By Jeffrey Meehan, Reno Gazette Journal, February 27, 2025
Four Nevada companies have been named to Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers for 2025.
Forbes and market research firm Statista surveyed over 217,000 U.S. employees to measure pay, work environment, training and career growth.
The survey results were combined with data from the previous years to create a list of the 498 best midsized employers and a list of 701 best large employers. Midsized employers had 1,000 to 5,000 employees, while large employers had more than 5,000.
Two gaming technology and hospitality companies ranked among the best large employers in the business magazine’s 10th annual list. Two Reno-based resortsmade the list of top midsize employers.
Top large employers
No. 216: International Game Technology (IGT)
The gaming technology company with nearly 11,000 employees was founded in Reno in 1975 by William S. “Si” Redd as A-1 Supply and later International Game Technology. IGT works in several areas of regulated gaming, including slot machines, gaming software and lottery systems.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
IGT’s holding company headquarters is based in the United Kingdom, with operating headquarters in Las Vegas, Providence, Rhode Island and in Rome, Italy. Reno is also home to a manufacturing facility.
It ranked No. 216; it also was third among its peers in the business services and supplies category. IGT also ranked No. 239 on Forbes’ America’s Dream Employers list in 2025.
No. 544: Wynn Resorts
The company was founded by Elaine and Steve Wynn in 2002 and operates luxury hotels and casinos in Las Vegas and overseas.
Steve Wynn created The Mirage in the late 1980s as well as Treasure Island, Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas. He resigned as chairman of Wynn Resorts in 2018 after several women accused him of sexual misconduct. The couple later divorced.
The company owns and operates properties in Las Vegas, Boston and Macau, China. Forbes estimated Wynn Las Vegas to have about 16,500 employees.
Top midsize employers
No. 353: Grand Sierra Resort
GSR hotel-casino originally opened in 1978 as the MGM Grand-Reno under the ownership of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. It later became known as Bally’s Reno before being named Reno Hilton in 1992 after being acquired by Hilton Hotel Corp.
In 2005, Caesars Entertainment sold the Reno Hilton for $151 million to investor group Grand Sierra Resort Corp. Billionaire businessman Alex Meruelo purchased the GSR in 2011.
GSR employees between 1,000 and 5,000 employees at the nearly 2,000-room hotel with 100,000 square feet of gaming space.
No. 429: Peppermill Resort Hotel
The Reno resort boasts over 2,200 rooms at its resort and all-suite Tuscany Tower.
Bill Paganetti and Nat Carasali opened the Peppermill Coffee Shop and Fireside Lounge in 1971. The property later evolved into its current 2-million-square-foot footprint on South Virginia Street with a hotel, casino and spa.
Paganetti died in December 2023. He was 85.
The Peppermill brand has expanded with several acquisitions and developments since the 1980s, including in Sparks, Reno and Las Vegas and other parts of Nevada.