Skip to main content

Houston Methodist, Other Local Cos. Make List of Texas' Best Employers

Published Jun 11, 2019 by A.J. Mistretta

A number of Houston-based companies ranked among the top employers in the state according to a report.

In its first-ever America’s Best Employers by State list, Forbes collaborated with Statista to determine which companies are most liked by their employees. A total of 199 employer companies—some based in the Lone Star state and others with significant operations here—were ranked on the Texas list. 

Local healthcare institution Houston Methodist topped the list. Here are the top 20 companies on the list with asterisks identifying which ones are also Greater Houston Partnership members. 

1. Houston Methodist* 
Headquarters: Houston, Texas
CEO: Marc Boom

2. Microsoft* 
Employees: 131,000
Headquarters: Redmond, Washington
CEO: Satya Nadella
Year Founded: 1985

3. Southwest Airlines* 
Employees: 58,800
Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
CEO: Gary C. Kelly
Year Founded: 1967

4. H-E-B* 
Employees: 111,000
Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas
CEO: Charles C Butt

5. Costco Wholesale
Employees: 245,000
Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington
CEO: W. Craig Jelinek
Year Founded: 1976

6. United Services Automobile Association
Employees: 21,900
Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas
CEO: Stuart Parker

7. Chevron* 
Employees: 48,600
Headquarters: San Ramon, California
CEO: Michael K. Wirth
Year Founded: 1879

8. Google
Employees: 72,053
Headquarters: Mountain View, California
CEO: Sundar Pichai
Year Founded: 1998

9. Boeing* 
Employees: 153,000
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois
CEO: Dennis A. Muilenburg
Year Founded: 1929

10. Trader Joe's
Employees: 10,001
Headquarters: Monrovia, California
CEO: Dan Bane
Year Founded: 1958

11. Royal Dutch Shell* 
Employees: 81,000
Headquarters: Houston, Texas
CEO: Bernardus Margriet van Beurden
Year Founded: 1911

12. NASA* 
Employees: 17,515
Headquarters: Washington, District of Columbia
CEO: James Frederick "Jim" Bridenstine

13. University of Texas, Austin
Headquarters: Austin, Texas
CEO: Gregory L. Fenves
Year Founded: 1883

14. DowDuPont* 
Employees: 98,000
Headquarters: Midland, Michigan
CEO: Edward D. Breen
Year Founded: 1897

15. Valero Energy* 
Employees: 10,261
Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas
CEO: Joe Gorder
Year Founded: 1980

16. Toyota North America
Employees: 137,000
Headquarters: Plano, Texas
CEO: James Lentz

17. Apple
Employees: 132,000
Headquarters: Cupertino, California
CEO: Tim Cook
Year Founded: 1976

18. Intel* 
Employees: 107,400
Headquarters: Santa Clara, California
CEO: Robert Swan
Year Founded: 1968

19. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Headquarters: Houston, Texas
CEO: Giuseppe Colasurdo

20. City of San Antonio
Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas
CEO: Ron Nirenberg

Other Partnership member companies based in Houston that made the list, along with their ranking, include: Texas Children’s Hospital (23), Sysco (33), Halliburton (50), ConocoPhillips (55), Landry’s (80), Pappas Restaurants (96), Lone Star College (106), Waste Management (127), Kelsey-Seybold Clinic (159), Weatherford International (176). 

See the full rundown from Forbes by state and click here for the Partnership's Membership Directory. 
 

Related News

Economic Development

Houston Region Asserts Biotech Excellence at BIO International Convention

6/25/25
The Greater Houston Partnership and regional partners showcased Houston’s thriving life sciences and biotechnology ecosystem at the 2025 BIO International Convention in Boston. As the premier annual biotechnology conference in the United States, BIO 2025 drew nearly 20,000 global attendees, offering a powerful platform to highlight the region’s momentum, innovation, and growing opportunities in the sector.    BioHouston, Galveston EDP, Partnership Lake Houston, Pearland EDC, the Sugar Land Office of Economic Development and Tourism and The Woodlands EDP presented the many assets and unique benefits the region offers to biotechnology companies from startup to full-scale, including 8 million square feet of life sciences space, strategic workforce and educational initiatives, as well as an overall favorable approach to incentives and permitting.    "Working alongside the different members of our region and telling the story of the amazing product that Greater Houston has to offer is invigorating," Galveston EDP Executive Director Joshua Owens said. "Being able to showcase our ecosystem to a worldwide audience is an exceptional step toward creating opportunities for the people of Houston."    Recent wins, such as Bionova Scientific's move to The Woodlands and United Therapeutics’ move to Generation Park, serve as testaments to the variety of options for life science businesses in our region. With pronounced capabilities in research and development, manufacturing and innovation, life sciences companies of all kinds can find a welcoming home in the Houston region.    To learn more about our life sciences and biotechnology ecosystem, visit our life sciences page. 
Read More
Education

Texas Lawmakers Continue Reforming Small Colleges to Add More ‘Credentials of Value’

6/23/25
Houston is one of the nation’s biggest hubs for young professionals, thanks to strong job growth and an affordable cost of living. Between 2020 and 2024, the region added an estimated 240,000 new jobs, part of a broader economic boom across Texas. Now, a new law aims to build on that momentum by expanding access to workforce training and education programs. Senate Bill 1786 (SB 1786) was signed into law on May 27 and takes immediate effect to remove barriers for Texans seeking to enroll in local community and junior college programs. Additional provisions, including regional job demand studies and data analysis, will take effect on September 1. Free Courses for Disadvantaged StudentsSB 1786 expands free dual credit courses for economically disadvantaged students in grades 9–12, helping more Texans earn college credit before graduation. The law also addresses delays in the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s rulemaking for financial aid, speeding up access to grants and loans. It improves coordination across state and federal programs, including Jobs and Education for Texans (JET), P-TECH early college high schools, and TRUE reskilling programs. These changes will begin with the 2025–26 school year. Aligning Funding with Workforce Needs SB 1786 builds on the 2023 overhaul of the state’s community college finance system by tying funding to student outcomes, specifically: Earning degrees or industry-recognized credentials that lead to well-paying jobs Successfully transferring to four-year universities Completing targeted dual credit coursework Supporting  Business Growth and Regional Competitiveness By strengthening access to high-value credentials and aligning education funding with workforce outcomes, SB 1786 reinforces the region’s position as a destination for business investment and expansion. These reforms help ensure Houston has a pipeline of skilled talent ready to meet the needs of employers in high-growth sectors such as energy, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and technology. As the Partnership works to attract companies and jobs to the region, these policies send a strong signal that Houston is preparing its people for the careers of tomorrow. The law also strengthens the definition of a “credential of value” as one that helps a student earn more than a high school graduate and justifies the cost of their education. Credentials in high-demand sectors, such as healthcare and education, may also qualify. These updates will take effect in the 2027–28 school year. Workforce-Driven Reform The goal of SB 1786 is to reduce redundancy, maximize impact, and ensure postsecondary programs are aligned with the needs of Texas employers. By supporting this legislation, Houston’s business community is helping to sustain a robust talent pipeline for years to come.  
Read More

Related Events

Diversity and Inclusion

Inclusion Solutions: Thriving Culture as a Talent Strategy

In today’s competitive talent landscape, inclusive workplace cultures are more than a value—they’re a strategic advantage. This interactive session is designed for human resources professionals and people leaders who…

Learn More
Learn More
Executive Partners