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.
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).”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
