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Forbes’ state-by-state rankings for 2026, published in August, put several national corporations at the top of Oklahoma’s list — but locally headquartered organizations also earned prominent places. That mix matters for job seekers and local economies: the list highlights where employees report the best pay, management and career prospects right now.
The national ranking was produced by Forbes in partnership with Statista, after surveying roughly 245,000 workers at companies with at least 500 employees. Respondents evaluated employers on factors such as leadership, compensation, workplace flexibility and opportunities for advancement.
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Oklahoma’s top employers fall into two groups: companies based outside the state that operate here, and organizations headquartered in Oklahoma. Both influence hiring trends, regional payrolls and community services.
Major employers operating in Oklahoma
Below are the firms Forbes lists as the top 10 employers with operations in Oklahoma, ranked by their statewide positions.
| Rank | Employer | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IBM | Armonk, New York |
| 2 | Costco Wholesale | Issaquah, Washington |
| 3 | AT&T | Dallas, Texas |
| 4 | Enterprise Mobility | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 5 | Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma | Tuskahoma, Oklahoma |
| 6 | University of Oklahoma | Norman, Oklahoma |
| 7 | Saint Francis Health System | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 8 | Cherokee Nation | Tahlequah, Oklahoma |
| 9 | FedEx | Memphis, Tennessee |
| 10 | United States Postal Service (USPS) | Washington, D.C. |
Top employers headquartered in Oklahoma
When isolating organizations based in the state, several tribal governments, universities and major financial institutions lead the list. These employers often represent the largest local workforces and have outsized effects on regional labor markets.
- Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Tuskahoma — ranked statewide at 5
- University of Oklahoma, Norman — ranked statewide at 6
- Saint Francis Health System, Tulsa — ranked statewide at 7
- Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah — ranked statewide at 8
- Oklahoma State University — Main Campus, Stillwater — ranked statewide at 11
- City of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City — ranked statewide at 14
- MidFirst Bank, Oklahoma City — ranked statewide at 15
- BOK Financial, Tulsa — ranked statewide at 17
- ONEOK, Tulsa — ranked statewide at 18
- Chickasaw Nation Department of Commerce, Ada — ranked statewide at 19
Several patterns stand out: tribal nations and higher-education institutions appear repeatedly, and health systems and regional banks also score highly. For residents, that means hiring strength is coming from both public and private sectors.
Forbes’ methodology focuses on employee perceptions collected in mid-2026, so rankings reflect recent sentiment rather than long-term financial performance. Employers can move on or off the list in future editions as workplace policies, pay and leadership change.
Job seekers, local policymakers and economic developers often use these lists as a snapshot of where talent prefers to work today — an immediate indicator of which organizations are viewed favorably by their own employees.
