Top-paying companies

By Nin-Hai Tseng 19 hours ago

Physicians at WellStar Health System take home an average base salary of $253,500. See what other Best Companies to Work For offer big paychecks in their most common jobs.

WellStar Health System

Courtesy: WellStar

Average annual base pay: $253,500
For: Physician
Best Companies Rank: 39

 

At this Atlanta-based hospital system that includes five hospitals and seven urgent care centers, physicians are paid top dollar. And while other employees may not earn a physicians' salary, they receive plenty of other perks, including personal travel service, subsidized lunch and take-home meals on a daily basis.

Bingham McCutchen LLP

Courtesy: Bingham McCutchen 

Average annual base pay: $222,231
For: Associate
Best Companies Rank: 60

While most other law firms have clamped down on salaries, this Massachusetts firm is bucking the trend. The average annual salary for associates is $222,231, more than $6,000 higher than the previous year's $216,000 average salary. And while they earn big, the rest of the firm's employees enjoy a perk that associates don't get at the firm's U.S. offices: A day off on their birthday.

Cooley LLP

Courtesy: Cooley

Average annual base pay: $215,861
For: Associate
Best Companies Rank: 100

The law firm known for its technology practice--and counts Facebook as one of its clients--has some of the highest paid associates. And to make life easier for them and their other busy employees, the Palo Alto-based law firm offers plenty of perks from chair massages to dry cleaning service, as well as weekly or monthly continental breakfasts.

Perkins Coie

Courtesy Perkins Coie

Average annual base pay: $175,787
For: Associate
Best Companies Rank: 41

This Seattle-based law firm has some of the highest paid associates, with average annual salaries at $175,787. That's more than $10,000 higher than $165,815 the previous year. Other employees enjoy the same perks as associates, including complimentary cab rides home for sick employees and reimbursements for personal hand-held devices.

Hilcorp Energy Company

Courtesy: Hilcorp

Average annual base pay: $162,980
For: Engineer
Best Companies Rank: 15

They say good engineers aren't easy to come by in the U.S., and some of the highest paid are working at this Houston-based oil and gas producer. At Hilcorp, the company rewards its other employees when it does well: It promised in 2010 that if it doubles its production rate and reserves by 2015, employees will be rewarded a check of $100,000. Employees hired after June 2011 can participate on a pro-rated basis.