Working in technology-focused roles can be intense.Frequently, the jobs are fast-paced, filled with complex intellectual challenges, and involve continual upskilling to stay current—all of which can cause extreme burnout.It’s no wonder, then, that some companies are updating their policies and benefits to attract top tech talent who may be looking for greener pastures.
“A lot of large tech companies are beginning to recognize that there’s an opportunity here,” says David Smith, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.Employers are “recognizing that we have to account for the impact that work—and life outside of work—can have on our overall ability to perform,” he says.“Burned out employees don’t perform at the levels that you’re looking for—and you’re going to have a hard time retaining them.They’re going to look for something else.”
The employers that are more likely to retain tech workers, Smith says, understand that employees want the ability to customize their benefits and work arrangements to accommodate their specific needs.For instance, some workers may be caring for children while others are caring for aging parents, or employees “might be in that sandwich generation caring for both of them,” he says.And the companies that enable workers to pursue their careers while fulfilling their roles outside of work will have an edge over other employers.
Semiconductor firm Micron Technology, based in Boise, Idaho, has taken employee health and caregiving considerations seriously, with on-site childcare centers, nearby health clinics and fitness areas.
The company also offers financial wellness benefits including retirement plans and stock purchase plans, “Micron’s wellbeing programs support physical, mental, social, career and financial health, so our team members can thrive both inside and outside of work,” says Fran Dillard, vice president of Micron’s global culture, workforce and talent acquisition.Micron even offers “team member advocates” who help employees navigate insurance plans and flexible work arrangements.
“We invest in our people’s whole selves,” says Dillard.
This investment in employees is no doubt a large part of the reason Micron Technology earned the No.3 spot on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers For Tech Workers 2025.
The second-annual list, made in partnership with research firm Statista, surveyed more than 25,000 tech workers across all industries at companies with at least 1,000 employees in the United States.The respondents, who primarily work in IT or tech-focused jobs—including software development, data analysis, technical support and cybersecurity—were asked whether they would recommend their current employer, any previous employer (within the last two years) and companies they knew through peers in their industry, or through friends or family who worked there.
Participants were also asked to share their opinions on their current employer based on criteria including salary and benefits, advancement opportunities, management style, whether there is an environment of fairness and trust, and if the company has a positive reputation.Data from the past three years of Forbes-Statista employee surveys was included.
The responses were collected and analyzed, with the most recent data from current employees weighted more heavily than data from past employees or those who had never worked for the company.Each employer was then given a score, and the 300 companies with the highest scores made our list of America’s Best Employers For Tech Workers of 2025.
Topping the list this year was Microsoft (No.1), which rose from No.
8 in 2024, followed by Google (No.2), which jumped from No.5 last year.Rounding out the top five—in addition to Micron Technology’s No.-3 ranking (a marked rise from its No.
52 ranking in 2024)—was Salesforce, which maintained its No.4 spot from last year, and Computer Task Group at No.5.
Coming in at No.7 was Cincinnati Children’s, which credits its success to the training resources available to its technical staff, which includes biomedical engineers, network engineers, cybersecurity experts, medical records personnel, and a virtual reality development team.“This investment is vital to ensure our staff remains at the top of their skill level given the rapid changes in our field,” says Tony Johnston, the hospital’s senior vice president of information services and chief information officer.
Cincinnati Children’s also offers flexibility to its tech staff members with both hybrid and full-time remote work options.
Other benefits include generous leave plans (including 100% paid short-term disability for up to 6 weeks, followed by 80% paid leave), education assistance, retirement plans (with the option of individual consultations) and in-house mental health counseling.
Labcorp (No.10), a global laboratory services company that made the list for the first time this year, says a main driver attracting tech talent to the company is its focus on bettering the wellbeing of patients and the community through innovative technologies.“What sets us apart is the opportunity for our tech teams to work at the intersection of health, science and cutting-edge technology,” says Bola Oyegunwa, the company’s executive vice president and chief information and technology officer.
“Whether it’s programming robotics for automated lab testing, deploying cloud-native applications or leveraging generative AI to solve complex healthcare challenges, our teams are deeply embedded in meaningful work to advance our mission to improve health and improve lives.”
Labcorp also offers a broad range of learning and mentorship opportunities so that workers can advance in their careers.“I’ve seen firsthand how managers prioritize individual development—even if it means stepping outside traditional roles to explore new skills,” adds Bola Oyegunwa.
“Many of our tech leaders started their careers here years ago and grew through stretch assignments and cross-functional collaboration.”
The company offers unique perks, like free laboratory testing at any of Labcorp’s 2,000 Patient Service Centers, along with more traditional benefits such as a health savings account, tuition reimbursement and medical, dental and life insurance options.
At Arizona-based electronics manufacturer Microchip Technology (No.21), which rose from No.
99 last year, many employees are motivated by the company’s training programs.And these programs don’t just cover advanced technical skills but also include managerial skills, such as leadership development, conflict management and mentorship, says Steve Sanghi, the CEO of Microchip.One of the many benefits of this in-house training is that up to 50% of the jobs at Microchip are filled internally.
And when there aren’t any current openings, the company often finds opportunities for employees to work on other assignments or new tasks that will help them grow depending on the person’s interests and goals.This is in addition to the company’s flexible work policies, profit-sharing and stock option benefits and on-site medical centers.
At the heart of the company’s philosophy, Sanghi says, is the idea that the employee organization chart should be flipped upside down because the employees in the trenches—who understand the work best—are trusted to make their own decisions about which projects to pursue rather than taking orders from on high.And because there’s less interference from above, “the work gets done faster, the decisions get made faster,” says Sanghi, and “the employees really like the culture of empowerment.”
To find other companies that provide a culture of employee empowerment, growth and satisfaction, check out our full list of America’s Best Employers For Tech Workers here.
Methodology
To create this second-annual list of America’s Best Employer For Tech Workers, Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista and surveyed more than 25,000 tech workers in the United States employed at companies across all sectors with at least 1,000 people in the country.Tech workers were defined as professionals who identified themselves as having a job focused on “tech” or “IT functions,” including software development, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data project management, technical support and more.
Survey respondents were asked how likely they would be to recommend their current employer, their previous employer (within the past two years), and companies they knew through peers in their industry, or through friends or family who worked there.Current workers were also asked to evaluate their employers based on such criteria as: salary, professional development opportunities, workplace flexibility, the ability of employees to express ideas and opinions openly, and if the company has a reputation for being technologically progressive.Data from the past three years of Forbes-Statista employee surveys was included.
Responses were tallied and analyzed, with data from current employees weighted more heavily than older data or than responses from past employees or people who had never worked at the company.Each employer was then given a score, and the top 300 companies made our list of America’s Best Employers For Tech Workers 2025.
As with all Forbes lists, companies pay no fee to participate or be selected.
To read more about how we make these lists, click here.For questions about this list, please email listdesk [at] forbes.com..
