21 CA Employers Make Fortune's Best Companies To Work For 2026 List

Twenty-one companies headquartered in California were named to Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list, reflecting the state's strong presence in this year's rankings.

San Jose-based Cisco and Santa Clara-based NVIDIA both ranked in the top 10 of the annual list released Wednesday by Fortune in partnership with Great Place to Work.

The ranking evaluates companies largely on confidential employee surveys measuring trust, job satisfaction and workplace culture.

The 2026 list was topped by Synchrony, a Connecticut-based financial services and insurance company, followed by Hilton, a Virginia-based hospitality company.

Cisco ranked third nationally and first in the Golden State. According to survey results, 96% of employees said the information technology company is a great place to work.

"Cisco has truly been the most remarkable company I've had the privilege to work for," one employee said. "The welcoming and vibrant environment nurtures creativity and teamwork, while providing unwavering support both professionally and personally."

To be considered for the Fortune list, companies must employ at least 1,000 workers in the U.S. and be certified by Great Place to Work.

This year's rankings were based on feedback from more than 1.3 million employees nationwide. Only companies with consistently high responses across 60 survey statements earned placement on the list, according to Fortune.

These are the California companies that made the list:

• Cisco, a San Jose-based information technology company, ranked No. 3.
• NVIDIA, a Santa Clara-based information technology company, ranked No. 6.
• Cadence, a San Jose-based information technology company, ranked No. 11.
• The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, a Calabasas Hills-based hospitality company, ranked No. 25.
• Scripps Health, a San Diego-based health care company, ranked No. 26.
• Salesforce, a Santa Francisco-based information technology company, ranked No. 28.
• Experian, a Costa Mesa-based information technology company, ranked No. 38.
• Box, Inc., a Redwood City-based information technology company, ranked No. 47.
• Intuit Inc., a Mountain View-based information technology company, ranked No. 49.
• Adobe Systems Incorporated, a San Jose-based information technology company, ranked No. 52.
• Panda Restaurant Group Inc., a Rosemead-based hospitality company, ranked No. 54.
• ServiceNow, a Santa Clara-based information technology company, ranked No. 60.
• First American Financial Corporation, a Santa Ana-based financial services and insurance company, ranked No. 62.
• Robert Half Inc, a Menlo Park-based professional services company, ranked No. 66.
• SCAN Health Plan, a Long Beach-based aging services company, ranked No. 70.
• The Wonderful Company, a Los Angeles-based manufacturing and production company, ranked No. 72.
• Calix, a San Jose-based telecommunications company, ranked No. 85.
• Protiviti, a Menlo Park-based professional services company, ranked No. 87.
• Synopsys Inc., a Sunnyvale-based information technology company, ranked No. 89.
• Riot Games, a Los Angeles-based media company, ranked No. 90.
• Atlassian, Inc., a San Francisco-based information technology company, ranked No. 93.