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 1,852 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 (90) , 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 75 reviews)); "Most coworkers were great to work with." ((in 66 reviews)); "Fun work environment" ((in 60 reviews)); "Team within the store is great" ((in 50 reviews)); "Benefits were great." ((in 33 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 240 reviews)); "management is bad" ((in 103 reviews)); "If you do get promoted from associate manager to assistant manager you get another dollar." ((in 64 reviews)); "Long hours or hours getting cut if it was quiet" ((in 61 reviews)); "get paid minimum wage" ((in 29 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

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Build-A-Bear

Build-A-Bear reviews

3.8

59% would recommend to a friend

(1,771 total reviews)

Sharon John

60% approve of CEO

51% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

3.9

Diversity & inclusion

3.7

Culture & values

3.6

Work/Life balance

3.3

Senior management

3.1

Career opportunities

2.8

Compensation and benefits

Build-A-Bear has an employee rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars, based on 1,771 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).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

2K reviews

1.0

Mar 22, 2015

Bear Builder

Bear builder associate

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Working with children and parents

Cons

They would call you in and then send you home after an hour. Waste of time.

5.0

Mar 19, 2015

A fun, rewarding, yet tough job.

Bear builder

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

*working with kids *you get to interact with probably some of the best co-workers that you will ever have *you get to play and get paid for it *regularly get 'free' gifts from the company both on your annibearversary and at Christmas

Cons

*doing parties regularly (they do get redundant) *don't get paid quite enough *parents that scold you and and tell their children that they can't get something so you are the bad guy *no one leaves! Yes, this is a good thing, but it also makes it so that you can't move up in the company until you have been there for at least 3 or 4 years

5.0

Mar 19, 2015

The best Job I've ever had

Associate workshop manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great work environment, positive energy all of the time, amazing co-workers who become a family, a lot of opportunity for advancement, they genuinely appreciate, love, and take care of their employees,

Cons

Sometimes you get parents who cannot tell their child "no" so they make you do it so you become the bad guy. There are also customers who are very rude, however that is the life of a retail employee.

Viewing 1597 - 1599 of 1,771 Reviews

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