Mapping America's Top Employers: Where the Jobs Are in Your State

Walmart stands as a global employment giant, staffing 2.3 million workers worldwide and generating over $570 billion in annual revenue. Amazon trails as a close second, with approximately 1.3 million employees globally and $470 billion in yearly revenue. When combined, these two retail titans employ more people than the entire population of countries like Uruguay, Mongolia, and Albania.

Yet beyond these household names lies a more nuanced employment landscape. Each state harbors its own dominant employer—sometimes a surprise. To map this terrain, we analyzed 2021 Business Rankings data from Dun & Bradstreet, revealing which companies function as the biggest employers in every state across America.

The Real Employment Picture: Beyond Retail Giants

Walmart dominates as the biggest employer in 22 states, though its headquarters rest in Arkansas. Interestingly, at its Bentonville headquarters alone, Walmart employees only 11,700 people—far fewer than many regional employers. This reflects how mega-corporations spread their workforce across numerous locations rather than concentrate operations in a single state.

Amazon’s workforce follows a similar pattern of geographic distribution. Meanwhile, a different champion emerges in many regions: Albertsons Companies operates as the biggest employer headquartered in a single state, with 270,000 employees concentrated in Idaho. The smallest leading employer? AES Marine Support Services LLC in Alaska, staffing just 1,812 people.

The Healthcare Hiring Surge

A striking trend emerges across the nation: twelve states count medical, scientific, or research organizations as their biggest employers. These institutions—from the Mayo Foundation in Minnesota to University of Vermont Medical Center—require extensive staffing for continuous patient care operations. Health systems have become employment anchors in their regions, rivaling traditional commercial enterprises.

Industry-Specific Employment Hubs

Tourism-dependent states show predictable patterns. Hawaii’s biggest employer, Kyo-Ya Hotels & Resorts, and Nevada’s Station Voteco (hospitality-focused), reflect how travel and leisure drive regional economies. Other states reveal specialized industrial concentration: Michigan’s automotive sector centers around FCA US LLC, Oregon’s manufacturing prowess shines through Nike’s Beaverton operations, and Texas healthcare employment clusters around Kentucky Homecare Holdings.

A Detailed Snapshot Across America

Northeast & Mid-Atlantic: Connecticut’s CCO Holdings Capital Corp. leads with 96,100 employees in cable television services. New Jersey sees ADP Atlantic commanding 54,000 positions in accounting and business services. New York’s financial sector anchors with BNY Mellon’s 40,000 employees.

Southeast & South Central: North Carolina’s Rich Square Logistics LLC dominates with 200,000 employees managing freight arrangements. Tennessee and Louisiana showcase healthcare leadership through restaurant and hospital operations respectively. Arkansas’s Walmart headquarters employs thousands while serving as the global command center.

Midwest & Great Plains: Illinois remains an insurance hub with Allstate’s 12,000 employees. Minnesota’s medical research establishment generates 30,000 positions through the Mayo Foundation. Kansas sees security systems services leading employment.

West & Mountain States: Colorado’s American Medical Response and New Mexico’s research division at Sandia reflect technical and scientific employment trends. The West Coast shows retail strength through California’s Dollar Tree operations employing 90,000 workers.

What This Means for Job Seekers

For those navigating an uncertain economic climate marked by rising inflation and interest rates—factors that directly affect employment stability—this data offers practical guidance. Investigating your state’s biggest employer could reveal substantial opportunities, particularly if your professional background aligns with their industry.

The diversity of these employers across sectors—from healthcare to logistics, from technology to hospitality—underscores that significant careers exist far beyond coastal tech hubs. Whether your expertise lies in medical administration, industrial supply, retail management, or technical services, America’s regional employment leaders offer pathways worth exploring.