Economy

Crew Carwash tops Glassdoor’s 2026 Best Places to Work list as tech sector presence declines

Illustration for: Crew Carwash tops Glassdoor’s 2026 Best Places to Work list as tech sector presence declines
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Jan 21, 2026

THE BARE STORY

Crew Carwash has secured the number one spot on Glassdoor’s 2026 list of the 100 Best Places to Work. The Indiana-based, family-owned company, which employs approximately 1,000 people, rose to the top position after ranking second the previous year. The company received a rating of 4.6 out of 5, with employees citing supportive leadership, career growth opportunities, and team culture as key factors for their satisfaction.

The 18th annual rankings were determined by a proprietary algorithm that analyzed anonymous employee reviews submitted between October 2024 and October 2025. To be considered, U.S.-based companies were required to have at least 1,000 employees. Workers rated their employers on various attributes, including compensation, benefits, senior management, diversity, and work-life balance. Following Crew Carwash in the top five were In-N-Out Burger, Nvidia, Ryan, and Keller Williams.

Glassdoor Chief Economist Daniel Zhao noted that while the technology sector remains the best-represented industry with 24 companies, its dominance has continued to wane. The number of tech firms on the list dropped from 26 in 2025 and 31 in 2024. Zhao attributed this decline to layoffs, a reduction in perks, and increased pressure regarding efficiency and return-to-office mandates. Conversely, the retail and manufacturing sectors saw increased representation on this year's list.

Among the 100 recognized employers, 19 were new to the rankings, including Alaska Airlines and Bank of America. Only two companies, Bain & Company and Google, have appeared on the list for all 18 years of its publication. Zhao stated that the variety of industries represented suggests that a high-quality employee experience is achievable across diverse sectors, despite economic uncertainty.

Same Facts. Different Perspectives.

Two AI models. Two viewpoints. One factual foundation.

Perspective by Grok

• The sector’s dominance is steadily declining While the technology industry remains the best-represented group with 24 companies, its overall presence on the list has continued to wane. The number of tech firms recognized dropped from 26 in the previous year and is down from 31 companies in 2024.

• Workforce reductions and perk cuts have had an impact Economic analysis attributes the decline in tech rankings to factors such as layoffs and a reduction in workplace perks. These changes appear to have influenced the anonymous reviews submitted by employees regarding their satisfaction with compensation and benefits.

• Operational pressures are weighing on employee sentiment Workers in the tech sector have faced increased pressure regarding efficiency and mandates to return to the office. These shifts in working conditions were identified by the list's economist as contributing reasons for the sector's reduced standing in the rankings.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

Job seekers may find high-quality work environments in traditional sectors like retail and manufacturing, as these industries are gaining ground on lists previously dominated by technology firms.

Technology professionals might encounter stricter working conditions, including return-to-office mandates and reduced perks, as efficiency pressures contribute to the sector's continued decline in employee satisfaction rankings.

Applicants across the country can access top-tier employment opportunities in diverse industries, with companies like Alaska Airlines and Bank of America proving quality workplaces exist beyond the tech sector.

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