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    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction

    Where in the U.S. will you find the most satisfied employees? And what makes them so satisfied in their jobs? For job seekers looking to relocate or launch their career, Glassdoor has released its second annual “Employment Satisfaction Report Card by City (2014),” offering a comparison by city of overall employee satisfaction, number of employers hiring, business outlook expectations and more, according to local employees in the 50 largest U.S. metros.

    Based on local employee feedback shared over the past 12 months, the San Francisco Bay Area takes the lead for the second year in a row, with San Jose, California ranking #1 (3.5 employment satisfaction rating) and San Francisco, California taking #2 (3.4). Both cities are home to several companies that won a 2014 Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award, honoring the 50 Best Places to Work.

    Washington, D.C. (3.4) jumps two spots from #5 on last year’s report to #3 this year, followed by  Norfolk, Virginia (3.4) at #4 (up 8 spots from #12 last year) and Salt Lake City, Utah (3.4) rounding out the top five. (Ratings based on a 5-point scale: 1.0=very dissatisfied, 3.0=OK, 5.0=very satisfied).

    Interestingly, Salt Lake City (#5) ranks #1 when it comes to employee optimism for business outlook. Fifty-two percent of Salt Lake City employees believe business will improve in the next six months. Local employees report several benefits of working in Salt Lake City, including enjoying a healthy work-life balance, in part comprised of working reasonable hours and being able to take advantage of the beautiful city and outdoors.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 1

    Click through for the top 25 cities in the U.S. for employee satisfaction, as identified by Glassdoor’s second annual “Employee Satisfaction Report Card by City (2014).”

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 2

    San Jose, Calif.

    San Jose, Calif. ranks first with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.5 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.5, and a career opportunities rating of 3.3. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 42 percent believe it is getting better, 37 percent believe it will stay the same, and 21 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 4,200 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 3

    San Francisco, Calif.

    San Francisco, Calif. ranks second with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.4 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.3, and a career opportunities rating of 3.2. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 48 percent believe it is getting better, 32 percent believe it will stay the same, and 20 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 7,632 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 4

    Washington, D.C.

    Washington, D.C. ranks third with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.4 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.4, and a career opportunities rating of 3.1. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 39 percent believe it is getting better, 38 percent believe it will stay the same, and 24 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 8,658 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 5

    Norfolk, Va.

    Norfolk, Va. ranks fourth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.4 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.3, and a career opportunities rating of 3.2. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 37 percent believe it is getting better, 37 percent believe it will stay the same, and 26 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 2,137 employers currently hiring in the area.

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    Salt Lake City, Utah

    Salt Lake City, Utah ranks fifth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.4 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.3, and a career opportunities rating of 3.1. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 52 percent believe it is getting better, 26 percent believe it will stay the same, and 22 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 2,263 employers currently hiring in the area.

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    San Diego, Calif.

    San Diego, Calif. ranks sixth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.3 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.3, and a career opportunities rating of 3.1. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 40 percent believe it is getting better, 39 percent believe it will stay the same, and 22 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 3,723 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 8

    Seattle, Wash.

    Seattle, Wash. ranks seventh with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.3 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.3, and a career opportunities rating of 3.2. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 44 percent believe it is getting better, 36 percent believe it will stay the same, and 20 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 4,834 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 9

    Oklahoma City, Okla.

    Oklahoma City, Okla. ranks eighth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.3 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.3, and a career opportunities rating of 3.1. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 40 percent believe it is getting better, 40 percent believe it will stay the same, and 19 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 2,200 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 10

    San Antonio, Texas

    San Antonio, Texas ranks ninth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.3 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.3, and a career opportunities rating of 3.1. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 41 percent believe it is getting better, 28 percent believe it will stay the same, and 30 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 2,882 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 11

    Austin, Texas

    Austin, Texas ranks tenth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.3 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.3, and a career opportunities rating of 3.1. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 42 percent believe it is getting better, 31 percent believe it will stay the same, and 27 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 3,872 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 12

    Boston, Mass.

    Boston, Mass. ranks eleventh with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.3 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.2, and a career opportunities rating of 3.1. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 43 percent believe it is getting better, 34 percent believe it will stay the same, and 24 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 7,170 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 13

    Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

    Raleigh-Durham, N.C. ranks twelfth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.3 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.2, and a career opportunities rating of 3.0. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 36 percent believe it is getting better, 35 percent believe it will stay the same, and 29 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 3,104 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 14

    Los Angeles, Calif.

    Los Angeles, Calif. ranks thirteenth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.3 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.2, and a career opportunities rating of 3.1. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 36 percent believe it is getting better, 37 percent believe it will stay the same, and 27 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 9,250 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 15

    Baltimore, Md.

    Baltimore, Md. ranks fourteenth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.2 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.2, and a career opportunities rating of 3.0. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 43 percent believe it is getting better, 35 percent believe it will stay the same, and 22 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 6,377 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 16

    Memphis, Tenn.

    Memphis, Tenn. ranks fifteenth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.3 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.2, and a career opportunities rating of 3.0. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 32 percent believe it is getting better, 42 percent believe it will stay the same, and 27 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 1,974 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 17

    New Orleans, La.

    New Orleans, La. ranks sixteenth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.2 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.3, and a career opportunities rating of 3.0. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 37 percent believe it is getting better, 42 percent believe it will stay the same, and 21 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 1,863 employers currently hiring in the area.

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    Sacramento, Calif.

    Sacramento, Calif. ranks seventeenth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.2 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.1, and a career opportunities rating of 3.0. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 37 percent believe it is getting better, 40 percent believe it will stay the same, and 23 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 2,600 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 19

    Atlanta, Ga.

    Atlanta, Ga. ranks eighteenth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.2 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.2, and a career opportunities rating of 3.0. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 43 percent believe it is getting better, 35 percent believe it will stay the same, and 22 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 6,377 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 20

    Jacksonville, Fla.

    Jacksonville, Fla. ranks nineteenth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.2 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.2, and a career opportunities rating of 3.0. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 50 percent believe it is getting better, 26 percent believe it will stay the same, and 24 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 2,287 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 21

    Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

    Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. ranks twentieth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.2 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.2, and a career opportunities rating of 3.0. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 38 percent believe it is getting better, 39 percent believe it will stay the same, and 23 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 4,480 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 22

    Houston, Texas

    Houston, Texas ranks twenty-first with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.2 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.2, and a career opportunities rating of 3.0. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 44 percent believe it is getting better, 32 percent believe it will stay the same, and 24 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 3,445 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 23

    St. Louis, Mo.

    St. Louis, Mo. ranks twenty-second with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.2 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.2, and a career opportunities rating of 3.0. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 44 percent believe it is getting better, 32 percent believe it will stay the same, and 24 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 3,445 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 24

    Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

    Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas ranks twenty-third with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.2 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.2, and a career opportunities rating of 3.0. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 40 percent believe it is getting better, 33 percent believe it will stay the same, and 26 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 7,260 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 25

    Orlando, Fla.

    Orlando, Fla. ranks twenty-fourth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.2 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.1, and a career opportunities rating of 3.0. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 39 percent believe it is getting better, 39 percent believe it will stay the same, and 22 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 2,972 employers currently hiring in the area.

    Top 25 Cities for Employee Satisfaction - slide 26

    Providence, R.I.

    Providence, R.I. ranks twenty-fifth with an overall satisfaction rating of 3.2 out of 5, a compensation and benefits rating of 3.2, and a career opportunities rating of 3.0. With regards to the business outlook for the next six months, 38 percent believe it is getting better, 37 percent believe it will stay the same, and 25 percent believe it is getting worse. There are about 2,016 employers currently hiring in the area.

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