Google has unseated Berkshire Hathaway as the most reputable company in the United States.

That’s according to the 2011 Harris Interactive Reputation Quotient Study, conducted from Dec. 30, 2010 through Feb. 22, 2011.

Johnson & Johnson ranked second, followed by 3M. Berkshire Hathaway slid to No. 4 from the top spot last year.

To determine the rankings, Harris Interactive compares 60 of what it calls the most visible companies in the United States and polls 30,000 Americans. They are asked to identify the companies and then rate them based on their reputations in 20 attributes, including emotional appeal, products and services, social responsibility, and more.

The results indicate that the positive perception of corporate America is on the rise.

“Of the 20 notable changes in reputation among the 54 companies measured in both 2010 and 2011, 18 had significant positive increases, compared to only two declines,” Harris Interactive said in a press release.

Sixteen companies received an RQ (reputation quotient) score above 80, which is considered “excellent,” according to Harris Interactive. Last year, only six companies topped the 80 mark.

The results of the study show that the tech sector has the most positive perception, while the automotive industry saw gains year over year. Oil companies and financial services firm continue to struggle.

Here’s the top 10, with their RQ scores:

1. Google (84.05);
2. Johnson & Johnson (83.13);
3. 3M (82.56);
4. Berkshire Hathaway (82.30);
5. Apple (82.05);
6. Intel (81.94);
7. Kraft Foods (81.67);
8. Amazon.com (81.14);
9. General Mills (81.04);
10. The Walt Disney Company (81.04)

The bottom 10 companies on the list are:

51. Delta Airlines (61.17);
52. JP Morgan Chase (61.15);
53. Exxon Mobil (61.09);
54. General Motors (60.12);
55. Bank of America (58.93);
56. Chrysler (58.37);
57. Citigroup (57.45);
58. Goldman Sachs (53.90);
59. BP (49.82);
60. AIG (47.77)

Facebook was a newcomer to the list, ranking No. 31 and scoring 74.12.

You can download the report at Harris Interactive’s website.