# The best and worst companies for tech careers in the US Comprehensive analysis based on career data of 12 million employees. - **Source:** [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com) - **Published:** 2026-08-10 - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/b24c98e6-a88b-4552-8378-1b52bcbbcd03 ## Location's impact on career success Career advancement depends not just on individual effort but also on opportunities provided by employers. Analysis of 12 million workers' data by Burning Glass Institute and Schultz Family Foundation reveals significant variations in promotion rates, salary growth, and employee retention. The 2019-2024 study examined career mobility across 1,750 large companies. Data from platforms like LinkedIn and Glassdoor shows companies perform differently even across various departments within the same organization. ## Top-performing tech companies Salesforce and Amazon emerge as offering the best opportunities for tech professionals. At Salesforce, software engineers rank in the 97th percentile for promotions, 98th for retention, and 96th for salary growth. Adobe, Google, and Microsoft also score highly. Traditional companies like Liberty Mutual outperform Silicon Valley giants in some tech roles. For instance, software engineers at Liberty Mutual get promoted 3.7 times more frequently than those at Meta. ## High salaries but low advancement Companies like Apple and Goldman Sachs offer competitive salaries but underperform in career growth. Goldman Sachs software engineers rarely get promoted and tend to leave quickly. Deloitte shows similar patterns. Meta's performance varies significantly by role. While Uber employees advance quickly, the company struggles with retention. ## Surprising performers in healthcare Mayo Clinic achieves record 99th percentile retention for tech staff. IT project managers and systems analysts stay despite earning two-thirds of industry-average salaries. Companies like John Deere and Northwestern Mutual offer stable career paths with mid-range compensation. These employers become attractive alternatives during economic uncertainty. ## Post-pandemic career priorities shift While frequent job-hopping was normal for tech workers in the 2010s, stability has become paramount today. Mass layoffs and hiring freezes push professionals toward long-term career planning. Young workers now prioritize growth opportunities over high salaries or prestigious company names. Research data confirms the existence of 'stable home' employers meeting these expectations. ## Significant variations by role Even within the same company, career opportunities vary dramatically across roles. At Chanel, fashion designers rank in the 97th percentile for retention while project management specialists rank only 16th. An average company shows an 81-percentile gap between its best and worst-performing roles. Job seekers should evaluate specific role performance rather than relying solely on company reputation. ## Data-driven career decisions Burning Glass Institute's database enables role-specific comparisons for job seekers. Performance metrics are available for six key tech occupations: software engineering, data science, software QA, computer systems engineering, IT project management, and IT systems analysis. These insights facilitate more informed career choices than traditional job search methods. ## Career strategy in economic uncertainty The tech slowdown has fundamentally shifted worker priorities. 'Long-term growth potential' now outweighs 'big titles' or 'highest salaries.' Research shows certain companies excel at meeting these new expectations. For career planners, this data serves as a crucial guide not just for today's job market but for preparing for future employment landscapes. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.businessinsider.com/best-worst-places-to-build-tech-career-2026-8 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._