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11 of the Best Silicon Valley Companies to Work For

Learn about the top tech companies in Silicon Valley and how to land a job with one of them.

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

You’ve used the apps, software, web services, and gadgets that come out of Silicon Valley. But have you ever thought about working for a Silicon Valley company? If you’re looking to work for a tech company where innovation is king and hoodies are the official dress code, then Silicon Valley is the place to be.

Many tech companies in Silicon Valley offer high-demand jobs. That includes software engineering, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects to grow by 25% over the next decade.

When you work for Silicon Valley companies, you can enjoy:

  • Excellent pay.
  • Excellent benefits such as paternal leave, unlimited paid time off, stock options, 401k matches, gym memberships, travel stipends, and much more.
  • Plenty of career growth opportunities
  • The ability to work from home.
  • The opportunity to work with top tech talent and cutting-edge technology.

Below, you’ll find a list of the top Silicon Valley tech companies to work for and tips for landing a job with one of them.

What’s Silicon Valley?

California has the highest number of tech jobs in the United States. But more specifically, Silicon Valley—a region in the San Francisco Bay Area—is home to some of the largest names in the tech world.

How did Silicon Valley earn its name? Many early Bay Area tech companies created computer chips made from silicon. The term “Silicon Valley” was first coined in 1971 when it appeared on the cover of Electronic News Magazine.

What Kinds of Companies Are in Silicon Valley?

Silicon Valley is home to a wide variety of companies, ranging from tech startups to industry giants. Here are some examples of the types of tech companies in Silicon Valley:

  • Big Five tech companies: These are Google, Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft.
  • Biotech companies: Silicon Valley is home to several biotech companies—such as Genentech and Gilead Science—that work on creating innovative treatments for diseases and health conditions.
  • Venture capital firms: With so many startups in the area, Silicon Valley is home to a large number of venture capital firms.
  • Consulting firms: There are tons of consulting firms in Silicon Valley that help tech companies grow and scale their businesses.
  • Finance Companies: Silicon Valley is also home to several banks, investment firms, and insurance companies that provide financial services to the tech industry.

11 of the Top Silicon Valley Companies to Work For

  1. Apple Inc.
  2. Google LLC (Alphabet, Inc.)
  3. Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook)
  4. Microsoft Corporation
  5. Amazon.com, Inc.
  6. Cisco Systems, Inc.
  7. Hewlett-Packard Company
  8. Oracle Systems Corporation
  9. Salesforce.com, Inc.
  10. Adobe Inc.
  11. Tesla, Inc.

1. Apple Inc.

Apple is one of the largest tech companies that designs, develops, and sells electronics, computer software, and online services. The company is best known for its iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers.

Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. It has since grown to become one of the leading tech companies in Silicon Valley and the world and has sold more than 1.3 billion iPhones worldwide. It also offers streaming services such as Apple TV and iTunes. It currently employs about 154,000 people and has more than 500 locations around the world.

Find Apple jobs on Monster.

2. Google LLC (Alphabet, Inc.)

Founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google is a tech company that provides one of the world’s largest search engines. It also provides internet-based services such as Google Cloud, Google Drive, YouTube, and Google Music.

Its hardware products include the Pixel smartphone, Chromebook, Google Home smart speaker, and Nest smart home devices. Today, Google has more than 160,000 employees and offices in 170 cities worldwide.

Find Google jobs on Monster.

3. Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook)

Meta is the parent company of social media networking giant Facebook, a platform that allows users to connect with friends, family, and other people from around the world. Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook in 2004 while attending Harvard University to help students on campus stay connected.

What started as a platform to connect Harvard students quickly turned into one of the world’s largest social media companies used by billions of people. Meta also has more than 86,000 employees and is among the seven tech companies with the best vacation policies. 

Find Meta jobs on Monster.

4. Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen and is one of the largest Silicon Valley tech companies today. It develops, licenses, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, and personal computers. It’s best known for its signature products such as Windows and Microsoft Office. Microsoft has also produced hardware products such as the Xbox gaming console and the Surface tablet.

Today, Microsoft employs about 228,000 people and has 190 offices worldwide. It has nearly 25 million monthly active users of its software programs and internet services across the globe. It has also ranked within the top ten best large companies to work for by Forbes.

Find Microsoft jobs on Monster.

5. Amazon.com, Inc.

What started as an online bookstore in 1994—founded by Jeff Bezos—turned into one of the world’s largest retailers and Silicon Valley companies. Today, Amazon sells and delivers a wide variety of products, including electronics, clothing, household items, and groceries.

It’s also known for Amazon Prime, a subscription service that provides free shipping, music and movie streaming, and access to deals. And it provides internet-based services such as Amazon Web Services and Amazon Studios.

Amazon employs over 1 million people worldwide and has dozens of offices across more than 30 countries. It also has more than 300 million active user accounts and over 1.9 million selling partners across the globe.

Find Amazon jobs on Monster.

6. Cisco Systems, Inc.

In 1984, two Stanford University computer scientists—Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner—founded Cisco Systems to connect different types of computer systems. Today, it’s one of the leading providers of networking equipment such as routers, switches, and firewalls. It also offers a variety of other products and services, including collaboration tools, security solutions, and cloud computing services.

Cisco employs nearly 80,000 people and has about 200 offices across 80 countries. Also, nearly 90% of Fortune 500 companies use Cisco’s IT products and services. Cisco has consistently ranked among the top Fortune 100 best companies to work for its excellent company culture and inclusive workplace.

Find Cisco jobs on Monster.

7. Hewlett-Packard Company

Hewlett-Packard (HP) specializes in developing and manufacturing hardware and software products. The company was founded in 1939 by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard. What started in a small garage in Palo Alto, has since become one of the world’s largest producers of personal computers, printers, scanners, software, and more.

Today, HP employs around 60,000 people and sells its products and services to millions of people worldwide.

Find HP jobs on Monster.

8. Oracle Systems Corporation

Oracle is not only one of the largest Silicon Valley companies, it’s a global leader in enterprise software solutions. Larry Ellison founded Oracle in 1977 to develop software that would work with IBM’s database products.

Today, it provides a wide range of services that businesses of all sizes use. That includes data management systems, cloud-based services, and management tools for human resources, supply chains, and customer relationship management. It also has around 143,000 employees, 209 offices, and more than 70 million daily users across the globe.

Find Oracle jobs on Monster.

9. Salesforce.com, Inc.

Salesforce is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) software that helps businesses manage their interactions with customers and prospects. It offers several tools for sales, marketing, customer service, and analytics. Salesforce allows businesses to utilize customer data to gain a better understanding of their customers and personalize their interactions accordingly.

More than 79,000 people work for Salesforce globally. Salesforce has towers located in major cities around the world such as Atlanta, Indianapolis, New York City, San Francisco, London, Dublin, and Tokyo. Over 150,000 companies across a variety of industries use Salesforce to streamline their business functions.

Find Salesforce jobs on Monster.

10. Adobe Inc.

Adobe was founded in 1982 by John Warnock and Charles Geschke. It has since become a leading software company that develops and sells multimedia and creative software products used for graphic design, video editing, web development, and much more. Adobe’s most popular products include Adobe Photoshop, Acrobat Reader, Illustrator, and Adobe Creative Cloud.

Adobe has more than 29,000 employees, over 30 million members of its online creative community, and dozens of offices around the world. Fortune Magazine has ranked Adobe among the top 25 best workplaces in the world—consecutively from 2016-2021—because of its workplace diversity and inclusivity and commitment to employees’ well-being and career development.

Find Adobe jobs on Monster.

11. Tesla, Inc.

Tesla is an automotive and energy company that specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and solar panels. The company was founded in 2003 by Elon Musk with the mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.

Today, Tesla employs more than 120,000 people and has sold more than 1.3 million vehicles to customers around the world. It also has 16 offices and more than 400 stores located throughout the world.

Find Tesla jobs on Monster.

Top Jobs in Silicon Valley

Do any of the top Silicon Valley companies appeal to you? Here are some of the Silicon Valley jobs you can apply for:

How to Get a Job in Silicon Valley

So, now comes the question: “Do I have to live in Silicon Valley to work for Silicon Valley tech companies?” The short answer is “no.”

If you prefer to work on-location, Silicon Valley companies have several offices located throughout the United States. For example, Google’s headquarters is in Mountain View, California, but you can find on-site Google jobs across dozens of U.S. cities.

Looking for a remote job? You’re in luck. Many Silicon Valley companies are hiring remote employees. For example, Adobe gives its employees the option to work remotely up to 50% of the time. Also, Meta gives its employees the option to request a full-time work-from-home schedule.

Want to join the Silicon Valley workforce? Here are some tips that can help you get there:

  • Build your tech skills by getting a computer science degree, completing certificate programs, attending workshops, and working on personal projects to enhance your skills.
  • Create a portfolio of your work, such as a website, application, database, or software program.
  • Network with other tech professionals in Silicon Valley by attending industry events and joining online tech communities.
  • Gain tech experience through an internship or job opportunity, whether it’s with a small startup or a larger tech company.
  • Build a solid tech resume that showcases your computer skills, IT experience, educational background, and certifications.
  • Be persistent and patient, as landing a job in Silicon Valley can take time and effort.

Find a Job in the World’s Largest Tech Hub

Finding jobs at Silicon Valley companies may be challenging. But with some IT experience and a little persistence, you can join the ranks of the tech elite. Download Monster’s job search app to find tech jobs in Silicon Valley and beyond that are tailored to your interests and career goals. Best of all, you can apply with a simple click or swipe.