Who are the best employers in South Dakota? Forbes names top 9

Avera is the best employer in South Dakota, according to Forbes. 

The magazine this week released its inaugural list of America's Best-in-State Employers 2019, and its entries for South Dakota featured some of the largest employers in the state.

The Sioux Falls-based health care system took the top ranking. South Dakota State University was No. 2 while the Department of Veterans Affairs ranked third.

Forbes worked with a market research company to survey the workforce of firms with at least 500 employers and tabulate the results by state.

In a news release, Avera Chief Human Resources Officer Kim Jensen said the organization was "proud, yet humbled" to get the honor, since it notably depends on employee surveys.

 “Our leaders strive to be make Avera an employer of choice through the training, daily management and respectful interactions they have with our most important resources, our employees," Jensen said. "That’s the Avera difference, and it shows.”

More:Avera honored as top-15 health care system in U.S.

The best South Dakota employers named by Forbes:

1. Avera
2. South Dakota State University
3. Department of Veterans Affairs
4. Hy-Vee
5. Sanford
6. Wells Fargo
7. University of South Dakota
8. U.S. Department of Defense
9. Hilton

For the complete list, go online to Forbes.com/best-employers-by-state.