14-02-2025
Where are the best places to work in Tennessee? These 7 midsized companies ranked best according to Forbes
Forbes and SStatista have once again teamed up to assemble a list of top employers.
Forbes surveyed around 217,000 employees working at companies within the U.S. to compile a list of the best employers. The survey respondents were asked about salary, work environment, training programs and opportunities to advance, according to Forbes.
The survey results were combined with the previous year's data to create a list of the 498 best midsized employers. A "midsized employer" is defined as having between 1,000 and 5,000 employees, according to Forbes.
This year, seven Tennessee employers made the list. Here's which midsized companies are among the best.
The University of Tennessee clinched a top spot in Forbes Best Midsized Employers list, coming in at No. 14. On the list, Rocky Top was only bested by two other educational institutions: Western Carolina University and California State University, Sacramento.
The University of Tennessee Knoxville employs 2,213 faculty and 5,897 staff members, according to the university's human resources data.
The Maury Regional Medical Center is located in Middle Tennessee in Columbia. This year, the medical center is ranked at the No. 31 spot for best-midsized employers.
In the Health and Social Services category exclusively, Maury Regional ranked exceptionally well at No. 8. The medical centers and health companies that were ranked high include the Alzheimer's Association and Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Shoney's is an all-American restaurant chain with locations in 16 states. It is headquartered in Nashville.
Shoney's is a veteran member of the Forbes Best Midsized Employers list. The restaurant has made an appearance in the last several years, appearing both in 2023 and 2024. That being said, Shoney's ranking has increased dramatically. In 2023, the restaurant sat at No. 386, and in 2024, it ranked at No. 151.
Another veteran member of this best employers list is Dollywood, located in Pigeon Forge. In 2025, the theme park is ranked No. 142.
Though there are many others in the travel and leisure category on the 2025 Forbes list, few are resorts and none that match Dollywood's caliber. The theme park employs around 4,000 associates and has been consistently ranked well as an employer.
Kirkland's, a Brentwood-based retailer, ranked at No. 188. The home décor retailer has become a large chain, with 344 stores in 35 states.
The company was founded in 1966 and today employs more than 4,000 people, according to Kirkland's website.
The City of Knoxville is once again on the Forbes Best Midsized Employers list, ranked at No. 253. Knoxville also made the list in 2024, coming in at No. 369.
Knoxville was not the only city to make the Forbes list this year, however, it was the only city from Tennessee to be represented in this fashion. Other cities in the "government services" classification to appear on the list include the City of Durham in North Carolina and the City of Plano, Texas.
Covenant Transportation is the lowest-ranking Tennessee company, but it is still more than 100 places from the bottom of Forbes' list. It ranked as No. 344 on the Forbes list.
Covenant Transportation is a trucking and logistics company based out of Chattanooga. The company employs around 4,500 people, according to Forbes. Covenant Transportation was also named a top midsized employer in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: What's the best place to work in Tennessee? Forbes ranked these spots
