From Silicon Valley to Manhattan, the United States is home to some of the world’s largest and most influential tech companies, which have revolutionized everything from personal computing to artificial intelligence. Employing more than 9.5 million people and contributing roughly $2 trillion to the GDP, the tech industry is vital to the U.S. economy. These are 18 of the largest tech companies based in the United States, including Apple, Meta, Google and more.
Known for the iPhone, iPad and MacBook, Apple has transformed the consumer electronics market. It’s also a major player in the services sector, with offerings like iCloud and Apple Music. With a valuation exceeding $3.5 trillion, the Silicon Valley-based company employs more than 80,000 people in the United States — in addition to the 1,530,000 jobs attributable to the App Store ecosystem.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is a global leader in software, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Its flagship products, such as Windows and Office 365, remain dominant in the software market, while Azure has made significant strides in cloud computing. Microsoft employs more than 228,000 people throughout more than 190 countries, including 126,000 employees in the United States — many of whom are based out of its Redmond, Washington HQ.
Amazon’s e-commerce platform, AWS cloud computing platform, and artificial intelligence products have made the company a technology powerhouse. And its logistics network and AI-driven solutions have reshaped retail and enterprise services globally. With more than 1.5 million employees globally, Amazon is one of the largest private employers in the world.
Google’s parent company Alphabet dominates the search engine market and digital advertising space. It also owns a vast portfolio of popular platforms, including YouTube, Google Maps and Google Cloud. The company also continues to invest in its AI chatbot, Gemini, further solidifying its position as a leader in generative AI. Based in Mountain View, California, Alphabet employs more than 180,000 people throughout about 50 countries.
With platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, along with its development of the metaverse, Meta is a leader in both social networking and virtual reality. The company is also working to reduce emissions through its data centers, which are powered by 100 percent renewable energy. Primarily based out of Silicon Valley, Meta operates in more than 80 countries and has a workforce of 86,000 employees.
Since its launch in 1993, Nvidia’s GPUs have become crucial for gaming, AI development and data centers. According to its website, more than 4 million developers, 40,000 companies and 15,000 global startups rely on Nvidia technology to meet their accelerated computing needs. The company is based in Santa Clara, California, with nearly 30,000 employees globally.
Tesla is disrupting the automotive industry with its electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology. It also invests significantly in clean energy solutions like solar panels and batteries — including its renewable energy-powered Gigafactory network. Globally, the Bay Area-based company has a workforce of more than 100,000 employees.
With an employee network of roughly 131,000 people across 65 countries, Silicon Valley-based Intel is a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing. Its chips power computers, data centers and IoT devices. The company is also investing in reducing water usage in its manufacturing processes, aiming to achieve net positive water usage by 2030.
With a global headquarters in San Jose, California, Cisco offers networking and telecommunications services, providing the backbone for internet infrastructure. Launched in 1984, Cisco’s team of more than 90,000 employees help observe more than 800 billion security events per day, according to its website.
Oracle specializes in enterprise software and cloud computing, offering robust database solutions and applications for businesses worldwide. The company also recently introduced AI-driven tools to enhance its cloud services portfolio. Founded in Santa Clara, California in 1977, Oracle employs more than 160,000 people and has a presence in 175 countries.
New York-based IBM is a leader in AI, quantum computing and enterprise IT solutions. Its family of open source AI models are the latest addition to its roster of technologies. IBM operates in over 170 countries and reportedly employs 260,000 people globally.
Launched in 1985, Qualcomm’s technology provides essential components for smartphones, IoT devices and 5G networks. The San Diego-based company reportedly employs more than 50,000 people, with 170 offices in 30 countries.
Adobe’s creative and digital marketing software — including Photoshop and Adobe Experience Cloud — is a staple for creative professionals worldwide. The San Jose-based company aims to elevate creativity for all, providing Adobe Express to more than 40 million students, among other initiatives. It has also committed to achieving 100 percent renewable electricity usage across all its operations by 2035.
Salesforce is a global leader in cloud-based customer relationship management software. Its NetZero Cloud provides a platform for tracking and reducing carbon emissions — enabling organizations to achieve sustainability goals and comply with environmental regulations. The company has more than 72,000 employees, and its global HQ is in San Francisco.
PayPal is a leader in digital payment processing, enabling secure and seamless transactions for millions of users worldwide. The San Jose-based company employs more than 10,000 people in the United States alone.
Leveraging technology to optimize logistics and user experience, Uber has transformed urban mobility with its ride-hailing and food-delivery services. And the company is committed to ongoing innovation, starting testing of its electric and autonomous vehicle technologies in 2022. Headquartered in San Francisco, Uber operates in more than 70 countries and has a global workforce of roughly 34,000.
X (formerly known as Twitter) is a popular platform for real-time communication and social engagement, serving as a hub for news, entertainment and public discourse. Based in Bastrop, Texas, the company employs more than 2,000 people and operates in more than 35 countries.
As an enterprise IT services company, ServiceNow’s workflow automation software helps businesses streamline operations. Recently, the company announced plans to enhance its automation tools with AI capabilities as well. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, ServiceNow employs more than 20,000 people in total and operates in more than 30 countries.
