Is BNSF Railway a good company to work for?

BNSF Railway has an overall rating of 3.1 out of 5, based on over 2,634 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has increased by 1% over the last 12 months. 44% of employees would recommend working at BNSF Railway to a friend and 46% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about BNSF Railway have been left by employees working as Technology Services Intern , Transportation Intern and Management Trainee .

Does BNSF Railway pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, BNSF Railway employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.7 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at BNSF Railway. This rating has improved by 4% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at BNSF Railway?

44% of BNSF Railway employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated BNSF Railway 2.5 out of 5 for work life balance, 2.8 for culture and values and 3.1 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at BNSF Railway?

Railroad Conductor (277) , Locomotive Engineer (177) , Conductor (97) , Engineer (73) , Manager (46) , Terminal Trainmaster (42) , Trainmaster (41) , Freight Conductor (36) , Machinist (36) , Intern (27) , Carman (26) , Locomotive Engineer/Conductor (26) , Train Dispatcher (26) , Signal Maintainer (25) , Journeyman Carman (24)

What are the pros of working at BNSF Railway according to real employee reviews?

"The pay is is good for the area and railroad benefits for retirement is one of the best for now." ((in 487 reviews)); "Benefits are good and railroad retirement is top tier if you can live long enough to enjoy it." ((in 354 reviews)); "Retirement is good if you can last that long" ((in 95 reviews)); "The people here are great and provide good mentoring." ((in 90 reviews)); "Good money but not near keeping up with inflation or even remotely worth what you sacrifice and lose while working there" ((in 81 reviews))

What are the cons of working at BNSF Railway according to real employee reviews?

"Poor Management Bad union Benefits declining Raises not keeping up with inflation" ((in 142 reviews)); "No work life balance and you better not go over your availability or you will be sent straight to investigation." ((in 140 reviews)); "with their families and their is very little thought or willingness to accommodate this kind of time off." ((in 89 reviews)); "Long hours (heavy reliance on legacy of railroad employees working all the livelong day)." ((in 63 reviews)); "No schedule and trying to fire everyone" ((in 39 reviews))

What are employees saying about BNSF Railway layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about BNSF Railway layoffs and their outlook for job security at BNSF Railway in 2026.

What are the top reviewed BNSF Railway locations?

Fort Worth , Chicago , Kansas City , Lincoln , Kansas City , Seattle , Denver , Barstow , Topeka , Houston , Minneapolis , Galesburg , Los Angeles , Amarillo , Dallas , Vancouver , Spokane , Alliance , San Bernardino , Memphis , Tulsa , Minot , Cicero , Temple , Tacoma , Springfield , Oklahoma City , Belen , Gillette , Bakersfield

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BNSF Railway

Part of Berkshire Hathaway

BNSF Railway reviews

3.1

44% would recommend to a friend

(2,427 total reviews)

Kathryn Farmer

42% approve of CEO

46% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

3.7

Compensation and benefits

3.3

Diversity & inclusion

3.1

Career opportunities

2.8

Culture & values

2.6

Senior management

2.5

Work/Life balance

BNSF Railway has an employee rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars, based on 2,427 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The BNSF Railway employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Transportation & Logistics industry (3.5 stars).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

2K reviews

1.0

Jul 6, 2022

better not start a family

Track laborer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

the pay is great, good work

Cons

the company don't care about you, the union isn't much better, you will get worked to the bone just for the fun of it, you will get hired quickly, you will get fired quickly, you will get fired for just about anything while other that have done worse will get to stay at work, there are more chiefs than there are indians, everything is always your fault, favorites are always held higher, no home time, you have to stay in hotels that you wouldn't put your worst relative in, contracts are hard to come by or the company doesn't care about renewing the workers contracts, and now that anything born after 2000 doesn't know how to work with or for this company

1.0

May 29, 2022

As an IT worker, you can do better anywhere else

Principal architect

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Things will only get better from here, because this will be the worst place you have ever worked

Cons

- People are regularly fired or demoted. - Backwards and outdated IT practices. - Extremely high turnover. - Pay for IT jobs is significantly below industry average. - Most everyone that cared and was competent has already left, and the few good left are only there because they have be institutionalized. - You are only there to either manage offshore contractors, or to be the scapegoat when something goes wrong. - Values talk, buzzwords, and excuses over working software. - A complete lack of transparency. - Very limited opportunity for career advancement or growth.

1.0

Apr 9, 2022

Avoid at all costs

Engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Used to be pay, but now they are lowering wages with cost of living sky rocketing.

Cons

Never home, on call 24/7 365 days a year. Penalized for taking FMLA, any holiday off, or a weekend. Can make more else where. Insurance is poor. Extreme management oversight. Safety isn't a factor in decision making.

Viewing 112 - 114 of 2,427 Reviews

Jobs at BNSF Railway

Construction Structural Maintenance Bridge and Building (Helper/Driver)- Hannibal, MO or Quincy, IL

Track Maintenance - Laborer - Clovis, NM District 800

Staff Engineering Manager (Remote - US)

Construction - Structural Maintenance Bridge and Building (Helper/Driver)- Ottumwa or La Crosse, WI

Conductor Trainee-Temple, TX