Glassdoor has officially announced the winners of its prestigious Employees' Choice Awards for 2026, showcasing the best places to work in the UK based on authentic employee feedback. This annual list reveals that some of these top-tier roles come with impressive salaries, reaching up to £100,000, highlighting the competitive nature of the job market.
Top Employers and Their Standout Features
The coveted first place was secured by software engineering giant SAP, which offers senior-level account executive positions with salaries ranging from £57,000 to £89,000. Employees have lauded the company for its flexible working hours, generous holiday allowances, use of cutting-edge technology, and a strong emphasis on maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Runners-Up and Their Strengths
Mastercard claimed the second spot, earning praise for its diverse talent pool, exceptional employee benefits, and a culture that supports flexible remote work from any location. Managerial roles at Mastercard typically pay between £65,000 and £80,000, reflecting its commitment to rewarding staff.
In third place, Google continues to impress with software engineering roles offering salaries from £70,000 to £100,000. Workers have highlighted the company's competitive pay, leadership in technological innovation, flexible work-life balance policies, and ample opportunities for career advancement.
Insights from Glassdoor Leadership
Owen Humphries, president at Glassdoor, commented on the resilience of these employers, stating: "Even amid the uncertainty of 2025, these standout employers have shown resilience, sustaining high levels of employee satisfaction and trust as they navigate change." This underscores the importance of adaptability and employee-centric practices in today's dynamic work environment.
Comprehensive List of Best Places to Work in the UK for 2026
Below is an expanded overview of the top employers, including specific roles and salary ranges, as identified by Glassdoor's 2026 awards:
- SAP - Account Executive - £57K – £89K
- Mastercard - Manager - £65K – £80K
- Google - Software Engineer - £70K – £100K
- Mars - Project Manager - £44K – £67K
- Arm - Software Engineer - £45K – £57K
- NFU Mutual - Underwriter - £23K – £33K
- Kraken - Senior Software Engineer - £70K – £83K
- Royal London - Customer Service Consultant - £19K – £25K
- Equal Experts - Consultant - £95K – £135K
- easyJet - Cabin Manager - £19K – £27K
- Salesforce - Account Executive - £61K – £90K
- Mott MacDonald - Civil Engineer - £35K – £40K
- McKinsey & Company - Executive Assistant - £45K – £60K
- Adobe - Account Executive - £60K – £100K
- EDF - Manager - £42K – £75K
- Standard Chartered Bank - Manager - £50K – £89K
- Bloomberg - Account Manager - £60K – £80K
- LEGO Group - Manager - £42K – £70K
- Softcat - Account Executive - £22K – £25K
- Capgemini Invent - Manager - £75K – £84K
- S&P Global - Account Manager - £40K – £62K
- NatWest Group - Manager - £40K – £70K
- Airbus - Engineer - £30K – £47K
- Apple - Manager - £43K – £74K
- Environment Agency - Environmental Role - £25K – £29K
- Vitality - Team Manager - £28K – £32K
- Kier Group - Engineer - £30K – £38K
- IFS - Manager - £46K – £143K
- Centrica - Analyst - £34K – £50K
- NHS Business Services - Team Manager - £28K – £40K
- Leonardo - Engineer - £32K – £45K
- Arcadis - Consultant - £35K – £43K
- Microsoft - Project Manager - £45K – £85K
- Bupa - Manager - £31K – £60K
- Siemens - Manager - £36K – £71K
- GSK - Manager - £50K – £71K
- Aviva - Underwriter - £26K – £42K
- BAE Systems - Consultant - £35K – £60K
- American Express - Manager - £50K – £74K
- Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) - Project Manager - £48K – £64K
- IQVIA - Manager - £56K – £85K
- Legal & General - Manager - £40K – £70K
- Barclays - Project Manager - £47K – £80K
- Oxfam - Manager - £19K – £35K
- DataAnnotation - AI Data Annotator - £34K – £41K
- British Heart Foundation - Manager - £23K – £26K
- Lush - Store Manager - £27K – £35K
- IBM - Project Manager - £39K – £64K
- Bank of England - Role not specified - £63K – £75K
- Haleon - Project Manager - £53K – £79K
This diverse list spans various industries, from technology and finance to healthcare and retail, demonstrating that top employers can be found across multiple sectors in the UK. The inclusion of salary ranges provides valuable insights for job seekers aiming to align their career goals with competitive compensation and positive workplace cultures.
