Is Build-A-Bear a good company to work for?

Build-A-Bear has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5, based on over 1,851 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has increased by 2% over the last 12 months. 59% of employees would recommend working at Build-A-Bear to a friend and 51% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about Build-A-Bear have been left by employees working as Master Bear Builder , Manager and Associate .

Does Build-A-Bear pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Build-A-Bear employees rate their compensation and benefits as 2.8 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Build-A-Bear. This rating has improved by 2% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Build-A-Bear?

59% of Build-A-Bear employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Build-A-Bear 3.6 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.7 for culture and values and 3.1 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Build-A-Bear?

Bear Builder (394) , Sales Associate (238) , Sales Lead (93) , Sales Assistant/Bear Builder (89) , Assistant Manager (64) , Chief Workshop Manager (41) , Store Manager (39) , Assistant Workshop Manager (34) , Retail Sales Associate (32) , Sales Assistant (32) , Associate Manager (29) , Bear Builder Associate (21) , Associate Workshop Manager (19) , Manager (18) , Associate (17)

What are the pros of working at Build-A-Bear according to real employee reviews?

"Great for people not in college as there were shifts available during the week and was able to work a 2nd job alongside" ((in 74 reviews)); "Most coworkers were great to work with." ((in 63 reviews)); "Fun work environment" ((in 62 reviews)); "Great team to work with." ((in 50 reviews)); "Great environment to work in" ((in 31 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Build-A-Bear according to real employee reviews?

"Pay is low and its not enough for the amount of times you're being used by your managers" ((in 236 reviews)); "management is bad" ((in 105 reviews)); "If you do get promoted from associate manager to assistant manager you get another dollar." ((in 63 reviews)); "Long hours or hours getting cut if it was quiet" ((in 61 reviews)); "Pays minimum wage and very hard to love up" ((in 28 reviews))

What are employees saying about Build-A-Bear layoffs in 2026?

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

What are the top reviewed Build-A-Bear locations?

Saint Louis , New York , Houston , Atlanta , Nashville , Chicago , Dallas , San Antonio , Orlando , Boston , Freehold , Fairfax , Los Angeles , Las Vegas , Richmond , Albany , Tulsa , Indianapolis , Columbus , Anaheim , Jacksonville , Miami , Greensboro , Raleigh , Austin , Franklin , Toledo , San Diego , Overland Park , Pittsburgh

Build-A-Bear reviews

3.8

59% would recommend to a friend

(1,770 total reviews)

Sharon John

60% approve of CEO

51% positive business outlook

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Build-A-Bear has an employee rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars, based on 1,770 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Build-A-Bear employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Retail & Wholesale industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews

3.0

Mar 27, 2022

A Retail Manager Position

Chief workshop manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Making children happy, 90% of the guests come in happy and leave happy.

Cons

I am currently building a brand new team. The team that was handed to me needed to have all the low hanging fruit plucked. Under-performers. Lazy habits. Immaturity. Unprofessionalism. Recording TikToks while clocked in, with vulgar, sexual things said, with the BABW logo in plain site. A lot of mess to clean up.

4.0

Mar 21, 2022

Pretty good place to work

Assistant manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

For the most part the people who work here are some of the coolest people you'll ever meet. Getting to play with bears and play dress up is a pretty fun job.

Cons

Most of the cons I have have to do with clientel and with upper management. It is retail so a lot of the time people are very rude and won't watch their kids so end up cleaning messes a lot. Management above the store level pretends to care for you but as long as their bases are covered they really couldn't care less. And will leave you out to dry if it means following company policy.

3.0

Feb 18, 2022

Lots of work

Bear builder

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Easy to learn when new

Cons

Don’t get a lot of hours

Viewing 100 - 102 of 1,770 Reviews

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Build-A-Bear reviews

Company ratings over time

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

A Retail Manager Position

Pretty good place to work

Lots of work

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