CHS Inc

0. Company Stats

Industry: Agriculture & Energy

Founded: 1931

Size: 10,683

Location: Inver Grove Heights, MN

Stage: Established

Stock Symbol: CHSCP

Work Style: Multi

1. Company Snapshot

CHS Inc. is the largest farmer-owned cooperative in the United States and a Fortune 500 global agribusiness company. With approximately 10,000 employees worldwide, CHS serves farmers, ranchers, and customers in more than 65 countries. The company provides comprehensive agricultural services including crop nutrients, grain marketing, energy products through its Cenex brand, food processing, and financial services. Founded in 1931, CHS operates through four main business segments: Energy, Ag, Nitrogen Production, and Foods, with annual revenues of approximately $39 billion.

2. Culture & Gen Z Alignment

Purpose-Driven Mission

At CHS, every employee is united by a clear purpose: creating connections that empower agriculture. This means directly supporting farmers who feed the world, making the impact of your work tangible and meaningful. The cooperative structure ensures that success is shared with farming communities across rural America.

Strong Values Foundation

CHS operates on four core values: Integrity, Safety, Inclusion, and Cooperative Spirit. The company was recently recognized as one of the 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere, highlighting its commitment to ethical business practices. Employees describe the culture as hardworking yet humble, professional but laid back, with a genuine focus on helping customers and communities.

Community Investment & Volunteerism

Full-time employees receive 16 hours of paid volunteer time annually, and CHS matches charitable donations dollar-for-dollar. In 2024, employees volunteered over 28,000 hours and raised nearly $1.3 million for 740 charities across 15 states, demonstrating the company's commitment to strengthening rural communities.

3. What Employees Say

Company Ratings

Glassdoor: 3.9/5

Indeed: 3.6/5

Pros:

- Compensation & Benefits: Strong ratings of 4/5 on Glassdoor with comprehensive benefits package including pension plan, medical coverage starting day one, and competitive pay

- Meaningful Work: Employees appreciate directly supporting farmers and rural communities, seeing the tangible impact of their work

- Work-Life Balance: Positive mentions of steady work environment and supportive management in many locations

- Community Focus: Strong appreciation for the volunteer time off and charitable matching programs

Cons:

- Seasonal Workload: Harvest season can be extremely busy with long hours, followed by slower periods

- Location Variability: Management quality and work experience can vary significantly by location and division

- Career Advancement: Some employees note limited upward mobility and pay scale progression in certain roles

- Division Differences: Energy division has reported pockets of workplace challenges, while Ag and Retail divisions receive more positive feedback

4. Compensation & Benefits Snapshot

- Average overall salary of $86,544 annually across all positions, with hourly average of $24.95

- Sales roles average $148,000, Operations roles $120,000, and Business Development $138,000

- Entry-level positions like Warehouse Workers start around $37,000, while Vice Presidents earn up to $287,000

- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield starting day one

- Pension retirement plan, increasingly rare among employers, with strong employee appreciation

- 16 hours paid volunteer time annually plus dollar-for-dollar charitable donation matching

- Glassdoor employees rate compensation and benefits 4/5 stars

5. Why Gen Z Might Thrive Here

- Clear Purpose: Your work directly connects to feeding the world and supporting rural American communities, providing deep meaning beyond a paycheck

- Cooperative Model: Experience a unique business structure where success is shared with farmer-owners, offering a different perspective on how companies can operate

- Ethical Foundation: Work for a company recognized globally for business integrity and ethical practices, aligning with Gen Z values around corporate responsibility

- Community Impact: Paid volunteer time and charitable matching let you give back while building your career

- Diverse Career Paths: Options across agronomy, energy, grain marketing, food processing, technology, and business operations in both field and corporate settings

6. What Gen Z Should Ask Or Consider

- How does the workload vary between harvest and non-harvest seasons at this specific location, and how does the company manage work-life balance during peak times?

- What career development programs and advancement opportunities exist for someone starting in my role, and what's the typical progression timeline?

- How does management at this particular location embody CHS values, and can you share examples of how the cooperative spirit shows up day-to-day?

- What opportunities exist for cross-training or moving between divisions (Ag, Energy, Foods) to gain broader experience?

- How does this location support the 16-hour volunteer program, and what community partnerships does the local team have?

7. Locations & Where CHS Inc. Hires

- Headquarters in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, with operations across rural America

- Major presence in Midwest and Plains states including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois, and Wisconsin

- Significant operations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Texas, and Louisiana

- Two petroleum refineries producing Cenex brand fuels, plus 230 grain storage facilities with 403 million bushels capacity

- International operations serving customers in 65+ countries worldwide

8. How CHS Inc. Works

Work Style

Available: Onsite, Remote, Hybrid

Work Environment

Available: Office, Warehouse, Field

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield starting day one. Pension retirement plan with strong employee satisfaction. Full-time employees receive 16 hours of paid volunteer time annually, with dollar-for-dollar charitable donation matching. Company invests over $8 million annually in rural communities through CHS Foundation and community giving programs.

9. Awards & Recognition

- <a href="https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees">World's Most Ethical Companies 2025</a>

11. Sources

Last Updated: January 8, 2026

- Glassdoor Reviews: https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-CHS-Inc-EI_IE8355.11,18.htm

- Indeed Company Page: https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Chs-Inc.-9

- Company Website: https://www.chsinc.com/

- PayScale Salary Data: https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Employer=CHS%2C_Inc./Salary

- Ethisphere Recognition: https://www.chsinc.com/news/2025/03/11/chs-recognized-by-ethisphere