Forbes Ranks Illinois’ Best Companies for 2026

The list has dropped of the best companies in Illinois, according to Forbes.

If you've ever needed proof that Illinois is kind of a big deal in the business world, Forbes just handed it to us.

They released a list of America's Best Companies, and yes... they broke it down by individual states.  They teamed up with about half a dozen data firms, crunched numbers on thousands of companies across the country, and then zoomed in on which employers are really thriving out here.

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To build the rankings, they looked at everything from company size and financial strength to how happy customers and employees actually are.  While the state-by-state lists used a different way to calculate the rankings, the goal stayed the same: spotlight companies that are doing things right... and doing them well in Illinois.

So who landed at the top of the Illinois list?  Let's just say Chicago and its suburbs.  Yep, go figure.

Top 10 Best Companies in Illinois for 2026

• GE HealthCare Technologies (Hospital Equipment & Supplies-Manufacturing), Chicago
• State Farm (Insurance), Bloomington
• Allstate (Insurance), Northbrook
• WW Grainger (Industrial Equipment & Supplies - wholesale), Lake Forest
• Zurich North America (Insurance-Holding Companies), Schaumburg
• Exelon (Electric Companies), Chicago
• Motorola Solutions (Communication Equipment-Manufacturers), Chicago
• John Deere (Farm Equipment-Manufacturers), Moline
• United Airlines (Airline Companies), Chicago
• Hyatt Hotels (Hotel & Motel Management), Chicago

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Altogether, Forbes named 25 companies in Illinois to its list, spanning industries from healthcare to energy to insurance and aviation.  Whether you're job hunting, investing, or just like a good brag moment, this list will serve you well.