Family-Operated Car Wash Brand Earns Top Token as America's Best Workplace in 2026

Glassdoor has unveiled its 2026 list of the 100 Best Places to Work, and the results are turning heads in the employment landscape. A family-operated car wash chain has claimed the coveted top position, demonstrating that excellence in workplace culture transcends industry boundaries. The recognition underscores how employee satisfaction and supportive management can elevate any business to the highest echelons of the rankings.

Crew Carwash Climbs to Number One on Glassdoor’s Best Workplaces Ranking

Crew Carwash, an independently operated car wash company based in Indianapolis with approximately 55 locations spanning Indiana and Minnesota, has secured the number one position on Glassdoor’s prestigious Employees’ Choice Awards for 2026. This represents a significant leap from the previous year, when the company finished in second place. The Indianapolis-based car wash chain earned this distinction through consistently strong employee feedback, achieving a 4.6 out of 5 rating on the platform.

The family-run business expressed its appreciation to its workforce, recognizing that employee satisfaction and loyalty were instrumental in achieving this milestone. The achievement signals that operational excellence and workforce engagement in the car wash industry can compete with any sector for top talent retention.

What Makes This Car Wash Chain Stand Out to Employees

The reasons behind Crew Carwash’s ascent to the top of the car wash industry’s workplace rankings are compelling. Employees consistently praised the company across several key dimensions: supportive and accessible leadership, meaningful opportunities for career advancement, and a collaborative team environment that values contribution at every level. These factors collectively contributed to the high employee satisfaction scores that secured the number one token among America’s best workplaces.

The company’s approach demonstrates that car wash operators can build thriving organizational cultures by prioritizing employee well-being and professional development. This recognition provides a blueprint for how businesses in service industries can elevate their employment brand.

2026 Workplace Rankings Reveal Shifting Industry Landscape

The full top 10 workplaces list reflects diverse sectors:

• Crew Carwash
• In-N-Out Burger
• Nvidia
• Ryan
• Keller Williams
• Mars
• ServiceNow
• Bain & Company
• Houston Methodist
• EPAM Systems

Beyond the top rankings, several newcomers emerged on this year’s list, including Alaska Airlines (38th), Dutch Bros. Coffee (75th), and Bath & Body Works (80th). These additions signal evolving workplace excellence standards across different industries.

Geographic representation also shifted noticeably in 2026. The San Francisco Bay Area saw a significant decline in company representation, dropping from 23 companies in the prior year to just 13. Conversely, New York City expanded its presence from six companies to ten, reflecting a geographical redistribution of top-tier employers.

An interesting trend emerged in sector representation: manufacturing and retail experienced increased visibility on the list, while traditional strongholds like technology, healthcare, and biotech/pharmaceutical industries saw fewer representatives compared to previous years. This rebalancing suggests that workplace culture excellence is spreading across broader economic sectors.

How Glassdoor Determines the Best Workplaces

Glassdoor’s methodology for selecting the 100 Best Places to Work remains rigorous and employee-centric. The rankings leverage a proprietary algorithm that analyzes employee-submitted reviews collected over a 12-month evaluation period from mid-October 2024 through mid-October 2025. The company gathers data on multiple dimensions of workplace experience, not just single metrics.

To be considered, organizations must meet minimum standards: large companies must accumulate at least 75 ratings to qualify for consideration. This threshold ensures the rankings reflect meaningful employee consensus rather than isolated opinions. Unlike traditional awards determined by external judges or corporate submissions, Glassdoor’s approach centers entirely on voluntary, anonymous employee feedback.

Owen Humphries, president of Glassdoor, emphasized that in an unpredictable job market, the Best Places to Work award serves a critical function for job seekers. These rankings help prospective employees identify organizations where teams genuinely experience satisfaction and engagement. Humphries noted that 2025 presented particular challenges, yet the companies on this list managed to maintain elevated levels of trust and employee satisfaction throughout the period of uncertainty, a testament to their organizational resilience and commitment to their workforces.

The 2026 rankings showcase that whether you’re running a car wash chain or a multinational corporation, prioritizing employee experience creates a competitive advantage in talent markets.