Top Texas Companies & How Many People They Employ (2026)
From grocery stores and healthcare systems to global technology leaders, these organizations help power the Texas economy by employing hundreds of thousands of people and supporting millions more through the goods and services they provide.
Quick Take (1- minute read)
– Walmart employs 178,823 associates in Texas, making it the state’s largest verified private employer.
– H-E-B employs more than 175,000 partners across its operations in Texas and Mexico, with the overwhelming majority based in Texas.
– The Texas Medical Center supports 106,000+ employees, making it the world’s largest medical complex and one of Texas’ largest employment centers.
– Texas is home to 57 Fortune 500 headquarters—the most of any state in the nation.
– Several of Texas’ largest corporations—including AT&T, Dell Technologies, ExxonMobil, American Airlines, and Texas Instruments—do not publicly disclose Texas-only workforce figures. To ensure fair comparisons, they are presented separately using their latest official global employee counts.
Texas’ Largest Employers Power the Lone Star State
Employment is one of the clearest indicators of a company’s impact on the Texas economy.
While revenue and market value often dominate headlines, the organizations employing the most people have an equally important impact. They create careers, support families, strengthen local businesses, generate tax revenue, and help drive economic growth across the state.
This report highlights organizations that publicly disclose workforce figures in Texas whenever possible. Where companies do not publish Texas-specific employment numbers, they are presented separately using their official global workforce totals.
That distinction ensures every comparison remains transparent, consistent, and based on publicly available information.
H-E-B Employs More People Than Many Texas Cities Have Residents
Few employers have had a greater impact on Texas than H-E-B.
The San Antonio-based grocery retailer employs more than 175,000 partners across Texas and Mexico, making it one of the largest privately held employers in North America. The overwhelming majority of those partners work in Texas.
For perspective, H-E-B’s workforce is larger than the population of many Texas cities.
Through continued investments in stores, manufacturing, logistics, technology, and community initiatives, H-E-B has become one of the state’s most important economic engines.
Verified Texas Workforce
The following organizations publicly disclose Texas workforce figures through official company reports, institutional publications, or corporate fact sheets.
| Rank | Organization | Workforce |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walmart | 178,823 Associates |
| 2 | H-E-B | 175,000+ Partners (Texas & Mexico) |
| 3 | Texas Medical Center | 106,000+ Employees |
| 4 | Memorial Hermann Health System | 35,000+ Employees |
| 5 | Baylor Scott & White Health | 59,000+ Team Members |
| 6 | Amazon (Texas) | 86,500 Employees |
Texas-Headquartered Giants
Texas is home to some of the world’s largest corporations.
Companies such as AT&T, Dell Technologies, American Airlines, ExxonMobil, and Texas Instruments collectively employ hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
However, these companies do not publicly disclose Texas-only workforce figures.
Rather than estimate those numbers, Texas Financial Report presents them separately using their official global workforce totals. This ensures readers are comparing verified Texas employment figures with verified Texas employment figures—not Texas workforce alongside worldwide employee counts.
| Company | Global Workforce |
|---|---|
| American Airlines | 138,200 |
| AT&T | 133,030 |
| Dell Technologies | ~120,000 |
| ExxonMobil | ~61,500 |
| Texas Instruments | ~33,000 |
Public & Institutional Employers
Private companies represent only part of Texas’ employment story.
Government agencies, universities, and public institutions collectively employ hundreds of thousands of people while providing education, healthcare, research, and public services throughout the state.
Among the largest are:
- University of Texas System — approximately 95,000 employees
- State of Texas — approximately 88,000 employees
- Texas A&M University System — approximately 59,000 employees
Because these organizations have different missions and reporting structures than private businesses, they are presented separately rather than combined into the employer rankings.
Why This Matters
Large employers influence far more than the labor market. They shape housing demand, population growth, consumer spending, local tax revenue, transportation planning, healthcare access, business investment, and overall economic development across Texas.
Texas’ workforce is one of the primary reasons the state’s economy continues to outperform much of the country. In fact, if Texas were its own country, it would rank among the world’s largest economies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the largest employer in Texas?
Based on publicly available workforce data, Walmart is one of the largest verified private employers in Texas with 178,823 associates across the state.
Is H-E-B the largest Texas-headquartered employer?
Yes. H-E-B employs more than 175,000 partners across its operations in Texas and Mexico, with the overwhelming majority based in Texas, making it the largest Texas-headquartered private employer included in this analysis.
Why aren’t AT&T, Dell, or ExxonMobil included in the main ranking?
These companies do not publicly disclose Texas-only workforce figures.
Rather than estimate their Texas employment, Texas Financial Report lists them separately under Texas-Headquartered Giants using their latest reported global workforce totals.
Why is Amazon ranked below Baylor Scott & White if it has more employees?
The ranking reflects verified Texas workforce data only.
Amazon employs approximately 86,500 people in Texas, while Baylor Scott & White employs approximately 59,000 team members.
Why isn’t the State of Texas included in the rankings?
Government agencies, universities, and public institutions operate differently from private companies.
To make comparisons fair, they are grouped separately under Public & Institutional Employers instead of being included in the private employer rankings.
Where did the employment data come from?
Whenever possible, Texas Financial Report sources employment data directly from official company reports, corporate websites, annual reports, SEC filings, government publications, and institutional reports. Secondary sources are used only when an official source does not publicly disclose the specific workforce figure.
How often will this ranking be updated?
Texas Financial Report plans to update this ranking annually as companies release new workforce figures and employment reports.
Methodology
This analysis ranks organizations using the most recent publicly available Texas workforce figures whenever possible.
Organizations that do not publicly disclose Texas-specific employment figures are presented separately using their latest official global workforce totals.
Whenever possible, Texas Financial Report cites official company reports, annual reports, SEC filings, corporate webpages, and institutional publications. Secondary sources are used only when an official source does not publicly disclose the specific figure.
Ever’s Take
Revenue makes headlines. Jobs build economies.
Every employee represents a family. Every paycheck supports a local business. Every major employer helps shape the future of Texas.
One thing became clear while researching this project: not every company reports workforce data the same way.
Rather than estimate or guess, we separated organizations that publicly disclose Texas workforce figures from those that report only global employment totals.
Sources
Verified Texas Workforce
Texas Medical Center — 106,000+ Employees
Memorial Hermann — 35,000+ Employees
Baylor Scott & White Health — 59,000+ Team Members
Amazon Texas — 86,500 Employees
Texas-Headquartered Giants
Public & Institutional Employers
