Houston, Texas is the fourth largest city in the US in terms of population, and interestingly, salaries are not taxed in the city. In this article, we will discuss some of the biggest companies in Houston. We’ll outline the companies’ compensation and benefits, their culture, and their work environment. We’ll also discuss Houston’s unemployment rate and the best Houston job boards.
Houston Job Market
There are dozens of Fortune 500 companies in the southern city, such as Sysco and Technip FMC. The city is also ranked as the top manufacturing metro area in the US and in addition, it’s an aerospace hub that is home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Houston Key Industries
- Energy
- Healthcare
- Aerospace
What Is Houston’s Unemployment Rate
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Houston area unemployment rate was 8 percent in October 2020 and improved to 5.4 percent in October 2021. The pre-pandemic unemployment rate was 3.5 percent.
Who Is the Largest Employer in Houston?
Walmart is the largest employer in Houston, employing over 37,000 people in the city. For more than 50 years, Walmart has grown to be the largest retailer globally. It has 11,700 stores in 28 countries.
Top Employers in Houston: At a Glance
| Company | Industry | Global Headcount | Hiring For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | Retail | 2,200,000 | Shipping & Receiving Clerk, Staff Pharmacist, Manager |
| Texas Medical Center | Hospitals and Healthcare | 106,000 | Patient Sitter, Standardized Patient, Healthcare Universal Worker |
| Cooper Industries (now Eaton Corporation) | Electrical and Electronic Manufacturing | 85,000 | Production Technician, Field Service Representative, Lead Technician |
| Schlumberger | Oil Industry and Energy Industry | 82,000 | Customer Service Representative, Sourcing Specialist, Quality Engineer |
| Sysco | Food and Beverages, Retail and Wholesale | 58,000 | Repacker, Warehouse Order Selector, Business Intelligence Associate |
| Baker Hughes | Oil Industry and Hydrocarbon Exploration | 54,000 | Warehouse Operator, Valve Assembler Field Engineer |
| FMC Technologies or TechnipFMC | Oil Industry and Energy Industry | 20,000 | Rotational Supply Chain Specialist, Contract Specialist, Rotational Planner |
| Phillips 66 | Oil and Gas | 14,000 | Hydraulic Modeling & Optimization Engineer Terminal Operator Process Control Engineer |
| CenterPoint Energy | Electric Utilities | 9,600 | Environmental Technician, Associate Representative, Forecast Analyst |
| Engie North America | Electric Utilities | 4,400 | Collections Manager, HR Service Center Specialist, Originator |
Largest Houston Companies to Work For
Walmart
Walmart has grown from its humble beginnings as a small discount retailer to a global giant with department stores and supermarkets located throughout the world. It makes massive profits but it also gives back to communities through its Walmart Foundation.
What Is It Like to Work at Walmart?
Walmart offers various benefits to its employees, including health insurance. Training programs for employees are also available to help them gain new skills relevant to their role. On Glassdoor, Walmart has an overall rating of 3.3 stars out of five.
Top Reasons to Work at Walmart
- Great benefits for employees
- It is a large company with training opportunities for career growth
- Availability of a wide range of roles gives better job opportunities
Texas Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center (TMC) is the largest medical center in the world and one of Houston’s largest employers. TMC has been a leader in patient care, research, education, and prevention since it opened in 1945. Today, it is home to 54 leading member institutions.
What Is It Like to Work at Texas Medical Center?
Working at Texas Medical Center is great for building your career and the company has an overall rating of 3.4 out of five on Indeed. Several reviews mention excellent benefits and pay while negative aspects include long hours of work with short breaks.
Top Reasons to Work at Texas Medical Center
- Excellent benefits and retirement plans for employees
- Highly competitive pay for employees
- A large medical complex, with many jobs and various roles
Eaton Corporation
Eaton Corporation PLC (formerly Cooper Industries) is a power management company operating in more than 175 countries. It helps customers manage electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical power efficiently. The company is dedicated to improving people’s lives and their environment through safe and efficient power management technologies.
What Is It Like to Work at Eaton Corporation
Eaton has an overall rating of 3.9 out of five on Glassdoor. Positive reviews highlight a good work environment, good pay, good benefits, and a wide variety of resources to help you grow your skills. Negative reviews mention needing improvement in upper management, occasional long hours, and slow decision-making by higher-ups.
Top Reasons to Work at Eaton Corporation
- It offers good benefits
- It’s a good place to grow your career and expand your skillset
- Pay is competitive
Schlumberger
Schlumberger is one of the industry leaders in cutting-edge technologies among energy companies, providing digital solutions and energy services in 120 countries. The company’s vision includes decarbonizing the world’s energy system. It creates stunning technology that unlocks access to energy for everyone.
What Is It Like to Work at Schlumberger?
On Glassdoor, Schlumberger has an overall rating of 3.8 out of five. Positive reviews say the work at Schlumberger is stimulating and challenging and employees are always picking up new skills. On the other hand, negative reviews speak of the need to improve work-life balance and job security.
Top Reasons to Work at Schlumberger
- Good pay and various benefits
- Interesting and challenging work
- Opportunity to grow and expand skills with excellent training
Sysco
Sysco Corporation is a large globally-focused marketing and distribution company for food-related products. It aims to connect the world by sharing food and implementing charitable initiatives. The company also strives to assist its customers with innovative products and solutions.
What Is It Like to Work at Sysco?
Sysco offers various benefits for their employees, such as medical and dental plans, life and disability insurance, retirement plans, and employee stock purchase programs. On both Glassdoor and Indeed, Sysco has an overall rating out 3.4 out of five. Most reviews mention great pay and benefits.
Top Reasons to Work at Sysco
- Great pay for employees
- Great benefits and insurance
- Generous bonuses
Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes is an energy technology company in Houston that designs, manufactures, and services transformative technologies. For more than 100 years, it has been a leader in creating value with high-performance products and a wide range of services. Its technology centers inspire creativity and innovation in developing next-generation products.
What Is It Like to Work at Baker Hughes?
Baker Hughes provides generous benefits to its employees, including various health benefits, retirement plans, employee stock purchase programs, and more. On Indeed, Baker Hughes has an overall rating of four out of five.
Top Reasons to Work at Baker Hughes
- Great pay for employees
- Various benefits and insurances
- Many work events and good training
TechnipFMC
TechnipFMC is a leading technology provider in the energy industry, delivering fully integrated projects, products, and services to its customers. Its mission focuses on solving its clients’ energy problems. The company designs smart and efficient systems to increase energy productivity.
What Is It Like to Work at TechnipFMC?
On Glassdoor, TechnipFMC has an overall rating of 3.9 out of five. Positive reviews speak of a good working environment and a positive work-life balance. Negative reviews talk about the company’s culture change after the merger between Technip and FMC Technologies.
Top Reasons to Work at TechnipFMC
- Good work-life balance for employees
- Good benefits and insurance for employees
- Opportunity to work for one of the top oil and gas companies
Phillips 66
Phillips 66 is an American multinational energy company that is 140 years old. The energy manufacturing and logistics company operates several businesses in different areas of the oil industry. It pledges to provide efficient energy and improve lives with honest, transparent operations.
What Is It Like to Work at Phillips 66?
Phillips 66 offers various benefits for its employees, including comprehensive medical and insurance benefits. On Indeed, Phillips 66 has an overall rating of 3.7 out of five. Positive reviews mention the high salaries, while negative reviews mention long hours.
Top Reasons to Work at Phillips 66
- Competitive salaries and benefits for their employees
- Training and various resources for employees enhancing their skills and career
- The work is challenging and rewarding
CenterPoint Energy
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. is an energy delivery company with businesses in eight states. The company maintains electric infrastructure for more than two million customers. It aims to be a top energy delivery company by delivering energy professionally and efficiently.
What Is It Like to Work at CenterPoint Energy?
The company ensures that the health and wellness of its employees are prioritized. Its employees enjoy many benefits such as medical insurance, disability insurance, wellness programs, assistance programs, and retirement plans. On Indeed, CenterPoint Energy has a rating of 3.9 out of five.
Top Reasons to Work at CenterPoint Energy
- Good pay and benefits for employees
- Flexible hours and work-life balance
- Job security and training to develop employee skills
ENGIE North America
ENGIE North America Inc. is a management services company with a wide range of services to help customers digitalize operations. While doing so, the company creates jobs, economic opportunities, and customer partnerships. It continuously works to achieve its vision to provide empowerment to future generations.
What Is It Like to Work at ENGIE North America?
The company provides its employees with medical coverage, life insurance, retirement plans, and vacation days. On Indeed, ENGIE has an overall rating of 3.5 out of five. The reviews note that the company offers good benefits, a productive workplace, a lively learning environment, and a good work-life balance.
Top Reasons to Work at ENGIE North America
- Great benefits for the employees
- A productive workplace to grow your skills and career
- A decent work-life balance
Other Big Companies Headquartered in Houston
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Plains GP Holdings
- ConocoPhillips
- Occidental Petroleum
- Waste Management
- Halliburton
- Kinder Morgan
- Quanta Services
- EOG Resources
- Group 1 Automotive
Where to Find a Job in Houston: Top Houston Job Boards
HoustonJobs.com
This job board advertises career opportunities in the greater Houston area. The site has over 5,000 job listings and offers various career resources for job seekers.
HoustonJobsHub.com
HoustonJobsHub is a local job board with numerous different job advertisements. It has over 17,000 job listings on its website.
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JobSparx.com
Job Sparx is a locally-owned and operated employment publication. The site has numerous job listings and an events calendar for the various events it hosts for job seekers.
What Is Houston’s Tech Scene Like?
There were over 8,200 tech-related firms located in Houston, employing 220,000 workers in 2020. Big names in the tech industry such as Amazon and Google have also moved some of their tech operations to Houston, contributing to the city’s status as a rising tech hub. Houston’s tech scene continues to grow.
Can a Bootcamp Help Me Get a Job with a Top Houston Employer?
Yes, you can get a great job from one of Houston’s top employers by attending a coding bootcamp. Coding bootcamps often partner with local companies that hire graduates. The tech industry in Houston is booming and is projected to grow in the coming years. Thanks to the popularity of technology, many top companies such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise are hiring.
Top Coding Bootcamps in Houston
Why Houston Is a Great Place to Achieve Your Career Goals
The largest companies in Houston are often hiring, making the city a great place to build your career. The city continues to draw technology-minded companies, with one of the notable names being the Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
Biggest Companies in Houston FAQ
24 companies on the 2021 Fortune 500 list have their headquarters in Houston.
Exxon Mobil, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Chevron Corporation, Imperial Sugar, Minute Maid, Schlumberger, and Chicago Bridge & Iron Company are some notable companies in Houston.
A few of the biggest nonprofit companies in Houston are United Way, Volunteer Houston, and the Greater Houston Community Foundation.
The Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Crown Castle, and KBR are some of the biggest tech companies with headquarters in Houston.
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