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
Illinois
How to buy Illinois Final Four gear, hats, shirts, hoodies, more
No. 3 Illinois knocked off No. 9 Iowa on Saturday night in Houston, now they’re advancing to the Final Four in the men’s NCAA Tournament.
The Fighting Illini pulled away late and ended their the Hawkeye’s Cinderella run in the Elite Eight with a 71-59 victory.
SHOP: Illinois Final Four tickets
Illinois fans know this is special, it’s the team’s first Final Four appearance since 2005, so now it’s time to celebrate.
Get the gear the players wore on the court, including Illinois Final Four hats, Illinois Final Four shirts, and more.
Shop ALL Illinois Final Four gear
Illinois Final Four hat
Illinois Final Four shirt
Illinois Final Four game location
Illinois will play its Final Four game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Get your Illinois Final Four NCAA Tournament tickets now.
Shop Illinois Final Four tickets
Illinois Final Four appearances
The last time the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team made the Final Four was in 2005. They also made it in 1989, 1952, 1951 and 1949.
When is the Final Four?
The 2026 NCAA Tournament concludes with the Final Four on Saturday, April 4 and the National Championship game on Monday, April 6. Saturday’s games are scheduled for 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. ET respectively, while the National Championship game is set to tip at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday, April 6.
March Madness 2026 full schedule for the men’s tournament
- March 19-20: First round
- March 21-22: Second round
- March 26-27: Sweet 16
- March 28-29: Elite 8
- April 4-5: Final Four
- April 6: National Championship
Shop ALL March Madness tickets
Illinois
Champaign places temporary restrictions on alcohol sales as city gears up for Illini-Hawkeyes game
Saturday, March 28, 2026 1:30PM
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WLS) — As the Fighting Illini take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Elite Eight, there will be new liquor laws in place in Champaign.
The mayor signed an executive order, citing concerns to public health.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
After 3 p.m. Saturday, bars and restaurants cannot serve alcohol in glass containers.
And retailers are banned from selling packaged alcohol or to-go cocktails after 6 p.m.
Alcohol deliveries are also being banned after 6 p.m.
The restrictions will remain in place until 2:30 a.m. Sunday.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Illinois
Illinois vs Iowa prediction, analysis, Elite Eight expert picks for men’s March Madness
The men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament continues with Elite Eight action Saturday with No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 9 Iowa on the two-game schedule.
USA TODAY Sports’ college basketball experts have analyzed all the angles and determined a path to victory for each side. Here’s everything you need to know before the Elite Eight matchup tips off.
USA TODAY has a team of journalists covering the men’s NCAA Tournament to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.
Illinois will win Elite Eight game vs Iowa if…
- John Leuzzi: It replicates what it did defensively against Houston.
- Jordan Mendoza: It controls the interior.
- Ehsan Kassim: Wagler can win the matchup against Stirtz.
- Austin Curtright: If its defense plays like it did against Houston.
Iowa will win Elite Eight game vs Illinois if…
- John Leuzzi: It limits Illinois on offensive rebounds, and second chance opportunities.
- Jordan Mendoza: it’s knocking down 3-pointers.
- Ehsan Kassim: Hawkeyes can make the game slower paced and Illinois misses shots.
- Austin Curtright: Its bench contributors of Alvaro Folgueiras, Tate Sage and others continue their strong play.
Illinois vs Iowa: 1 Stat to watch
- John Leuzzi: Bennett Stirtz vs. Keaton Wagler at the point guard battle.
- Jordan Mendoza: 3-point shot.
- Ehsan Kassim: Illinois 3-point shooting.
- Austin Curtright: Illinois’ defense has been outstanding in the NCAA Tournament, despite ranking outside the top 20 in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency.
Illinois vs Iowa Elite Eight prediction
- John Leuzzi: Iowa
- Jordan Mendoza: Illinois
- Ehsan Kassim: Illinois
- Austin Curtright: Illinois
3 Illinois vs 9 Iowa
- Opening Moneyline: Illinois (-275), Iowa (+227)
- Opening Spread: Illinois (-6.5)
- Opening Total: 139.5
How to Watch Illinois vs Iowa in the Elite Eight
No. 3 Illinois takes on No. 9 Iowa at Toyota Center on March 28 at 6:09 PM The game is airing on TBS.
Stream March Madness on Sling
2026 Men’s March Madness full schedule
See the schedule, live scores and results for all of the NCAA Tournament action here.
- March 17-18: First Four
- March 19-20: First Round
- March 21-22: Second Round
- March 26-27: Sweet 16
- March 28-29: Elite 8
- April 4: Final Four
- April 6: National Championship
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