20 Companies Where Workers Actually Share the Profits

Profit sharing sounds like a nice perk until you look at the numbers. At some companies, it doubles total compensation. At others, it builds six-figure retirement accounts for front-line workers who never invested a dime of their own money.

These aren't stock options reserved for executives. These are real programs that distribute real money to the people doing the work. Here are 20 companies where workers actually share the profits — and why it matters.

1. Nucor — Steel Mill Operators Earning Six Figures

Nucor is the largest steelmaker in America, and its profit-sharing model is legendary. Production bonuses are paid weekly based on the output of each work group, and in strong years those bonuses can exceed base pay. A mill operator earning $55,000 in base salary might take home $110,000 or more.

The result: Nucor has some of the lowest turnover in manufacturing, runs non-union by choice (workers don't feel the need), and has been profitable in 50+ consecutive years. Charlotte, NC. ~31,000 employees.

2. Lincoln Electric — The Original Profit Sharer

Lincoln Electric has been sharing profits with employees since 1934 — one of the longest-running programs in American industry. The annual bonus pool has averaged roughly 40-60% of base pay over the past decade, and in strong years it exceeds 100%.

Paired with a guaranteed employment policy (no layoffs since 1948), Lincoln Electric proves that treating workers as partners isn't charity — it's a competitive advantage. Cleveland, OH. ~12,000 employees.

3. 37signals (Basecamp) — Calm Company, Real Checks

37signals, the company behind Basecamp and HEY, distributes 25% of annual profits directly to employees. With a team of about 80 people and no outside investors, those checks are meaningful. The company also pays top-of-market salaries regardless of location, offers sabbaticals, and famously limits the workweek to 40 hours.

Founder Jason Fried has been vocal that profit sharing aligns incentives without the complexity of equity. Chicago, IL.

4. Publix Super Markets — The Grocery ESOP Giant

Publix is the largest employee-owned company in America by headcount. Every eligible associate receives free stock through the company's ESOP — no paycheck deductions required. A long-tenured associate can retire with hundreds of thousands of dollars in Publix stock.

The stock has appreciated consistently for decades, and the company pays quarterly dividends on top. Lakeland, FL. ~230,000 employee-owners.

5. Edward Jones — 52,000 Employee-Owners

Edward Jones is 100% employee-owned through an ESOP, making it one of the largest employee-owned financial services firms in the world. Profit sharing and ownership distributions are a core part of total compensation — not just for financial advisors, but for branch administrators and home office staff.

The firm has consistently ranked among Fortune's Best Places to Work. St. Louis, MO. ~52,000 employees.

6. Epic Systems — Tech Profits Without the IPO

Epic Systems makes the electronic health record software used by hospitals covering 250+ million patients. The company is privately held, has never taken outside funding, and shares profits generously. New graduates start around $100K with bonuses and profit sharing on top.

CEO Judy Faulkner has resisted going public specifically to keep the company focused on its mission rather than quarterly earnings. Verona, WI. ~13,000 employees.

7. WinCo Foods — Grocery Workers Retiring as Millionaires

WinCo Foods is 100% employee-owned, and the results speak for themselves: long-tenured employees have retired with ESOP accounts worth over $1 million. That's for grocery workers — cashiers, stockers, deli staff — at a discount supermarket chain.

WinCo doesn't advertise. It doesn't take credit cards at most locations. It passes every savings on to customers and employees. Boise, ID. ~20,000 employee-owners.

8. Burns & McDonnell — Engineering Firm, 100% Employee-Owned

Burns & McDonnell is a 14,000-person engineering and construction firm that's been 100% employee-owned since 1986. Profit sharing and ESOP contributions make up a significant portion of total compensation, and the firm regularly ranks among the top employee-owned companies in the country.

The ownership culture drives a focus on long-term project quality over short-term margins. Kansas City, MO.

9. Costco — Retail That Actually Pays

Costco offers profit sharing through its 401(k) matching program and has a long track record of paying well above retail industry averages. Starting wages are among the highest in retail, and the profit sharing kicks in after a year of service.

The company's employee retention rate dwarfs competitors — roughly 94% after the first year. Low turnover means experienced workers, which means better service, which drives membership renewals. It's a flywheel. Issaquah, WA. ~316,000 employees.

10. King Arthur Baking — America's Oldest Flour Company, 100% Employee-Owned

King Arthur Baking transitioned to 100% employee ownership in 2004, and the company has grown significantly since. Every employee — from bakers to customer service reps — owns a piece of the 230+ year old company and shares in its profits.

The B Corp-certified company has become a case study in how employee ownership can preserve a brand's values across generations. Norwich, VT. ~500 employee-owners.

11. Gravity Payments — The $70K Minimum Wage Company

Gravity Payments made headlines in 2015 when CEO Dan Price raised the minimum salary to $70,000 — funded in part by cutting his own pay. The company also shares profits with employees. Revenue tripled in the years after the policy change, and the company processes over $15 billion in payments annually.

Critics predicted it would fail. Instead, it became one of the fastest-growing payment processors in the country. Seattle, WA. ~250 employees.

12. In-N-Out Burger — Fast Food, Real Benefits

In-N-Out is privately held and has offered profit sharing and above-industry wages for decades. Store managers earn six figures, part-time associates get benefits, and the company promotes exclusively from within.

The profit-sharing program and free meals are part of why In-N-Out has the lowest turnover in fast food. The founding Snyder family has resisted franchising and going public to keep the culture intact. Irvine, CA. ~37,000 employees.

13. Deloitte — Big Four, Big Profit Sharing

Deloitte distributes profits across its partnership and offers performance bonuses tied to firm-wide results for all staff levels. As the largest professional services firm in the world, the dollar amounts are significant — senior partners can receive profit distributions in the millions, while junior staff benefit from firm-wide bonus pools.

The partnership model means the people doing the work are literally the owners. New York, NY. ~415,000 employees globally.

14. SAS Institute — Tech Pioneer in Profit Sharing

SAS Institute has been privately held since its founding in 1976, and founder Jim Goodnight has used that independence to build one of the most employee-friendly tech companies in existence. Profit sharing, on-site healthcare, subsidized childcare, and unlimited sick leave are all standard.

Annual turnover at SAS is around 4% — compared to 13%+ industry average. Cary, NC. ~12,000 employees.

15. Patagonia — Purpose Trust, Profit Sharing

Patagonia transferred ownership to a purpose trust in 2022, ensuring the company's profits fund environmental causes in perpetuity. But employees still share in the company's success through profit sharing, bonuses, and strong benefits including on-site childcare and paid environmental internships.

The ownership transfer was unprecedented: founder Yvon Chouinard gave away a $3 billion company rather than sell it. Ventura, CA. ~3,000 employees.

16. Haskell — Design-Build Firm, 100% Employee-Owned

Haskell is a 100% employee-owned design-build firm delivering architecture, engineering, and construction services. ESOP contributions and profit sharing are core to compensation, and the ownership structure drives a focus on quality and long-term client relationships rather than short-term billing targets.

Jacksonville, FL. ~2,200 employee-owners.

17. REI — The Co-op That Shares With Workers Too

REI is a consumer cooperative owned by its 24 million members, but employees share in the success too. The company offers profit sharing, retirement contributions, and generous gear discounts. When REI has a strong year, employees see it directly in their paychecks.

REI is also one of the few major retailers to close on Black Friday, prioritizing employee well-being over sales. Kent, WA. ~16,000 employees.

18. Buffer — Radical Transparency, Real Profit Sharing

Buffer publishes every employee's salary online and distributes a portion of profits to the entire team. The fully remote social media management company has built its brand on transparency — open financials, open salaries, and open decision-making.

Profit sharing at Buffer isn't a percentage of salary; it's a flat distribution to every team member, reinforcing the idea that everyone contributes equally to the company's success. San Francisco, CA. ~85 employees.

19. Sheetz — Convenience Store Chain, Employee-Owned

Sheetz is 100% employee-owned through an ESOP, which makes every one of its 23,000+ workers a part-owner of the fast-growing convenience store chain. Profit sharing and ESOP contributions help store clerks and food service workers build real wealth over time.

The family-founded company has grown to 700+ locations across the Mid-Atlantic while maintaining its employee-ownership structure. Altoona, PA.

20. Toyota North America — Manufacturing Profits, Shared

Toyota's North American operations have offered profit sharing to US manufacturing associates for decades. In strong years, production workers have received bonuses exceeding $5,000-$8,000 on top of competitive base pay. The program extends to all eligible employees, not just management.

Toyota's profit-sharing model is part of its broader philosophy that engaged workers build better cars. Plano, TX. ~50,000 US employees.

The Pattern Is Clear

These 20 companies span steel mills, software, grocery stores, fast food, engineering firms, and investment banks. They range from 80 employees to 400,000+. Some are publicly traded, others are privately held. What they share is a conviction that the people who create value should share in it.

And the data backs them up. Companies with broad-based profit sharing and employee ownership grow faster, retain employees longer, and build more wealth for workers than their conventionally structured peers.

Looking for a job at a company that shares the upside? Browse open positions at employee-owned and profit-sharing companies on Commonwealth, or explore the full directory to find companies by ownership type, industry, and location.