Pest Solutions | 1913 | Pest Control | Elmhurst | 8 | 198 | 200 | 200.0 | |
| 16 | 47.0 | Large | Medline Industries, Inc. | 1966 | Manufacturer/Distributor Healthcare Supplies | Mundelein | 4 | 2558 | 5995 | 5995.0 | |
| 16 | 48.0 | Midsize | Microsoft Corporation | 1975 | Software, Services and Solutions | Redmond, WA | 2 | 535 | 57572 | 57572.0 | |
| 17 | 49.0 | Large | Capital One Financial | 1995 | Credit & Finance | McLean, VA | 2 | 1345 | 40535 | 40535.0 | |
| 17 | 50.0 | Midsize | CareerBuilder.com | 1995 | Web-based Recruitment Solutions | Chicago | 2 | 984 | 1850 | 1850.0 | |
| 17 | 51.0 | Small | The Container Store | 1978 | Storage and Organization | Coppell, TX | 4 | 200 | 6000 | 6000.0 | |
| 18 | 52.0 | Large | Jones Lang LaSalle | 1783 | Commercial Real Estate Services | Chicago | 3 | 2030 | 15000 | 15000.0 | |
| 18 | 53.0 | Small | National Van Lines Inc. | 1929 | Household Goods Transportation | Broadview | 1 | 132 | 140 | 140.0 | |
| 18 | 54.0 | Midsize | William Blair & Company, L.L.C. | 1935 | Global investment banking & asset management firm | Chicago | 1 | 969 | 1069 | 1069.0 | |
| 19 | 55.0 | Midsize | kCura | 2001 | E-Discovery Software | Chicago | 1 | 271 | 330 | 330.0 | |
| 19 | 56.0 | Large | MB Financial Bank, N.A. | 1911 | Commercial Bank | Chicago | 85 | 1610 | 1662 | 1662.0 | |
| 19 | 57.0 | Small | Much Shelist, P.C. | 1970 | Law | Chicago | 1 | 151 | 159 | 159.0 | |
| 20 | 58.0 | Small | Impact Networking, LLC | 1999 | Technology | Waukegan | 4 | 101 | 175 | 175.0 | |
| 20 | 59.0 | Large | Rivers Casino | 2011 | Gaming & Entertainment | Des Plaines | 1 | 1417 | 1417 | 1417.0 | |
| 20 | 60.0 | Midsize | TTX Company | 1955 | Railcar Pooling Services | Chicago | 1 | 314 | 1350 | 1350.0 | |
| 21 | 61.0 | Midsize | Community Counseling Centers Of Chicago | 1972 | Non-profit | Chicago | 5 | 275 | 275 | 275.0 | |
| 21 | 62.0 | Large | Leo Burnett Group | 1935 | Creative | Chicago | 1 | 1568 | 1800 | 1800.0 | |
| 21 | 63.0 | Small | Ostrow Reisin Berk & Abrams Ltd. | 1977 | Public Accounting | Chicago | 1 | 109 | 109 | 109.0 | |
| 22 | 64.0 | Midsize | Beacon Hill Retirement Community | 1985 | Healthcare - Senior Living | Des Moines, IA | 1 | 258 | 2500 | 2500.0 | |
| 22 | 65.0 | Large | Guaranteed Rate, Inc. | 2000 | Mortgage Lending | Chicago | 17 | 1332 | 2700 | 2700.0 | |
| 22 | 66.0 | Small | Jackson National Asset Management, LLC | 1995 | Financial Services & Insurance | Chicago | 1 | 160 | 160 | 160.0 | |
| 23 | 67.0 | Small | Cash America, International | 1983 | Specialty Financial Services | Fort Worth, TX | 26 | 145 | 145 | 145.0 | |
| 23 | 68.0 | Large | PricewaterhouseCoopers | 1890 | Certified Public Accountants & Consultants | New York, NY | 2 | 2477 | 40000 | 40000.0 | |
| 23 | 69.0 | Midsize | WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone | 2001 | Telecommunications & Cable | Denver. CO | 5 | 331 | 2600 | 2600.0 | |
| 24 | 70.0 | Small | 3D Exhibits | 1995 | Trade show and Event Marketing | Elk Grove Village | 1 | 113 | 133 | 133.0 | |
| 24 | 71.0 | Large | Ernst & Young LLP | 1894 | Professional services | New York, NY | 1 | 2227 | 29000 | 29000.0 | |
| 24 | 72.0 | Midsize | Pangea Properties | 2009 | Real Estate | Chicago | 1 | 264 | 324 | 324.0 | |
| 25 | 73.0 | Midsize | BCU | 1981 | Credit Union | Vernon Hills | 1 | 270 | 366 | 366.0 | |
| 25 | 74.0 | Small | Deltak | 2003 | Online Higher Education Technology & Services | Oak Brook | 1 | 155 | 375 | 375.0 | |
| 25 | 75.0 | Large | Takeda Pharmaceuticals | 1999 | Pharmaceuticals | Deerfield | 1 | 1300 | 3200 | 3200.0 | |
| 26 | 76.0 | Small | Sikich LLP | 1928 | Accounting and Consulting | Naperville | 3 | 234 | 485 | 485.0 | |
| 26 | 77.0 | Midsize | World's Finest Chocolate | 1939 | Chocolate Manufacturing | Chicago | 1 | 285 | 300 | 300.0 | |
| 27 | 78.0 | Small | Flexera Software Inc | 2008 | Enterprise Software | Schaumburg | 1 | 177 | 404 | 404.0 | |
| 27 | 79.0 | Midsize | Huron Consulting Group | 2002 | Consulting | Chicago | 1 | 716 | 2175 | 2175.0 | |
| 28 | 80.0 | Midsize | Fellowes, Inc. | 1917 | Consumer Goods | Itasca | 2 | 549 | 600 | 600.0 | |
| 28 | 81.0 | Small | The Advanced Group | 1988 | Staffing | Chicago | 5 | 162 | 225 | 225.0 | |
| 29 | 82.0 | Midsize | Chubb & Son | 1882 | General Insurance | Warren, NJ | 1 | 291 | 9000 | 9000.0 | |
| 29 | 83.0 | Small | Warren-Newport Public Library | 1973 | Public Library | Gurnee | 1 | 102 | 105 | 105.0 | |
| 30 | 84.0 | Small | Addison Group | 1999 | Staffing | Chicago | 2 | 114 | 350 | 350.0 | |
| 30 | 85.0 | Midsize | Charles Schwab | 1973 | Investment Management | San Francisco, CA | 14 | 419 | 13400 | 13400.0 | |
| 31 | 86.0 | Small | Gold Eagle Company | 1932 | Automotive Chemicals | Chicago | 1 | 200 | 200 | 200.0 | |
| 31 | 87.0 | Midsize | Joliet Township High School District 204 | 1901 | Local Government | Joliet | 1 | 892 | 898 | 898.0 | |
| 32 | 88.0 | Midsize | Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter | 1978 | Hospice, Palliative Care, Grief Support | Chicago | 3 | 341 | 341 | 341.0 | |
| 32 | 89.0 | Small | Power Home Remodeling Group | 1992 | Doors, Windows, & Glass | Chester, PA | 1 | 117 | 1313 | 1313.0 | |
| 33 | 90.0 | Midsize | Griffith Laboratories US | 1919 | Food / Beverages | Alsip | 1 | 369 | 500 | 500.0 | |
| 33 | 91.0 | Small | NAI Hiffman | 1981 | Real Estate Services | Oakbrook Terrace | 8 | 113 | 113 | 113.0 | |
| 34 | 92.0 | Midsize | Knowles Electronics | 1946 | Electronics / Computers | Itasca | 1 | 263 | 279 | 279.0 | |
| 34 | 93.0 | Small | Sapient | 1990 | Marketing & Technology Services | Boston, MA | 1 | 220 | 2200 | 2200.0 | |
| 35 | 94.0 | Midsize | Mars Chocolate North America | 1929 | Food / Beverages | Hackettstown, NJ | 1 | 300 | 12000 | 12000.0 | |
| 35 | 95.0 | Small | Performics | 1998 | Digital/Performance Marketing | Chicago | 1 | 196 | 255 | 255.0 | |
| 36 | 96.0 | Small | Upshot | 1994 | Integrated Marketing | Chicago | 1 | 146 | 150 | 150.0 | |
| 37 | 97.0 | Small | Mount Prospect Public Library | 1943 | Public Library | Mount Prospect | 2 | 208 | 208 | 208.0 | |
| 38 | 98.0 | Small | Spot Trading LLC | 1999 | Proprietary Trading | Chicago | 1 | 139 | 139 | 139.0 | |
| 39 | 99.0 | Small | Frost, Ruttenberg & Rothblatt, P.C. | 1955 | Certified Public Accountants & Consultants | Deerfield | 2 | 107 | 108 | 108.0 | |
| 40 | 100.0 | Small | Transportation Solutions Enterprises LLC | 2001 | Logistics | Chicago | 1 | 187 | 250 | 250.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 101.0 | More | Ace Hardware Corporation - HQ | 1924 | Hardware | Oak Brook | 1 | 843 | 4200 | 4200.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 102.0 | More | Aux Sable Liquid Products | 2000 | Midstream Gas Processing | Channahon | 1 | 184 | 216 | 216.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 103.0 | More | Avanade Inc. | 2000 | Custom Software Development & Consulting | Seattle, WA | 1 | 343 | 2300 | 2300.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 104.0 | More | CME Group | 1898 | Derivatives Marketplace | Chicago | 3 | 2024 | 2400 | 2400.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 105.0 | More | Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries | 1913 | Professional Services | New York, NY | 1 | 3958 | 56827 | 56827.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 106.0 | More | ECFMG - Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates | 1956 | Medical Education | Philadelphia, PA | 1 | 105 | 800 | 800.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 107.0 | More | Erie Family Health Center Inc | 1957 | Federally Qualified Health Center | Chicago | 13 | 442 | 443 | 443.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 108.0 | More | Family Home Health Services | 2000 | Home Healthcare Services and Hospice Services | Addison | 1 | 162 | 162 | 162.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 109.0 | More | Fay Servicing, LLC | 2008 | Residential Mortgage Servicer | Chicago | 1 | 117 | 117 | 117.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 110.0 | More | Feldco Factory Direct | 1976 | Consumer Services | Des Plaines | 2 | 109 | 175 | 175.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 111.0 | More | Interactive Health | 1992 | Health and Wellness | Schaumburg | 1 | 122 | 167 | 167.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 112.0 | More | KPMG LLP | 1897 | Certified Public Accountants & Consultants | New York, NY | 2 | 1751 | 22000 | 22000.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 113.0 | More | La Quinta Inns & Suites | 1968 | Hotel | Irving, TX | 12 | 306 | 8775 | 8775.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 114.0 | More | Littelfuse, Inc. | 1927 | Manufacturing | Chicago | 3 | 175 | 330 | 330.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 115.0 | More | Mather LifeWays | 1941 | Healthcare - Senior Living | Evanston | 8 | 452 | 620 | 620.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 116.0 | More | Mortenson Construction | 1954 | Building Construction | Golden Valley, MN | 1 | 109 | 2150 | 2150.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 117.0 | More | PEAK6 Investments LP | 1997 | Financial Services & Insurance | Chicago | 1 | 350 | 375 | 375.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 118.0 | More | Primera Engineers, Ltd | 1987 | Engineering and management services firm | Chicago | 2 | 143 | 143 | 143.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 119.0 | More | Radiological Society of North America | 1915 | Professional / Trade Association | Oak Brook | 1 | 203 | 200 | 200.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 120.0 | More | Sysmex America, Inc. | 1993 | Diagnostics, Imaging, & Laboratories | Lincolnshire | 4 | 321 | 700 | 700.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 121.0 | More | Teach For America - Chicago | 2000 | Education - Primary / Secondary School | New York, NY | 1 | 130 | 1500 | 1500.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 122.0 | More | The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. | 1810 | Financial Services & Insurance | Hartford, CT | 2 | 529 | 20000 | 20000.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 123.0 | More | The James Chicago | 2006 | Hotel | New York, NY | 1 | 230 | 275 | 275.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 124.0 | More | Trilogy Inc. | 1971 | Behavioral Healthcare | Chicago | 2 | 138 | 138 | 138.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 125.0 | More | Wheels, Inc. | 1939 | Financial Services & Insurance | Des Plaines | 2 | 604 | 610 | 610.0 | |
| Honorable mention | 126.0 | More | Wintrust Mortgage, a division of Barrington Bank & Trust, N.A. | 1979 | Mortgage Lending | Rosemont | 41 | 447 | 700 | 700.0 |
Methodology: On behalf of the Tribune, WorkplaceDynamics LLP of Exton, Pa., a workplace survey specialist, conducted an engagement survey of Chicago-area employers with at least 100 employees. The Tribune did not pay WorkplaceDynamics; the firm undertook the scientific survey for its research and business purposes.
In total, 1,728 companies were invited to participate. Of those, 254 companies completed the survey, allowing WorkplaceDynamics to identify the top 100, divided into three categories: small (fewer than 250 employees), midsize (250-999) and large (1,000 and more). The surveyed companies employ 171,463 people in the Chicago area, of which 121,128 received surveys and 80,519 responded.
WorkplaceDynamics conducted and compiled the top workplaces list and delivered the top 100 results to the Tribune.
Data produced by WorkplaceDynamics for the Chicago Tribune.