1. Shine United
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Focus: Advertising, public relations, and marketing
Number of employees: 47
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Ten days of PTO after one year
Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, free lunches, a full bar for “beer-30s,” flexible work hours and hybrid work-from home schedule, annual all-expenses-paid company gatherings, 100 percent of health insurance covered, an outdoor adventure incentive program, unlimited sick time, and a paid weeklong-plus sabbatical after 10 years that covers up to $10,000
What makes it great: “We live what we work. Anything that feeds that passion is encouraged, celebrated, revered. Need a coffee shop hangout to change up the scenery? Done. Need an afternoon hike in the big outdoors to get those creative juices flowing? See you later. Need an offsite collaborative get-together with your team? Make it happen. Shiners not only get paid to work on awesome outdoor brands but get paid to go be in the outdoors! You truly can’t beat that.”
2. GFM|CenterTable
Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus: Integrated marketing and communications agency
Number of employees: 31
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO after one year
Perks: Colorado Rockies home opener day off; flexible hours; access to a logotherapist; agency art challenges for creative expression; kombucha and beer on tap; dogs in the office; PTO for volunteering, plus $10 donated for each hour volunteered, up to $400 annually per employee; paid sabbaticals after 10 years
What makes it great: “As if unlimited time off isn’t enough of a benefit, our company requires us to take one day every quarter to fully unplug in a way that fuels our mental wellbeing. We also get a monthly “Happiness Stipend” to use on things that bring us joy. It can be used for a bike rental or a paddleboard, to go skiing, or maybe to purchase some flowers to plant in a garden. But the very best part is that our leadership pushes and enables us to do good for others. We have a private foundation, the Get Grounded Foundation, that has given away nearly $400,000.”
3. Turner
Location: Denver, Colorado, with offices in New York, Chicago, and Miami
Focus: Public relations, social media, and digital communications
Number of employees: 47
Average salary: $102,000
Vacation time: 25 days of PTO to start, unlimited PTO after ten years
Perks: Paid volunteer days; client apparel, gear, and hotel discounts; flexible and hybrid work schedules; early Fridays to kick off weekend adventures; Monday meditations, Zen rooms and Calm App paid by company; dog-friendly offices; stocked wine fridges and local-brew kegerator; 12 weeks of parental leave; a “recess committee” that organizes games, contests, outings, and happy hours; a professional development program, plus an individual stipend for additional development goals
What makes it great: “Authenticity with the brands we represent is vital to our jobs, so it’s pretty awesome that part of our ‘work’ includes testing or getting free gear and apparel, discounted hotel rooms, and immersion time in our destinations. And our teams engage in avid adventures as part of their regular workload, i.e. backcountry ski hut trips in Colorado; backpacking in Big Bend National Park in Texas; wellness tours of New York City practicing yoga, sound baths and cryotherapy; exploring the Civil Rights Trail in Tennessee; uncovering artisan makers in Wisconsin; or eating our way through Top Chef in Houston.”
4. SmartEtailing
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Websites, marketing, and integrations for independent bike shops
Number of employees: 69
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 14 days of PTO to start
Perks: Half-day “Get Outside Fridays,” compressed workweek options, commuter-bike credits, a dog-friendly office, hybrid work and WFH options, paid volunteering, deals on bikes and gear, virtual morning coffee breaks, group bike rides and park get-togethers, and a new office with a bike-tool room and bike storage
What makes it great: “There isn’t much hierarchy here, it’s just a good group of people getting $#%t done. We’re encouraged to take care of ourselves and our families with flexible work schedules and WFH options. We try to keep things fun with ‘Get Outside Fridays,’ organized volunteer events, and regular social events or contests. Plus, dogs are always a staple of our office.”
5. Toad&Co
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Focus: Eco-friendly apparel
Number of employees: 35
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 20 days of PTO to start
Perks: Access to a nearby trail system; office bikes, SUPs and surfboards; outdoor wi-fi for meetings under a tree; flexible hours for surf sessions or sunset hikes; volunteer opportunities to clean up national parks, local beaches and trail systems
What makes it great: “We work hard, and play harder, and all come together with an aligned mission to do good, support one another, be kind to the planet, and have a lot of fun along the way. We operate like a family, which shines through in events like our annual camping retreat; the ‘Grilled Cheese Smackdown,’ which we host for our local community; yoga and meditation practice; and our themed holiday parties (costumes are a must).”
6. Workshop Digital
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus: Digital marketing
Number of employees: 31
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Paid volunteer time during the workday; flexible schedules and remote work options; a health and wellness committee and a culture committee that organize quarterly challenges to encourage employees to read, exercise, and nurture hobbies; team budgets for hosting cooking classes, paddling the James River, or taking walking tours of Richmond’s haunted history
What makes it great: “Our employee-lead health and wellness committee organized ‘No Meeting Fridays’ during Mental Health Awareness Month, and the idea was so popular we made it permanent. We offer flexible schedules and a hybrid/remote work environment so all of our team members can structure their days in the most productive ways for them. As we add team members all over the country, we fly everybody to our hometown of Richmond, Virginia, twice each year to connect and get to know each other in real life.”
7. Rule4
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Cybersecurity and emerging-technology advisory services
Number of employees: 15
Average salary: $147,000
Vacation time: 21 days of PTO to start, plus an additional day each year up to 31 days
Perks: Every other Friday off; $1,000 annual ski pass/outdoors stipend; custom branded gear for anniversaries and microbonus rewards; five-week sabbatical every five years; small fleet of electric bikes and scooters; annual mountain retreat and camping trip; extra holiday specifically for adventures
What makes it great: “Every day in cybersecurity brings a new, exciting, and sometimes crazy challenge. So we work hard, but we do a lot of fun stuff to stay grounded and connected: skiing, camping, hiking, fly-fishing, paddleboarding, rafting, tailgating, lawn bowling, ski waxing workshops, book club, ax-throwing, and more. There’s never a day we’re not planning the next outdoor adventure.”
8. Swarovski Optik North America
Location: Cranston, Rhode Island
Focus: Manufacturer of premium quality rifle scopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, and tripods
Number of employees: 102
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO after 90 days
Perks: Outdoor gear via a company loaner program, an annual training day including lawn games and a New England lobster and clam bake, a wellness program with walking challenges and healthy eating incentives, and an onsite employee game room
What makes it great: “What truly sets Swarovski Optik North America apart is the company’s commitment to diversity and their desire to engage employees on multiple levels. The company holds many events and development opportunities throughout the year, the favorite being “training day” where all employees come together to learn about the new products while exploring different locations in Rhode Island, followed by a company outing with games and a lobster bake.”
9. BridgeView
Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus: Technology consulting
Number of employees: 24
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start, unlimited PTO after five years
Perks: Quarterly in-office massages; new adoption of the Nectar app, which enables employees to earn money and win prizes for spending time with family, taking care of their health, and walking 12,000 steps; annual outing for the Colorado Rockies baseball team opening day; year-round 2 P.M. Friday sign-offs; full paid access to the Calm app; an annual all-expenses-paid team trip to places like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Aspen, Colorado
What makes it great: “At BridgeView, work-life balance is an actionable conversation. BridgeView invests in their people and invites everyone to the table to create a rich culture that fosters both personal and professional development. The leadership team is open to new ideas and change for the greater good. From hybrid work schedules, community volunteer days, and encouraging participation in Denver’s remarkable outdoors, BridgeView is an awesome place to work.”
10. WorkBright
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Digital onboarding for employees and contractors
Number of employees: 22
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Monthly wellness challenges (like daily outings with pics or daily meditation) with prizes; annual fitness reimbursement program; home office stipend; matching 401k and health benefits; sabbatical programs after five years (two weeks with two domestic flights paid) and ten years (one month with two international flights paid); annual department gatherings to a destination of their choosing; an annual company-wide retreat in October (Estes Park this year) with morning yoga, guided meditations, swag bags, and a Halloween costume and karaoke party
What makes it great: “The thing employees love most is the culmination of rituals that are ingrained in our everyday culture. Meetings open with positive focus and close with props and gratitudes. We have a flexible culture where employees can work from anywhere but still really try and cultivate the closeness of an in-office environment. We lead in the remote workforce with creative ways to connect on a monthly basis; for example every other week our all company meeting devotes half the time to co-worker connection.”
11. The Brand Leader
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Focus: Creative branding
Number of employees: 30
Average salary: $66,900
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Office bikes, showers for lunch rides or runs, flextime plus Fridays are optional work-from-home days, “Bagel Thursdays,” a monthly coffee truck, local IPAs in a stocked fridge, summer lunchtime barbeques, quarterly book club for the whole company, annual company appreciation day in the outdoors, and subsidies for gym memberships starting in 2023
What makes it great: “We believe in creating men and women of character and to do so we try to lead by exemplifying our core values and creating a culture rich in motivation and ambition-building. We have helped employees qualify for homes, find a car, have a place to spend holidays, and more. Most importantly, we emphasize the importance of mental health, encouraging employees to take mental health days and offering subsidized therapy for any employee.”
12. TDA_Boulder
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Full-service advertising
Number of employees: 25
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: An annual fitness stipend toward ski passes, athletic wear, or gym equipment; year-round half-day Fridays; monthly data stipend; $200 for birthday dinners; $1,000 contribution to a charity of employee’s choice for every 14er ascent; annual outdoor company adventure, such as this year’s rafting trip on the Cache La Poudre River; a three-day weekend and $500 toward travel for five-year anniversary; 100 percent health care coverage
What makes it great: “We try not to be douchey. We try not to hire douchey people. And that really helps our workplace culture. This is our 8th year being recognized by Outside, and we could not be happier that our people are happy.”
13. Fortnight Collective
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Advertising
Number of employees: 30
Average salary: $130,000
Vacation time: 20 days of PTO
Perks: Winter Fridays for skiing, flexible schedules and hybrid work options, mindfulness training, wellness events including free massages, online and outdoor yoga, a one-year subscription to the Peloton app, free tickets to Warren Miller films, surprise bonuses, and an annual ski trip to Keystone
What makes it great: “This September we went to a hybrid model, which means that employees come in at least two days a week for intentional, in-person collaboration. We trust our employees to make that determination for themselves with their teams. Wandering the halls of Fortnight Collective, you’ll feel the energy from our clients who may be participating in a hack, our office pups, and our employees popping out for a walk along Pearl Street or heading to our owner Andy Nathan’s famous University of Colorado, Boulder, Tailgates.”
14. TeamSnap
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Integrated management of sports teams, clubs, and leagues
Number of employees: 151
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: A holistic total rewards package that encourages folks to be well, including a monthly wellness stipend, flex time to be active, sponsorship of sports teams, in-person meetings for the remote workforce, and sponsored wellness breaks and activities; two months paid parental leave; $1,500 annual education and training allowance; annual team summits at various destinations
What makes it great: “We are wildly committed to ensuring everyone (and we mean everyone) has access to sports. In fact, 96 percent of our TeamSnappers cite one of the major reasons they stay at TeamSnap is our commitment to creating accessibility to sports. We have a dedicated community impact team, provide on-site volunteering days with community sports organizations, and even spend dedicated time connecting our employees to customers in underrepresented groups to ensure we are doing our part to expand the transformative power of sports to all.”
15. BSW Wealth Partners
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Financial advisory services
Number of employees: 29
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO prorated from start, up to 27 days of PTO by year 11
Perks: Offices close early on Fridays; breakroom and kitchen fully stocked with snacks, drinks, craft beer, and espresso; Thursday catered lunches; in-office corkscrew slide and putt putt course; office showers; company baseball games; office located at the base of a mountain with nearby trails; annual fully-paid cat-skiing trip
What makes it great: “BSW deeply respects the importance of balance and believes it’s equally important to have fun. There is a remarkable focus on giving back to the community. Furthermore, BSW conducts amazing work for a great clientele—work that employees go home feeling really good about.”
16. Booyah Advertising
Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus: Digital marketing
Number of employees: 133
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Flex hours for skiing and other outdoor adventures; option for full-time work from home; paid parental leave; 401k with 10 percent match; no-cost-to-employee medical insurance option; dog-friendly office and pet insurance; subsidized recycling service; quarterly bonus program; beer and kombucha on tap with in-office espresso machine; quarterly volunteering opportunities; a sponsored vacation for five-year anniversaries; annual all-agency events like ski days, Colorado Rockies baseball outings, a kickball tournament, and holiday parties; quarterly team events like laser tag, brewery tours, ax throwing, and pottery painting
What makes it great: “Hands down, it’s our people. Booyah is not your typical agency with tons of office politics and competition. People genuinely want to see each other succeed, and they go out of their way to help one another grow. When someone finds a great new insight, they don’t keep it to themselves for personal gain. Rather, they shout it from the rooftops through our many internal info-sharing channels or at a monthly roundtable.”
17. GetUWired, Inc
Location: Dahlonega, Georgia
Focus: Advertising, marketing, public relations
Number of employees: 44
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Ten days of PTO to start, 15 days of PTO after two years
Perks: Quarterly team-building events like hikes, gold panning, or river tubing; “Mindset” training for mental wellbeing; weekly guided meditations; matching 401k; paid parental leave; flexible scheduling; leadership training; weekly team-based games; a dog-friendly office; a newly established Fall Festival with pumpkin carving, costume contests, and a chili cook-off
What makes it great: “Our people make us awesome. We have a thorough hiring process because we want to make sure that people who come on board are not only a cultural fit but add something to the mix as well. Everyone, from your office mate to leadership, is supportive and easily accessible.”
18. Geocaching HQ
Location: Seattle, Washington
Focus: A geocaching-adventure app
Number of employees: 93
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start, up to 20 days of PTO after four years
Perks: Comprehensive health benefits and 401k matching; a free geocaching premium membership with extra buddy membership; paid time off for geocaching; on-site free gear rentals; unlimited free lift tickets anywhere in the world; reimbursements for mind and body wellness activities; subsidized lunches; stipend for caretakers of children, pets, or elderly parents; reimbursement toward adoption-related costs; four-week paid sabbatical every seven years; a geocaching travel award every ten years
What makes it great: “Everyone is here because we believe we can make the world a better place through geocaching. There’s a magic that happens when you’re surrounded by people like that day in and day out—people who share a zest for replenishing the world with wonder, adventure, positivity, and community. Because exploration is at the core of what we do, it naturally creates a workplace environment that allows you to let your guard down and do your most creative work.”
19. Fringe
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus: Personalized lifestyle benefits platform
Number of employees: 64
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Monthly points to use on the Fringe marketplace; DoorDash DashPasses for meals; MasterClass subscription; “Clubhouse” with collaboration spaces, plus cold brew, kombucha, beer and cider on tap; a nearby apartment for out-of-town employees to stay while visiting headquarters; team and company-wide retreats; a “Fringe for Life” wellbeing program with team challenges to get outside; a half day off each week
What makes it great: “Virtual and in-person events every month include brewery, distillery, and winery tours throughout the mountains of Virginia, whitewater rafting through the James River in Richmond, a custom created art heist experience in the VA Museum of Fine Arts (w/clues, hired actors and team competition aspect), gnocchi making with an Italian grandma from her kitchen in Italy and many more. Each first Friday of the month via Zoom we play Flinko on our custom-made full-sized game board (basically Plinko from The Price is RIght) and Fringers can win prizes directly from the Fringe marketplace.”
20. C1S Group, Inc.
Location: Dallas, Texas
Focus: Engineering, construction, and sustainability consulting
Number of employees: 36
Average salary: $102,125
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start
Perks: A pond behind the office with a walking trail, a company running team, summer hours with three-day weekends, a flexible work-from-home policy, a pet-friendly office, catered Monday lunches, and an annual charity golf tournament
What makes it great: “Each quarter, we recognize a teammate who exemplified our core value of ‘work hard/play hard’ by taking a bucket list vacation or challenging themselves in some physical endeavor (marathon, triathlon, rock climbing contest, surfing, etc.). We also love to celebrate that person who makes the ordinary workday more fun by creating laughter in the kitchen, trash talking about fantasy football on our scrabble board, and randomly inviting his/her colleagues to lunch.”
21. Western Environmental Law Center
Location: Eugene, Oregon (headquarters)
Focus: Litigation on wildlife, climate, and public land throughout the American West
Number of employees: 25
Average salary: $91,000
Vacation time: 22 days of PTO, plus unlimited paid sick leave
Perks: 100 percent of employee benefits premiums covered; annual retreats with “play days” in the outdoors in places like Colorado Springs, Denver, Santa Fe, Eugene, and Cannon Beach, Oregon; employees earn three months of paid sabbatical, plus a $1,000 stipend, every five years
What makes it great: “Our paid vacation and holiday package is pretty great. Working from home is A-OK, and that includes an exceptionally flexible schedule. We often close the office around the end-of-year holidays so employees don’t have to use their vacation time to be with their families. We often receive end-of-year bonuses when our finances allow, and we recently instituted transparent salary bands which came with salary raises. And get this: We actually like hanging out with one another!”
22. Fuse LLC
Location: Burlington, Vermont
Focus: Teen and young-adult marketing
Number of employees: 34
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start
Perks: Half-day summer Fridays and half-day winter Wednesdays; an annual fitness stipend; lunch-hour yoga; a gear room with paddleboards, snowshoes, kayaks, and bikes; rec room with indoor skate ramp, weights, spin bike, and basketball hoop; free ski pass to a resort of choice; summer kickball league; company trail building days; a company-hosted annual ski day
What makes it great: “In addition to company perks that support an active outdoor lifestyle, Fuse also provides a pet-friendly office, weekly happy hours, and a flexible hybrid office schedule with work from home options. Annually, Fuse celebrates staff appreciation week, which includes an extra day off in addition to surprise gifts and perks that are announced each day during the staff appreciation week. Fuse also recognizes staff for five, ten, 15 and 20-year anniversaries with bonuses, additional time-off, and special trips.”
23. Young & Laramore
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Focus: Full-service advertising
Number of employees: 69
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 10 days of PTO to start, plus unlimited paid sick leave
Perks: Company bikes for riding around downtown; offices in a historic schoolhouse; showers and lockers for workday runs and rides; an annual pumpkin carving party; a room for meditation, prayer, or quiet time; beer Thursdays; and a two-day retreat each spring in the hills of southern Indiana
What makes it great: “We’re a building full of people who like to get out—and hang out—together, and Y&L gives us plenty of chances to do that. There are agency bikes for anyone to use, which make it easy to explore Indy’s famous Cultural Trail on our lunch break. Also, in no particular order: regular happy hours where we get together and show new work we’ve made, an annual agency retreat, and events ranging from a pumpkin carving competition to a chili cookoff. Oh, and dogs are always welcome at the office.”
24. WhippleWood CPAs
Location: Littleton, Colorado
Focus: Accounting, business consulting, and tax services
Number of employees: 32
Average salary: $85,200
Vacation time: 16 days of PTO to start, flexible PTO after five years
Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, monthly professional massages during tax season, zen room for meditation and napping, employee-led lunchtime yoga, outdoor conference space, board meetings (skateboarding around parking lots in business park), onsite shower and locker facilities, a basketball goal and customized cornhole sets
What makes it great: “Each of us are empowered to improve firm culture with the opportunity to lead or serve on one of five committees that set policies in different aspects of firm operations and culture. This way all employees have a voice as no one on the executive team is allowed to champion one of these groups. Additionally, our management team recognizes our people’s strengths and passions and finds the role best suited for them within the company. There are no square pegs in round holes here.”
25. Optera
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Climate technology
Number of employees: 31
Average salary: $120,000
Vacation time: Unlimited flexible time off
Perks: Office closed every other Friday for outdoor pursuits or personal time; a $200 annual wellness budget for things like workout classes, camping equipment, or massages; $500 annual personal wellness budget (plus a team-wide bonus if everyone uses it); 401k match with ESG-focused fund options
What makes it great: “I love that everyone working here is dedicated to making the world a more inhabitable place, for ourselves and future generations. But even with that urgent mission, there’s a top-down focus on how that work is done—which means a flexible work environment, amazing work-life balance, transparent communication, office dogs, group hikes, virtual game nights, monthly lunch and learns, jam sessions for those of us who are musically inclined…the list goes on!”
26. Ergodyne
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Focus: Work and safety gear
Number of employees: 70
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, team 5Ks followed by healthy lunches, fully equipped 24/7 gym with Peloton, weekly workout classes including HIIT and yoga, two weekly flex days to work from anywhere, and team days to float the St. Croix River
What makes it great: “We are a high-performing, passionate bunch who take the work we do and our results seriously. We like to say: come for the cause; stay for the people. Most folks who dig our vibe are passionate about helping workers and making a difference. Having flex days allows our people to skip the commute or find an inspiring space to work outside our office walls. That said, it’s also amazing to see the good that those three in-office days do for the human spirit and our culture! That’s some soul food right there.”
27. CampMinder
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Web platforms for summer-camp operators
Number of employees: 69
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Paid parental leave, $600 annual wellness allowance through partnership with ThrivePass, flexible hybrid work options, Tuesday on-site catered lunches, dog-friendly office, and an annual two-day retreat in Boulder
What makes it great: “The spirit of summer camp is strong at CampMinder, which means we’ve turned every interest into a group activity. We’ve got coworkers making hot sauce together, a team perfecting the art of Frisbee golf, some committed trash talkers in a fantasy football league, a robust recipe-sharing Slack channel, and of course, a serious competition to bake the most beloved dog treats. Catered Tuesday lunches are always popular and the best place to generate deep questions that are featured in the staff advice column in our quarterly staff newsletter.”
28. Inntopia
Location: Stowe, Vermont
Focus: Marketing and e-commerce
Number of employees: 67
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 19 days of PTO
Perks: Half-day summer Fridays, paid volunteer time, flexible hours for ski/bike/hike/run breaks, ski pass and gym reimbursements, nutrition plan and personal trainer reimbursement, travel credits at partner resorts, work-from-home/hybrid options, dog-friendly office, pet insurance plans, company BBQs, group trips to sporting events, and a competitive corn hole tournament
What makes it great: “If you mashed together your local coffee shop and a software company, you’d have something close to Inntopia. Tech companies are infamous for working their teams to the bone and asking them to sacrifice personal time for profits, but we do the opposite. Whether it’s young children, aging parents, beloved pets, or community involvement, we embrace the joys (and challenges) of life outside of work.”
29. Geographic Expeditions (GeoEx)
Location: San Francisco, California
Focus: Adventure travel
Number of employees: 40
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start
Perks: Annual stipend for international familiarization trips; virtual yoga classes with one of the most sought-after instructors in San Francisco; access to online fitness classes; flexible schedules; support for full-time remote work; company outings including beach picnics, baseball games, and happy hours; access to endless walking/running/biking trails right outside the office in San Francisco’s Presidio park
What makes it great: “Someone is always headed to an exotic locale—whether that’s to the Everest foothills in Nepal, to an off-the-radar fishing village in Japan, to ancient sites in Algeria, to sustainability-minded safari camps in southern Africa, or to pristine hiking trails in Patagonia. When we’re not out exploring on familiarization trips, we’re swapping travel tales and enjoying the camaraderie and collaborative spirit that’s been nurtured at GeoEx over the last 40 years. The views of the Golden Gate Bridge from our conference room are a nice perk too.”
30. Spawn Ideas
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Focus: Full-service advertising
Number of employees: 28
Average salary: $93,900
Vacation time: 13 days of PTO to start
Perks: Work up to 30 days from anywhere once annually, a $200 “stay active” bonus for ski passes or race entry fees, gold-level gym memberships, two-day “pawternity leave” to bond with new pets or grieve when one passes away, employee stock ownership program, an office therapy dog, hybrid work model, and half-day summer Fridays
What makes it great: “We are a team of intellectually curious, getter-done people co-creating the agency we want to be. People plug in and check out as they need to (and should). Newcomers feel immediately engaged and at home because we all respect and like one another. We appreciate new energy and ideas and do our best, always. Friendships are formed, cherished, and last beyond Spawn, like weekend moms’ hike-in camping adventures—with kids!”
31. Choozle
Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus: Digital-advertising software
Number of employees: 76
Average salary: $112,500
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Monthly $100 stipend toward pass, membership, or health and wellness service; an open-concept office with outdoor spaces, ping pong, shuffleboard, and kombucha and cold brew on tap; an annual company-wide gathering in the mountains
What makes it great: “Choozle has been great in the post-Covid work climate and allowing employees to work with a hybrid approach. Building relationships and instilling balance is also at the core of Choozle’s values, whether it is Weekly Slack Trivia, happy hours, company-wide Summits in the mountains, or Unlimited PTO, they do an amazing job of making everyone feel like they are supported in and out of the office.”
32. LifeOmic
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Focus: Cloud-based health care software
Number of employees: 114
Average salary: $172, 900
Vacation time: 16 days of PTO to start; 26 days of PTO after five years
Perks: Up to $1,950 in annual incentives for completing health and wellness milestones; $1,000 bonus for smokers who quit for six months, plus paid-for smoking cessation program; weekly team lunches; annual, all-expenses-paid wilderness retreat in Utah’s Uinta Mountains that includes multiple nights camping, hiking, bonfires, rock climbing, paddleboarding, sunrise yoga, fishing, and expert-led lessons in activities like foraging and nature photography
What makes it great: “Our flexibility is awesome. You can work anywhere in the world with a good internet connection. We have multiple employees who have family members in Europe, and at least once a year, they go visit family for a couple weeks while still being able to balance workload and not burn through vacation time. We even have an employee who doesn’t have a permanent residence. He globetrots, spending a few weeks at a time in a new city.”
33. Evotek
Location: San Diego, California
Focus: Technology solutions for digital businesses
Number of employees: 173
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Flexible hours; quarterly company-wide team-building meetings at various locations; annual community service day for a cause of choice; free healthcare; company events like taco trucks, happy hours, and Padres games; an an annual private company retreat (spouses included) to destinations like Napa Valley, Austin, or a private yacht in Miami
What makes it great: “Although we are a 100 percent remote organization with great WFH benefits, our events team puts on over 60 events a year, giving our teams fun and engaging ways to enjoy time together. We also have a new Experience team dedicated to elevating the overall experience for our customers, employees, and partners, which is unique and quite helpful in differentiating our company internally and externally.”
34. Avid4 Adventure
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Operating day camps, resident camps, and expeditions in eight states
Number of employees: 31
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: $500 reimbursement on recreational expenses like climbing gym memberships, camping reservations, race entries, river trip permits, or yoga and meditation classes; free outdoor gear use; paid company recreational outings to play outside; first Fridays of every month off; an annual, all-expenses paid multi-day camping trip
What makes it great: “Avid4 Adventure’s work with campers strives to build confidence, skills, and a sense of empowerment in kids. Being an employee with Avid is just like being a camper! Avid supports me with professional development opportunities close to home and across the country. I’ve paddled in Minnesota, backpacked and rock climbed in Colorado, and mountain biked in California. I’ve laughed until crying with co-workers, both during on-screen meetings and around campfires. Avid has become an extension of my family.”
35. Forum Phi Architecture
Location: Aspen and Carbondale, Colorado
Focus: Architecture, planning, and interior design
Number of employees: 36
Average salary: $98,800
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start
Perks: Paid volunteer days, $1,049 annual wellness benefit, flexible schedule and work remote options, paid quarterly Forum Phriday events like hiking, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, rafting, hut trips, and lake days
What makes it great: “We started a haiku club where we all put a subject in a bowl and choose what we will write for that week. It’s fun and creative. And Forum Phridays are always unreasonably fun. We laugh so much. It makes it feel like you’re coming to work with friends and family because of the jokes we have shared, and it makes us closer”.
36. commonFont
Location: Bozeman, Montana, and Providence, Rhode Island
Focus: Experience-management technology
Number of employees: 48
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Profit sharing, 10 percent 401k match, office kegerator with local beer and kombucha, weekly catered lunches, stocked snack cabinet, group volunteer days for local organizations or outdoor trail maintenance, summer kickball team, group hiking, flexible and hybrid schedules, celebrations and themed parties and happy hours, and charitable giving matches
What makes it great: “CommonFont brings people and technology together—and our core value of service means we get to do work we love while helping others thrive. As commonFonters, we all strive to make a positive and lasting impact on our teammates, clients and communities.”
37. Bonusly
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Recognition and rewards software for enriching company culture
Number of employees: 104
Average salary: $133,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: $500 annual wellness fund, paid-for employee get-togethers, flexible work schedule and work-from-home options, a one-time $300 home office stipend, and an annual $2,000 professional development budget
What makes it great: “Bonusly’s work-life balance is effective. We recognize our personal lives are important and so help each other out when we need to reset or take a break. After all, it’s pretty difficult to make meaningful connections if we’re feeling stretched thin. Bonusly also offers rest-from-home days to ensure there’s at least one three-day weekend every month. With all that’s going on, being able to take care of yourself is so important, and I appreciate that Bonusly helps with that.”
38. Creative Alignments
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Recruiting
Number of employees: 39
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start
Perks: Transparent Friday morning coffee chats with the CEO where employees can be heard; an active diversity, equality and inclusion team; options to take on projects of interest; regular in-person and virtual gatherings; commission for bringing in new clients; employee referral bonuses; an annual multi-day company gathering with hikes, treasure hunts, volunteering, happy hours, education, and ax throwing
What makes it great: “As a fully remote company, things like birthday cupcakes, get-well-soon soup, we-know-you’re-having-a-hard-day flowers, and recover-fast comfy PJs show up at people’s front door on a regular basis. Whenever someone needs help, personally or professionally, a whole team of kind-hearted people drop what they are doing and jump in to help. This same group speaks up with new ideas, diverse perspectives and differing opinions with the respect and openness needed for a whole company to learn and grow together.”
39. ThrivePass
Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus: A comprehensive platform for managing employee benefits
Number of employees: 63
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Monthly deposits into a health and wellness account, company volunteer days, team building events to decompress during the day, a generous parental leave policy, a one-month sabbatical after five years with $1,000 of travel money and a one-month sabbatical after ten years with $2,000 of travel money
What makes it great: “We’re passionate about employee personal and professional growth. Want to learn a new language or become an outdoor survivalist? We encourage employees to use their annual stipend for learning and development initiatives that bring them joy. Our employees appreciate working remotely, which allows them the freedom to explore! Lastly, every month, they can enjoy their hobbies, whether it’s travel, skiing, mountain biking, yoga, arts and crafts, or nutrition, our health and wellness stipend helps them thrive.”
40. Koru Ltd
Location: Carbondale, Colorado
Focus: Construction
Number of employees: 45
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start, unlimited PTO after five years
Perks: Paid powder days, an annual “movement” stipend, Aspen Snowmass ski passes, company ski days, and company rafting trips
What makes it great: “We go on citywide scavenger hunts, lunch time bike rides, company ski days, and are supported through our big life events. Sometimes there are more dogs in the office than people, and you can always find the boss barefoot and in boardshorts. While it’s casual, we all work exceptionally hard to make an outstanding product and service—something that feeds right back into the ethos.”
41. Adaptive Sports Center
Location: Crested Butte, Colorado
Focus: Outdoor adventure for people with disabilities
Number of employees: 16
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 12 days of PTO to start, plus two additional days each year up to 28, with rollover
Perks: 401k, paid health insurance, certification reimbursement, professional development scholarship, office (with sundeck) and personal ski locker that’s a one-minute walk to the chair lift, ski/bike/hike breaks, season passes, happy-hours and staff parties, paid training clinics, health and wellness stipend, “Floral/Flannel Fridays,” and office dogs
What makes it great: “The service we provide our participants and the outcomes we witness are incredible—every day is amazing. The staff and volunteer crew are a motivated and fun group with the common thread of a love for outdoor adventure and helping improve the lives of many well-deserving people. Of course, being planted in the middle of Colorado’s Elk Mountain Range gives a spoonful of spice to the above.”
42. Buzz Franchise Brands
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Focus: Multi-brand franchising of home services
Number of employees: 53
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Ten days of PTO to start
Perks: Gym membership discount, standing desks, ping pong and pool tables in the office for breaks, half day summer Fridays, weekly happy hours, monthly social events, annual trip to Mexico for convention, annual company off-site gathering in various locations around Virginia, annual credit to spend in company shop, an employee volunteer and charity matching program, professional development opportunities, 401k matching, and FSA
What makes it great: “Buzz Franchise Brands empowers employees to make decisions as subject-matter experts in their roles. Just as importantly, there’s a strong emphasis on work-life balance, exemplified through half-day summer Fridays and a designated Sanity Control Committee that plans monthly social events. Based in Virginia Beach, employees are rewarded for their contributions with time away from the office to recharge, connect with colleagues, and enjoy the perks of living in a coastal area.”
43. GoPro
Location: San Mateo and Carlsbad, California
Focus: Action cameras with mobile apps and video-editing software
Number of employees: 483
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Hybrid/remote work options; offices close to beaches, trails, and world-class cycling, skating and water sports; office gym, showers, and lockers; outdoor workspaces; free onsite bike rentals and storage space for surfboards and wetsuits; access to nearby college athletic facility with a track and aquatic center; onsite and remote fitness classes like bootcamp, yoga, and meditation; monthly reimbursement toward wellness expenses; access to coaching and therapy sessions; the latest camera and accessories (along with company challenges) with each launch
What makes it great: “GoPro attracts some very special people who are zealous about life. This ethos is echoed by GoPro’s vision of being a force for positivity, celebrating all things awesome while inspiring people to pursue their passions. And GoPro’s work philosophy carries that same message, enabling and encouraging employees to live their desired lifestyle while being able to show up to work as the best versions of themselves—whether in a GoPro office, their remote workspace of choice, or a bit of both.”
44. SmartBug Media
Location: Newport Beach, California
Focus: Full-service marketing agency
Number of employees: 166
Average salary: $82,800
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start, 20 days of PTO after five years
Perks: Monthly remote work allowance for internet, phone, and office supplies; monthly budget for meetups with other employees for things like coffee, lunch, ax throwing, or concerts; quarterly professional development days; “SmartBugPallooza,” an annual five-star conference; affinity meetups like LGBTQ+, parents, or women’s groups; work from anywhere; month-long paid sabbaticals after five and ten years
What makes it great: “At SmartBug, you can do challenging work and grow your career without having to sacrifice the things in life that matter to you most. Whether it’s time with your family, carving out space for that midday Pilates class, or taking a walking meeting with your dog, we believe in hiring professionals who are exceptional at what they do and need not be limited to an 8-to-5 schedule at a single desk. We’ve had team members backpack across South America, rock climb in Portugal, and travel from mountain to mountain to ski and snowboard during winter months—all while balancing their workload.”
45. TOMIS Holdings, Inc.
Location: Missoula, Montana
Focus: Marketing services and software for tour operators
Number of employees: 25
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Powder day ski policy, dog-friendly office, flexible working hours and environment, company volunteer days, summer afternoon floats, monthly wellness stipend, beer Fridays, outdoor brand discounts, and bi-annual company retreats to places like Darby, Montana, and Yellowstone for rafting, skiing, and log cabin stays
What makes it great: “I love waking up and deciding if I feel like getting dressed or not. If I decide to work from home and am bored at noon, then I head in. The flexibility and trust is beyond refreshing. Truly the culture is incredible due to badass people. My best friends are my coworkers. They are who I choose to spend the evenings and weekends with, too! No matter what you feel like doing, there’s someone who wants to hike, bike, go skiing, float the river, fish—and has the gear to do it.”
46. Backbone Media
Location: Carbondale, Colorado
Focus: Brand marketing and PR
Number of employees: 114
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 15 days of PTO to start
Perks: Full remote and hybrid work options; flex-time; a wellness stipend for a ski pass, gym membership, or fitness classes; powder day clause; fully stocked gear closet in the offices; pro deals on gear and apparel; office kegerator and stocked snack drawers; dog-friendly offices; Friday pickleball games and regular lunch runs; mountain bike and ski gatherings; paid volunteer time to work with local non-profits; an annual company ski day in the winter and camping trip in the summer; one-month paid sabbatical after ten years
What makes it great: “This summer, I went camping in the desert with 100 of my friends and colleagues at Backbone’s annual ‘Charge’—our take on a company retreat aimed at connecting staff and stoking a love for the outdoors. I tried rock climbing for the first time, enjoyed fully catered meals, nearly won a bunch of money in a huge dice game, and then donned my best costume and danced at an all-night party under the stars. It was an awesome opportunity to try new things and bond with team members outside of the office.”
47. Aspenware Internet Solutions
Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus: Software platforms for mountain resorts
Number of employees: 28
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: 20 days of PTO to start
Perks: $1,000 annual reimbursement for gym memberships, ski passes, and gear; annual National Parks Pass; Ikon season ski pass; paid volunteer day; $1,500 training reimbursement for professional development
What makes it great: “Our collaborative culture is fostered through regular online coffee chats, virtual walks with our workmates, company activity challenges and other culture-building events. When our employees are not building the next great ecommerce products to encourage people to visit mountain resorts, they are taking advantage of the health activity stipend, free ski passes, or free National Parks passes that Aspenware offers to all employees.”
48. Cactus
Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus: Full-service marketing agency
Number of employees: 70
Average salary: $100,000
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: A “Cactus Adventure Club” with regular get-togethers for camping, hiking, and indoor rock climbing; monthly fitness stipend; paid-for running events; team environmental cleanup days; monthly happy hours; premium Calm app membership; discounted ski equipment rentals; all-agency ski days at Arapahoe Basin
What makes it great: “Together we’ve created a workplace driven by a set of bedrock values like respect, belonging, passion, courage, tenacity, collaboration, wellbeing and critical thought. When you get to come into a place like that every day, with amazingly dedicated professionals who care so much it hurts, who truly care about each other and have each others backs, working shoulder to shoulder to create brilliant yet meaningful work that makes the world a little brighter…well that’s when work stops feeling like work. And it’s what it feels like to work at Cactus.”
49. Global Citizen Year
Location: Oakland, California
Focus: A gap-year program that offers cultural-immersion fellowships in Ecuador, Brazil, and India
Number of employees: 29
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Flexible work schedules; a $1,000 annual personal and professional development stipend for things like gardening classes, running stride evaluation, or guitar lessons; Thursday gatherings for coffee, lunch, or fitness; an annual weeklong team retreat; an annual weeklong office closure for rest and relaxation; a month-long paid sabbatical after three years
What makes it great: “After almost three years of being fully remote, we have been reimagining what it means to create a fun, lively, balanced culture. At our weekly staff meetings, we hear updates on projects and give shout-outs to acknowledge the outstanding work of our colleagues. At a recent in-person retreat, we sunk our teeth into imagining our ideal employee lifecycle, and we played four-square when we needed a break. We give our employees the tools and benefits they need to create their own flow between work and life. It looks different for everyone, and Global Citizen Year acknowledges this and embraces it.”
50. NEMO Equipment
Location: Dover, New Hampshire
Focus: Outdoor gear company
Number of employees: 47
Average salary: Unspecified
Vacation time: Unlimited PTO
Perks: Time off and reimbursement for adventure trips (supported by NEMO gear); a $150 annual stipend for registration, classes, or training fees; 16 hours paid volunteering time; hybrid work options; office with custom built desks, a gym, and dogs; expert-led DEI training and brainstorm sessions on issues like reversing climate change; 12 weeks of parental leave; company skiing and camping trips; all-expenses-paid sabbaticals after ten, 15, and 20 years;
What makes it great: “Cam Brensinger (our CEO/founder) has envisioned a workplace functioning similarly to an adventure you’d take with your partner—one that is built on trust, exploration, creativity, and hard work. But that doesn’t come easily, and it’s something that has evolved over the years. As the brand has grown and matured, we’ve been able to expand benefits while continuing to attract the type of folks who love an adventure, care deeply for the planet, and want a different kind of place to work.”
Honorable Mentions
Arts & Letters Creative Co.
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Focus: Advertising, public relations, marketing
Ascent360
Location: Golden, Colorado
Focus: Digital marketing and customer data mining
Best Version Media
Location: Brookfield, Wisconsin
Focus: Publisher of neighborhood publications across the United States
Carrot
Location: Roseburg, Oregon
Focus: Real estate investor websites
CE Broker (EverCheck)
Location: Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Focus: Health care license monitoring
Charles Cunniffe Architects
Location: Aspen, Colorado
Focus: Architecture
Cheley Colorado Camps
Location: Estes Park and Denver, Colorado
Focus: Overnight summer camps
Cotopaxi
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Focus: Outdoor gear and apparel
Crestone Capital
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Wealth management firm for business owners and entrepreneurs
Duft Watterson
Location: Boise, Idaho, and San Francisco, California
Focus: Full-service branding and advertising agency
Eagle County Paramedic Services
Location: Edwards, Colorado
Focus: Health care provider
East West Partners, LLC
Location: Avon and Denver, Colorado
Focus: Real estate
Eighty Five Sixy, Inc.
Location: Del Mar, California, and Denver, Colorado
Focus: Digital marketing agency
First Descents
Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus: Outdoor adventure programs for young adults affected by cancer
Go Ape
Location: Plano, Texas
Focus: Zipline and adventure park
Idea Ranch
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma; Wichita, Kansas; Durango, Colorado
Focus: Advertising and PR
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Location: San Diego, California
Focus: Craft brewery
Keen Footwear
Location: Portland, Oregon
Focus: Active footwear
McGarrah Jessee
Location: Austin, Texas
Focus: Full-service brand development agency
Merrell
Location: Rockford, Michigan
Focus: Active footwear
Mitchell + Palmer
Location: Boise, Idaho
Focus: Ad agency
Moving Mountains
Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Focus: Vacation rentals
New West KnifeWorks
Location: Jackson, Wyoming
Focus: Knives
Oberalp North America
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Mountain sports brands
Oboz Footwear
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Focus: Footwear manufacturer
Outrider
Location: Golden, Colorado
Focus: Autonomous yard operations
OutsidePR
Location: Sausalito, California
Focus: Boutique PR agency
Peek.com
Location: San Francisco, California
Focus: Booking software and marketplace
Planet Propaganda
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Focus: Creative agency
POC North America
Location: Park City, Utah
Focus: Outdoor gear maker
Powder7
Location: Golden, Colorado
Focus: Retail ski equipment
Project Canary
Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus: Data analytics and environmental assessment
RA Nelson
Location: Avon, Colorado
Focus: Full-service general contractor
Rumpl
Location: Portland, Oregon
Focus: Outdoor blankets
Skratch Labs
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Food and beverage
Small Giants
Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus: Full-service marketing for commercial real estate
Sportiqe Apparel
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Focus: Adventure apparel
SportRx
Location: San Diego, California
Focus: Custom prescription sunglasses and snow goggles
Stio
Location: Jackson, Wyoming
Focus: Outdoor apparel
Studio Completiva
Location: Denver, Colorado
Focus: Architecture and planning firm
Studio Shed
Location: Louisville, Colorado
Focus: Prefab sheds and studios
SummitCove Vacation Lodging
Location: Keystone, Colorado
Focus: Short-term vacation lodging
The Garrett Companies
Location: Greenwood, Indiana
Focus: Development, construction, and asset management
The Pinnacle Companies
Location: Frisco, Colorado
Focus: Design and construction, furnishing, hospitality, and travel companies
Trihydro Corporation
Location: Laramie, Wyoming
Focus: Engineering and environmental consulting
USA Triathlon
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Focus: Sports nonprofit
Wheels Manufacturing
Location: Louisville, Colorado
Focus: Bottom brackets for bicycles
Wilderness Adventures
Location: Jackson, Wyoming
Focus: Adventure camps for kids and teens
Research for this list was compiled by the Best Companies Group.
The post The 50 Best Places to Work in 2022 appeared first on Outside Online.