CSX, Amtrak and New Jersey Transit (NJT), plus Caltrans (California Department of Transportation), have been named to the America’s Best Large Employers for 2025 list by Forbes.
The magazine, in partnership with market research firm Statista, released the 10th annual rankings of both America’s Best Large Employers and America’s Best Midsize Employers on Feb. 12. The lists were compiled based on responses from more than 217,000 U.S. employees working for companies with more than 1,000 workers. Companies with 5,000-plus employees were considered large and those with 1,000 to 5,000 employees, midsize.
According to Forbes, survey participants, who remain anonymous, rated their employers on key factors such as work environment, compensation, growth opportunities, and work-life balance. They were also asked if they would recommend previous employers (within the past two years) and the employers they knew through their industry experience or through friends or family who worked there. The final results included an analysis of employer performance over the past three years, with more recent employee feedback weighted more heavily.
The annual rankings feature 1,199 companies, including 701 in the large employer list and 498 in the midsize employer list.
CSX ranked No. 574 in the large employer list; Amtrak, No. 390; NJT, No. 23; and Caltrans, No. 204. Organizations that joined them on the list included global brands across industries such as healthcare, technology and retail.
Of the 31 large companies included in the list’s Transportation and Logistics category, CSX ranked No. 22; Amtrak, No. 13; NJT, No. 23; and Caltrans, No. 5.
The midsize list included TriMet, a transit agency in Oregon, which came in at No. 228 in the overall list of 498 companies and No. 4 out of 13 in the Transportation and Logistics category; and Bay Area Rapid Transit in California, which came in at No. 497 overall and No. 13 in the category.
“Our railroaders are the foundation of CSX’s success,” said Joe Hinrichs, Railway Age’s 2025 Railroader of the Year and President and CEO of CSX, which also recently placed on Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list for 2025. “This recognition by Forbes reinforces our commitment to creating a workplace where our employees feel valued, empowered, and supported in achieving their goals. The investments we’ve made in our workforce reflect our gratitude and our belief in the power of collaboration and engagement.”
“Our customers are at the center of everything we do, and delivering safe and reliable service starts with fostering a culture of excellence among our employees,” said Kris Kolluri, President and CEO of NJT, which was also included on the Forbes list in 2024. “This recognition from Forbes reinforces our commitment to investing in our workforce, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to provide the best possible service to our customers.”
