In its annual list of “Best Places to Work,” Fortune magazine has named Container Store to the 20th spot for 2008.

The Coppell, Texas-based Container Store was credited for its high pay, even following an acquisition last year.

“Though a private equity firm took a majority stake in the retailer, it has kept top entry-level pay 50 percent to 100 percent higher than the retail average,” the magazine said in a statement on “what makes it so great?’

Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams also made the list, at 98, for its high retention rate.

“The 142-year-old paint company wants recruits for the long haul: 10 percent of work force has more than 20 years' service; 30 percent, more than 10 years,” the magazine said.

“We're particularly gratified by the fact that two-thirds of our total score comes directly from surveys of more than 400 Sherwin-Williams employees selected at random,” said Christopher Connor, chairman and CEO of Sherwin-Williams, in a statement. “They make Sherwin-Williams a great company to work for.”

Notably, one home builder made the list -- David Weekley Homes, at number 17. In the face of a downturn in the housing market, the Houston-based home builder “canceled its annual reward trip and tripled severance pay for laid-off employees,” the magazine said.