Best Companies to Work for in the Fortune 500

See the companies that made both the Fortune 500 and Best Companies to Work For lists this year.

Google

2012 Fortune 500 rank: 73
2012 Best Companies rank: 1
No. of U.S. employees: 18,500
Most common job title and/or function: N.A.
Avg. annual compensation for that job: N.A.

Courtesy: GoogleEverything was up at Google last year -- revenue, profits, share price, paid search clicks, hiring -- and so, too, was employee love; the search giant climbed three slots in our ranking to reclaim the top spot. The reason? Employees rave about their mission, the culture, and the famous perks of the Plex: bocce courts, a bowling alley, eyebrow shaping (for a fee) in the New York office. Then there's the food: some 25 cafés companywide, all gratis. Wrote one Googler: "Employees are never more than 150 feet away from a well-stocked pantry."

NetApp

Courtesy: NetApp2012 Fortune 500 rank: 474
2012 Best Companies rank: 6
No. of U.S. employees: 6,887
Most common job title and/or function: Member of Technical Staff Software
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $143,077

The data storage firm's pay-for-performance program triggered huge bonuses last year when revenues shot up from $3.9 billion to $5 billion. Employees received payouts of up to 31% of their salary.

NuStar Energy

Courtesy: NuStar Energy2012 Fortune 500 rank: 377
2012 Best Companies rank: 15
No. of U.S. employees: 1,512
Most common job title and/or function: Terminal Manager
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $90,094

The company has never had a layoff, pays 100% of its workers' health insurance premium, and matches 401(k) contributions up to 6% of pay. It also lends the corporate jet to employees in times of crisis.

Qualcomm

Courtesy: Qualcomm2012 Fortune 500 rank: 178
2012 Best Companies rank: 23
No. of U.S. employees: 13,353
Most common job title and/or function: Engineer, Staff
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $132,000

The mobile-telecom firm has long been known for a culture that fosters innovation and encourages diversity; it also boasts a perk-filled campus with one of the most extensive recreational facilities on our list.

Devon Energy

Courtesy: Devon Energy2012 Fortune 500 rank: 232
2012 Best Companies rank: 28
No. of U.S. employees: 3,286
Most common job title and/or function: Engineer
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $178,305

In March the company began moving into a new 50-story tower, the tallest building in the state. When planning the new building, management incorporated employee requests, including a coffee shop and a dry cleaner.

Whole Foods Market

Courtesy: Whole Foods2012 Fortune 500 rank: 264
2012 Best Companies rank: 32
No. of U.S. employees: 60,213
Most common job title and/or function: Associate Store Team Leader
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $80,199

Occupy protesters might look kindly at the nation's biggest natural-foods grocer, since it caps salaries of executives at 19 times the average full-time salary. Co-founder John Mackey's 2006 pay reduction to $1 a year is still in effect.

Intel

Courtesy: Intel2012 Fortune 500 rank: 51
2012 Best Companies rank: 46
No. of U.S. employees: 44,209
Most common job title and/or function: Component Design Engineer
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $133,826

The chipmaker moves people to new positions every 18 to 24 months, on average, to encourage them to explore new fields. (New hires are told, "Welcome to your next five jobs.")

Marriott International

Courtesy: Marriott International2012 Fortune 500 rank: 217
2012 Best Companies rank: 57
No. of U.S. employees: 108,939
Most common job title and/or function: Event Manager
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $50,056

The hotel giant works hard to create opportunities to move its employees upward: More than 3,000 managers started in hourly jobs.


American Express

Courtesy: American Express2012 Fortune 500 rank: 95
2012 Best Companies rank: 60
No. of U.S. employees: 27,235
Most common job title and/or function: Manager-Finance
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $113,880

AmEx employees stay for the long haul. Turnover is a low 7% for full-timers, 9% for part-timers; 16% of its U.S. workforce has been there 20 years.

Nordstrom

Courtesy: Nordstrom2012 Fortune 500 rank: 242
2012 Best Companies rank: 61
No. of U.S. employees: 52,431
Most common job title and/or function: Sales Department Manager
Avg. annual compensation for that job: $49,500

The average wage for retail salespeople is $12 an hour; at Nordstrom it's $19.18. With commissions, some make more than $200,000 a year.





Click here to see the full list of Best Companies to Work for in the 500.