Illinois
Forbes named the best employers in the U.S. Here are 54 from Illinois on the list
The state of Illinois is home to more than 50 of the best employers in the United States, according to annual rankings released recently by Forbes.
Here is a look at how the list was made and which Illinois businesses made the cut.
How did Forbes make the list of best employers?
Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to survey over 217,000 employees nationwide. Respondents rated employers based on salary, advancement opportunities, work environment and training programs.
After tallying and analyzing the data, Forbes gave each employer a score and placed a total of 1,199 organizations on either a Best Large Employers 2025 list or a Best Midsized Employer 2025 list. The Best Large Employers list consisted of 701 companies nationwide, and the Best Midsized Employers list named 498 businesses.
Which Illinois businesses made the rankings?
The financial magazine listed the best large and midsized employers in the United States. The results show that 31 Illinois-based businesses are among the top country’s top large employees, while 23 Illinois businesses earned national recognition as mid-sized employers.
The Peoria Journal Star has listed the top Illinois employers in each category. The lists include national rank, business, industry, employee count and headquarters location.
Forbes list: Illinois’ Best Large Employers
- 62. Hyatt Hotels | travel and leisure | 51,000 | Chicago
- 113. Caterpillar | manufacturing, engineering | 113,000 | Deerfield
- 139. Grainger | retail and wholesale | 22,100 | Lake Forest
- 159. Northwestern Medicine | healthcare and social services | 30,000 | Chicago
- 162. Levy | restaurants | 10,001 | Chicago
- 215. AbbVie | drugs and biotechnology | 50,000 | North Chicago
- 242. Health Care Service Corporation | insurance | 28,000 | Chicago
- 267. CDW | IT software and services | 11,700 | Vernon Hills
- 298. State Farm | insurance | 67,000 | Bloomington
- 328. Gallagher Bassett | insurance | 5,000 | Rolling Meadows
- 338. Ace Hardware | retail and wholesale | 5,583 | Oak Brook
- 339. Motorola Solutions | telecommunications services, cable supplier | 11,130 | Chicago
- 350. Discover Financial Services | banking and financial services | 21,100 | Riverwoods
- 363. United Airlines | transportation and logistics | 103,300 | Chicago
- 367. ALDI | retail and wholesale | 25,000 | Batavia
- 419. Abbott Laboratories | healthcare equipment and services | 35,340 | Chicago
- 484. Zurich North America | insurance | 9,000 | Schaumburg
- 521. CAN Financial | insurance | 6,300 | Chicago
- 535. Baker Tilly | professional services | 44,000 | Chicago
- 563. RSM US | professional services | 16,600 | Chicago
- 572. Exelon | utilities | 19,962 | Chicago
- 578. Crowe | professional services | 5,001 | Chicago
- 590. JLL | business services and supplies | 35,366 | Chicago
- 600. John Deere | engineering, manufacturing | 83,000 | Moline
- 601. Walsh Group | construction, chemicals, raw materials | 8,000 | Chicago
- 613. Dover | engineering, manufacturing | 25,000 | Downers Grove
- 628. US Foods | food, soft beverages, alcohol and tobacco | 30,000 | Rosemont
- 652. Medline Industries | healthcare equipment and services | 30,000 | Northfield
- 671. Great Wolf Resorts | travel and leisure | 10,000 | Chicago
- 691. Kraft Heinz Company | food, soft beverages, alcohol and tobacco | 36,000 | Chicago
Forbes List: Illinois’ Best Midsized Employers
- 7. Morningstar | business services and supplies | 3,400 | Chicago
- 10. Silver Cross Hospital | healthcare and social services | 3,800 | New Lenox
- 26. Alzheimer’s Association | healthcare and social services | 2,000 | Chicago
- 34. Harper College | education | 1,316 | Palatine
- 41. Southern Illinois Healthcare | healthcare and social services | 4,000 | Carbondale
- 74. Argonne National Laboratory | drugs and biotechnology | 3,400 | Lemont
- 90. Eversana | drugs and biotechnology | 6,000 | Chicago
- 106. Ronald McDonald House Charities | healthcare and social services | 5,000 | Chicago
- 120. Illinois Institute of Technology | education | 1,450 | Chicago
- 159. Kirkland and Ellis | professional services | 6,500 | Chicago
- 162. Echo Global Logistics | transportation and logistics | 2,600 | Chicago
- 165. Illinois Bone and Joint Institute | healthcare and social services | 1,100 | Des Plaines
- 222. Ed Napleton Automotive Group | automotive | 3,500 | Oakbrook Terrace
- 252. Wintrust | banking and financial services | 5,521 | Rosemont
- 298. Beltone | health care equipment and services | 1,093 | Chicago
- 304. Zebra Technologies | semiconductors, electronics, electrical engineering | 9,750 | Lincolnshire
- 318. AAR | aerospace and defense | 4,125 | Wood Dale
- 330. Hub Group | transportation and logistics | 5,950 | Oak Brook
- 390. Sargent and Lundy | professional services | 3,500 | Chicago
- 392. Fresh Thyme | retail and wholesale | 1,657 | Downers Grove
- 411. AIT Worldwide Logistics | transportation and logistics | 3,700 | Itasca
- 450. Alera Group | insurance | 3,500 | Deerfield
- 493. Hollister | healthcare equipment and services | 3,200 | Libertyville
It wasn’t the prettiest of first halves for the Tide, but they made it to halftime with a 28-0 lead. The Alabama defense was nearly perfect, absolutely stymieing the overmatched Panthers for -1 total rushing yards and 13 passing yards, plus the special teams got a punt block.
The Alabama offense was given a couple of short fields that they cashed in on, and they generally moved the ball well. However a Ty Simpson interception over the middle ended one drive, and another ended on a holding call that set up a chip shot field goal that Connor Talty missed to make himself the main story of the game.
Alabama’s called 22 rushing plays in this one so far, gaining 121 rushing yards (5.5 yards per carry!!). The passing game hasn’t been as good, with Simpson completing 11/16 for 147 yards and 2 picks, though one of those was a hail mary to the endzone on the last play of the half.
The Tide may give Simpson one more drive after the half, but it should be the Austin Mack and Keelon Russell show the rest of the way.
MACOMB, Ill. (AP) — Rasheed Jones had 20 points in Coastal Carolina’s 84-64 win against Western Illinois on Friday.
Jones shot 6 of 17 from the field, including 4 for 10 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 5 from the free-throw line for the Chanticleers (3-2). Josh Beadle shot 6 of 12 from the field, including 2 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 5 from the foul line to add 18 points. DaJohn Craig shot 4 for 6, including 3 for 5 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points.
The Leathernecks (1-5) were led by Karyiek Dixon, who recorded 16 points and eight rebounds. Western Illinois also got 16 points and six rebounds from Francis Okwuosah. Tyran Cook had eight points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Wisconsin Badgers are looking to end what has been a disastrous season on a high note. The team is 3-7 through 10 games, with a 1-6 mark in conference play and seven multi-score losses. It now closes vs. Illinois on Saturday, then at Minnesota on Nov. 29, badly needing two strong performances to build momentum entering 2026.
Illinois enters the first leg of that final stretch at 7-3 (4-3 Big Ten) on the year, ranked No. 21 in the AP Poll. The team is falling short of its preseason College Football Playoff expectations. However, head coach Bret Bielema continues to elevate the program’s standing, set to deliver another strong eight or nine-win finish.
Luke Fickell and his Wisconsin program are working to rise to Illinois’ current place in the conference. A big 2026 reestablishing the program’s trajectory will be key to that ascension. A strong 2026, as noted, must start with a solid stretch to close 2025.
With just over 24 hours until kickoff between the Badgers and Fighting Illini, here is the updated betting line and over/under.
Wisconsin football vs. Illinois opening betting odds, money line, over/under
Odds courtesy of FanDuel
- Point Spread: Illinois minus-8 1/2, Wisconsin plus-8 1/2
- Money Line: Illinois minus-355, Wisconsin plus-285
- Over/under: 41 1/2
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