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 3% over the last 12 months. 47% of employees would recommend working at BNSF Railway to a friend and 49% 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 3.8 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?

47% of BNSF Railway employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated BNSF Railway 2.6 out of 5 for work life balance, 2.9 for culture and values and 3.2 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 456 reviews)); "Benefits are good and railroad retirement is top tier if you can live long enough to enjoy it." ((in 357 reviews)); "The people here are great and provide good mentoring." ((in 94 reviews)); "Retirement is good if you can last that long" ((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 83 reviews))

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

"No work life balance and the company is always finding ways to take even more personal days away from us." ((in 139 reviews)); "Poor Management Bad union Benefits declining Raises not keeping up with inflation" ((in 134 reviews)); "with their families and their is very little thought or willingness to accommodate this kind of time off." ((in 101 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 36 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

47% would recommend to a friend

(2,427 total reviews)

Kathryn Farmer

45% approve of CEO

49% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

3.8

Compensation and benefits

3.4

Diversity & inclusion

3.2

Career opportunities

2.9

Culture & values

2.7

Senior management

2.6

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

4.0

May 27, 2014

work, work, work

Locomotive engineer/conductor

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

plenty of work ability to take lots of time of if you know the loopholes insane pay and benefits almost all the union employees are great to work with

Cons

on call 24/7 work nights weekends holidays officials are seemingly brain washed by the carrier even if they come from the craft

1.0

May 20, 2014

Conductor

Railroad conductor

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The pay is the best you can get without any advanced education. Initially, the learning off the job and doing it can be fun.

Cons

Expect to work on call extra boards for at least a few years. Everyone starts this way though. Expect to treated as minority who is hated by racists. I'm white by the way. I've never been treated so disrespectfully by management in my life. This is why I left after 8 years. On the bright side, the day I left felt like leaving prison and this job gave me the motivation to finish college so I would never be left without options again in life! Please have an exit plan and don't buy a new house and truck if you work here, this is virtually how everyone is trapped. If you were to lose your 100K job without a backup plan or education you will be blackballed by the other class A railroads and be worth $8/hr or whatever the going rate for a ditchdigger is. None of these skills will transfer to the real world. Shortlines will pay a quarter or a third of this rate, if you're lucky.

3.0

May 19, 2014

It's ok

Carman

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The benefits, thanks to my Union.

Cons

The negative attitudes created by management.

Viewing 2296 - 2298 of 2,427 Reviews

Jobs at BNSF Railway

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

Staff Engineering Manager (Remote - US)

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

Track Maintenance - Laborer - Stockton, CA

Track Maintenance - Laborer - District 800, Lafayette, LA