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Stellar benefits, challenging projects and top-notch training keep IT pros connected and engaged at these top employers.
ONLINE * S0RT THE T0P 100 LIST based on the criteria that matter to you. Find employers in your area with plenty of opportunity for advancement, low turnover, diverse employee ranks and training options galore.
* WATCH A SLIDESHOW highlighting some of the amazing perks at USAA, the No. 1 organization on our list.
* SPEAK OUT. Tell us which employers will never make our list.
computerworld.com/2012bestplaces
A day spent with several IT staffers at USAA reveals a supportive work environment, great amenities and a commitment to innovation. BY JULIA KING
No. 1 USAA
FOR THE THIRD YEAR RUNNING, USAA has earned the No. ? spot on Computerworld's Best Places to Work in IT list. There's little wonder why. The $19 billion, privately held insurance and financial services company is growing at a rate of 8% annually and has made its ongoing investment in IT talent a cornerstone of its success. In fact, CIO Greg Schwartz says USAA has "a very aggressive plan" to hire more IT workers over the next six years.
Launch a career here - USAA tries to sell IT professionals on careers, not jobs - and you'll enjoy extraordinary pay and benefits, including 26 days of paid vacation after a year on the payroll, an annual holiday bonus equal to two weeks' base pay, health insurance subsidized at a rate of up to 87.5%, an 8% employer match on 40i(k) contributions and an annual performance bonus that this year equaled 18.4% of worker salaries - it was the second highest in the company's history and was equal to last year's payout. On average, USAA's 2,157 IT employees work between 41 and 45 hours a week. The culture is simultaneously innovation-focused, conservative and family-friendly. Brigham Young University's campuses in Idaho and Utah are key recruiting centers.
"There are a lot of great benefits here, but there's a lot of hard work that goes on," says Schwartz. "We really have a culture of high performance."
The bottom line: "We believe that people should be paid well and have great benefits, but we expect a lot out of them."
Here's a peek at a day in the...