14. EMC
Headquarters: Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Experienced median pay: $117,000
High job satisfaction: 76% of employees
EMC's company culture hinges on the principles of camaraderie and teamwork. When new employees enter the information-technology company, they are assigned an "alum chum" to help them navigate and get settled. Teams also participate in bonding activities such as softball or soccer games and lunch-and-learn sessions. Many EMC employees can take advantage of the ability to work remotely as well, a perk 50% of the company enjoys.
13. Apple
Headquarters: Cupertino, California
Experienced median pay: $127,000
High job satisfaction: 70% of employees
Though a competitive and demanding place to work — only 6% of employees rated their jobs as low stress, according to PayScale — Apple treats its employees incredibly well, with perks like discounts on Apple products, robust health benefits (even for part-time Apple-store workers), and on-site "beer bashes." CEO Tim Cook addressed the company's commitment to employee diversity in a letter on Apple's website, stating that in 2015 35% of new hires were women and 43% were minorities.
12. Texas Instruments
Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Experienced median pay: $101,000
High job satisfaction: 73% of employees
The electronics company — the third-largest semiconductor maker in the world — has offices across the globe in countries such as Germany, Israel, China, and Japan. According to PayScale, the highest average salaries at Texas Instruments belong to analog- and mixed-signal design engineers, who make about $97,000 a year. The company's 30,000 employees are expected to maintain the core values of "integrity, innovation, and commitment."
11. Salesforce.com
Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Experienced median pay: $136,000
High job satisfaction: 90% of employees
Salesforce is a demanding workplace — only 1% of employees reported having low-stress jobs to PayScale — but the company strives to create a happy work environment, earning the highest job-satisfaction mark on our ranking behind Facebook. The customer-relationship software company offers on-site fitness and massages, standing and treadmill desks, free snacks and drinks, and dog-friendly offices.
Employee participation in philanthropic work is important as well. Workers can take six days off a year to volunteer, and the company also coordinates volunteer trips around the world.
10. Advanced Micro Devices
Headquarters: Sunnyvale, California
Experienced median pay: $102,000
High job satisfaction: 73% of employees
The semiconductor company aims to push the boundaries of technology and has committed to go green along the way with a trifold program that rewards employees who save energy at work, during their commute, and at home. Though the company is only 22% female, according to PayScale, it has established programs for the inclusion of women, like executive mentoring for emerging female leaders and a general women's forum.
9. Intel
Headquarters: Santa Clara, California
Experienced median pay: $118,000
High job satisfaction: 72% of employees
Intel wants every employee to build the career of their dreams, and it helps them do it by providing access to career advisers, networking events, certifications, and tuition assistance. Outside of the workday, employees at the semiconductor and computer-technology company enjoy perks such as on-site fitness centers, tickets to local sporting and cultural events, and discounted shopping programs.
8. eBay
Headquarters: San Jose, California
Experienced median pay: $125,000
High job satisfaction: 78% of employees
The e-commerce platform jumped up 23 spots on our list this year. The company champions employees to go beyond the work they do in the office and make an impact globally. That includes a "Green Team," in which employees and eBay sellers work together to improve eBay’s sustainability, as well as a match program for philanthropic gifts.
7. Expedia
Headquarters: Bellevue, Washington
Experienced median pay: $115,000
High job satisfaction: 71% of employees
Expedia, the parent company of Expedia.com and a host of online-travel brands and booking sites, including Orbitz and Travelocity, employs more than 18,000 people in 30 countries. Naturally, the company offers its employees travel discounts and fosters a culture that emphasizes curiosity and exploration.
6. Cisco Systems
Headquarters: San Jose, California
Experienced median pay: $124,000
Job satisfaction: 75% of employees
Flexibility is key at Cisco, where a whopping 67% of employees can telecommute or work remotely, making it the most flexible workplace on the list. On campus, employees of the IT and networking tech company enjoy a host of perks, including fitness centers and bike paths, cafés and gourmet food trucks, childcare centers and mothers' rooms, and "fun funds" for team celebrations and team-building exercises.
5. NetApp
Headquarters: Sunnyvale, California
Experienced median pay: $129,000
High job satisfaction: 75% of employees
NetApp, a data-storage and cloud-management company, has a slew of employee benefits that have become typical of tech companies competing for top talent, including gourmet food and on-site fitness centers, as well as coworker training programs and time off to volunteer.
Senior software engineers draw the largest salaries at NetApp, pulling in $145,000 on average, followed closely by senior product managers, who make $143,000, according to PayScale.
4. Microsoft
Headquarters: Redmond, Washington
Experienced median pay: $129,000
High job satisfaction: 70% of employees
The computer-tech stalwart jumped up five spots on the list from last year. Employees find the company very flexible — more than 40% reported being able to work from home, according to PayScale. And Microsoft moved to ease its work-life balance even more in October 2015 by implementing a parental-leave policy that allows men and women to take up to 12 fully paid weeks off.
3. Facebook
Headquarters: Menlo Park, California
Experienced median pay: $135,000
High job satisfaction: 97% of employees
The 12-year-old social network cum global tech giant is consistently lauded as one of the best places to work thanks to unrivaled employee perks including gourmet food courts, on-site doctors and chiropractors, laundry and dry-cleaning services, bikes to commute around campus, an inclusive company culture, and four months of paid parental leave for mothers, fathers, and same-sex couples.
2. Symantec
Headquarters: Mountain View, California
Experienced median pay: $119,000
High job satisfaction: 74% of employees
Symantec has over 21,000 employees dedicated to creating top-of-the-line cyber-security software. Though employees are expected to know a number of computer-programming languages — Java being the most popular — PayScale found that the best-paying skill is Python. The best-paying position? That would be principal software engineer, which draws a salary of $140,000 on average.
1. Google
Headquarters: Mountain View, California
Experienced median pay: $140,000
High job satisfaction: 86% of employees
Dethroning last year's No. 1, Facebook, Google earned the title as the best company to work for this year. Notorious for its abundant perks, employees at the search giant can take advantage of free gourmet food, 24/7 tech support, on-site massages, free fitness classes and gym memberships, and a generous vacation plan.
Employees also report that Google — recently renamed Alphabet in a corporate restructuring — allows them flexibility to work on passion projects and feed their creativity. The company continues to grow, adding nearly 9,000 jobs in the last year.