Best Places To Work 2025: Chicago-Area Employees Rank Best Employers

The results are in from the Chicago Tribune's best places to work in 2025 list, and Fairway Home Mortgage, American Litho and City Staffing have been picked as the top employers for large, mid-size and small Chicago-area companies.

The rankings, released by Energage on behalf of the Chicago Tribune earlier this month, are determined exclusively by employee feedback and look at everything from the employer's open-mindedness to how "clued-in" its employees and leaders are to how employees feel about their work-life balance.

Here is a look at how large companies, with 1,000 or more employees, ranked in 2025:

1. Fairway Home Mortgage
2. Plante Moran
3. McDermott Will & Shulte
4. SmithGroup
5. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago
6. @properties Christie’s International Real Estate
7. Sargent & Lundy
8. Lundbeck
9. Marsh McLennan Agency
10. Montage International

Here is a look at how mid-size companies, with 250 to 999 employees, ranked:

1. American Litho
2. Berkshire Hathaway Starck Real Estate
3. Captive Resources
4. Fulton Grace
5. NAI Hiffman | Hiffman National
6. Advocate Construction
7. GreenState Credit Union
8. Lactalis USA
9. Credit Union1
10. GATX Corp.

Here is a look at how small companies, with 249 or fewer employees, ranked:

1. City Staffing
2. john greene Realtor
3. InvenTrust Properties Corp.
4. Pearl Healthcare
5. Northwestern Mutual - Greater Chicago
6. SMJ-FREIGHT
7. Engineering Enterprises
8. Pine Tree
9. Insureon
10. Fairview School Dist.72

Meanwhile, Tricoci University of Beauty Culture received a No. 30 ranking as a small business, marking its first time on the Chicago Tribune's list. It also became "the first beauty school ever to receive this honor," Raquel Hirsch, a spokeswoman for Tricoci, told Patch.

"The recognition reflects Tricoci’s people-first culture, where creativity, inclusivity, and professional growth are at the center of everything they do," she added.

Tricoci University has beauty schools across the Chicago area, including locations in Libertyville, Elgin, Highland Park, Glendale Heights and Chicago.

"This recognition means so much to us because it validates what we’ve always believed that when you invest in people, they thrive," said Joy McClure, Tricoci's chief admissions officer. "At Tricoci University, we strive to create a workplace where everyone feels supported, encouraged, and connected to a larger purpose. Being named a Best Place to Work is a reflection of the remarkable team that brings that mission to life”

The full list can be found here.