These are the best places to work in 2018

Deciding where to work, at least for most people, involves more than just the size of the paycheck involved. Quality of life, work/life balance, and many other factors weigh in when it comes time to seek a new job.

Of course, not everyone has the ability to be picky. Many of us have to take the jobs offered and can only dream about getting to work at one of the companies which make Glassdoor's annual Best Places to Work list. Still, while it's not an option for everyone, ending up at one of these highly rated companies can be an aspiration.

"We know today's job seekers are more informed than ever about where they go to work, researching everything from company culture to career opportunities to pay philosophy and more," said Glassdoor CEO Robert Hohman in a press release. "To help people find companies that stand out from the pack, the Glassdoor Employees' Choice Awards recognize employers that are truly Best Places to Work because they're determined by those who really know best -- the employees."

How is the ranking put together?

The company's that make the list are determined based on the ratings employees give their employers on Glassdoor's website. The jobs site uses a proprietary algorithm to determine "each employer's rating determined based on the quantity, quality and consistency of Glassdoor-approved company reviews submitted by U.S.-based employees between November 1, 2016 and October 22, 2017."

Glassdoor currently ranks more than 700,000 employers. The average company rating is 3.3

These are the Best Places to Work in 2018

Glassdoor actually produces more than one "Best Place to Work" list. The one below ranks employers with more than 1,000 employees.

The top ten Best Places to Work in 2018 are:

Facebook has actually taken the top spot previously in 2011 and 2013. It has made the list for eight straight years.

Google, Bain & Company, and Apple, which came in number 84 on this year's list, are the only three employers to make the list all ten years Glassdoor has been putting it out. For 2018, 40 new companies made the list.

Why does being well-rated matter?

Getting named a Best Place to Work isn't just about bragging rights. It can also give companies an edge when it comes to landing top-tier employees.

"Employers where employees love to work continue to prove that they have a recruiting and business performance advantage," said Hohman.

That can be an important edge in the technology space where coders and other highly skilled workers are in short supply. Since all the top-tier players pay well and generally offer spectacular benefits, being highly regarded as a place to work could tip a potential employee with more than one offer into accepting a job.