Springfield’s Major Employers (And Cool Jobs Worth Checking Out)
Looking for a job in Springfield or Sangamon County, IL? Here are the region's top employers.
Springfield is the vibrant capital city of Illinois, home to many historic landmarks, arts and culture offerings, outdoor recreation, shopping and innovative bars and restaurants. Not only is Springfield a great place to live, but it’s also a great place to work, whether you’re just starting out or established in your field and looking to grow your career.
If you’re plotting the next step in your career, consider these top employers (and some seriously cool jobs) in the Springfield and greater Sangamon County area:
In This Article
1. Horace Mann
Horace Mann has a long history in Springfield. Founded by two Springfield teachers in 1945, the company provides insurance and savings and retirement plans for educators. The company has grown by leaps and bounds since 1945 but still maintains impeccable customer service. When you join the Horace Mann team in Springfield, you’ll get to work with some 1,110 of your neighbors and friends.
Cool job: Infrastructure engineer, a code-heavy position that helps keep Horace Mann’s systems running smoothly.
2. University of Illinois Springfield
First established as Sangamon State University in 1969, the University of Illinois Springfield joined the broader University of Illinois system in 1995. Today, it’s one of three campuses in the system, along with those in Urbana-Champaign and Chicago. The Springfield campus is an important community asset here, educating some 4,275 students each year and employing more than 1,000 people.
Cool job: Professor of African-American studies, which helps students explore Black life, history and culture.
3. Hospital Sisters Health System
Headquartered in Springfield, Hospital Sisters Health System has a broad reach, providing healthcare across a network of 15 hospitals and clinics throughout Illinois and Wisconsin. The company dates back to 1875 when it was first founded as the Hospital Sisters of St Francis. In Springfield, HSHS is an important employer and community partner that provides jobs for more than 4,400 residents.
Cool job: Registered nurse or certified nurse assistant so that you can make a huge difference in the lives of patients and their families on a daily basis.
4. Levi, Ray & Shoup
Founded in 1979 by three Springfield residents, Levi, Ray & Shoup has since grown into a powerhouse company with more than 900 employees worldwide. And even with all that success and growth, the company has remained true to its Springfield roots — it’s still headquartered here today. If you’re looking for a job with a top information technology company that provides software solutions to Fortune 100 companies, you’re in the right place.
Cool job: System engineer, so you can put your technical know-how and savvy to work supporting Levi, Ray & Shoup’s many innovative software products.
5. Illinois Army and Air National Guard
The Illinois Army National Guard and Illinois Air National Guard have a big presence in Springfield, with over 900 employees between the two units. The men and women serving in these divisions help support disaster relief and keep Americans safe, including those living in Illinois.
Cool job: Bioenvironmental engineer, an Air National Guard position that analyzes and evaluates potential health threats.
6. BUNN
BUNN, aka Bunn-O-Matic Corporation, employs some 500 Springfield residents at its corporate headquarters. Engrained in the community, the Bunn family made Springfield their home in 1840. They engaged in various businesses like wholesale grocery, banking, watch-making and institutional food distribution, which meant they often did business with a young lawyer named Abe Lincoln. The current form of the company was founded in 1957 by George Bunn. Bunn-O-Matic created the first flat-bottom disposable paper coffee filter. Today, BUNN specializes in beverage-making technologies like coffee makers, expresso machines, coffee bean grinders, slushy machines and beyond. Their products are mainstream in convenience stores, restaurants and food service companies worldwide.
Cool job: Line assembler, an important factory role in assembling Bunn’s popular beverage machines.
7. Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and SIU Medicine
Without the care and attention of medical educators, there would be no doctors, nurses and other skilled healthcare providers. That’s why Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and its clinical practice, SIU Medicine, are so important to Springfield, as well as to Illinois as a whole. The school helps train the next generation of physicians, surgeons, physician assistants and medical researchers. The school and health care provider also provide jobs for more than 1,470 employees in the Springfield area and serves as an important hub for innovation.
Cool job: Director of cancer epidemiology, a rigorous position at SIU’s Simmons Cancer Institute, working to help solve some of the medicine’s toughest challenges.
8. Hope Institute for Children
If you want to make a difference with your career, consider the Hope Institute for Children, a Springfield nonprofit with a global reach. Hope started in 1957 as a residential campus for children with disabilities but has since expanded to become a leading innovator in the education, treatment and care of children with disabilities, specifically those with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities.
Cool job: Speech and language pathologist, so you can help children build confidence and improve their communication skills.
9. Memorial Health System
With more than 5,200 employees, Memorial Health System is Springfield’s largest private employer — but its significance extends far beyond its size. Memorial Health System is a premier healthcare organization that has provided excellent patient care and has conducted important research and education since its founding in 1897. When you join the team at Memorial Health System, you’ll be making a difference in the lives of thousands of patients and their families.
Cool job: Emergency medical technician, an important member of the emergency medicine team at Memorial Health System.
10. Standard Aero
Founded in 1911, StandardAero maintains, repairs and overhauls aerospace gear and equipment for business aviation, commercial aviation, the military and industrial power companies. The company has locations all over the world, including one in Springfield.
Cool job: Aircraft painter, an important position that requires prepping surfaces, blending paint and painting huge planes.
11. Hanson Professional Services
Headquartered in Springfield, Hanson Professional Services has locations all over the country. The company offers engineering, planning and allied services to an array of clients, all while protecting the public and the environment. Hanson Professional Services has a long history in Springfield. The company was originally founded in 1954 by Walter E. Hanson and Associates and later expanded across the United States, helping with many notable construction and renovation projects. The firm’s name changed over the years, eventually becoming Hanson Professional Services in 2001.
Cool job: Structural engineer, a core team member who helps design stable systems, buildings and infrastructure.
12. Brandt
Brandt was founded by brother and sister Glen Brandt and Evelyn Brandt Thomas in 1953. And even today, more than 65 years later and with massive growth, Brandt is still all about family —Glen’s son Rick Brandt serves as the company’s president and CEO. This forward-looking company supports farmers, growers and producers worldwide with agricultural products and tools.
Cool job: Applicator/operator, a position that involves applying fertilizer and pesticides to fields.
13. Lincoln Land Community College
Lincoln Land Community College makes higher education affordable and accessible to all Springfield area residents. The community college serves more than 12,700 students each year, including non-traditional students over the age of 25. Plus, it helps students land stable, high-paying jobs like truck drivers, certified nurse assistants, practical nurses and computer systems managers.
Cool job: Director of student success. In this role, you’ll make a huge impact on student’s lives as you help them with coaching and counseling.
14. Nudo
Nudo is a leading manufacturer of laminated panels, which are essential to fields like transportation, architecture, construction and signage. With more than 60 years of experience, the company prides itself on meeting the unique needs of its customers, who represent various industries. Nudo can even provide custom solutions for virtually any laminated panel need.
Cool job: Assembly line production worker, which helps keep Nudo’s manufacturing processes running smoothly.
15. Wells Fargo
Longtime banking and financial institution Wells Fargo has a significant presence in Springfield, where it offers an array of banking products and services that support the greater Sangamon County community — mortgages, student loans, savings accounts, safe deposit boxes and check-cashing, just to name a few. With more than $1.92 trillion in assets and more than 7,000 locations, Wells Fargo supports diversity, inclusion, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability in Springfield and beyond.
Cool job: Mortgage loan officer, an important role that helps families achieve their dreams of homeownership.
This article was sponsored by the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance.