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 77 reviews)); "Most coworkers were great to work with." ((in 68 reviews)); "Great team to work with." ((in 55 reviews)); "Great environment to work in" ((in 30 reviews)); "Benefits were great." ((in 29 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 219 reviews)); "management is bad" ((in 99 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 62 reviews)); "Pays minimum wage and very hard to love up" ((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

3.0

Oct 14, 2014

Great company if you don't want to stay in the same position.

Store manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great people. Caring team that really acts like a family.

Cons

There is no room for advancement. They say that they will train you to move up but never do and as soon as a position opens, they hire from outside the company because no one inside is ready is what they say. Well train us then and stop just saying you will.

3.0

Oct 12, 2014

Fun at first

Bear builder

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Positive environment Gets you in a good mood Not many rude costumers Costumers love you Time flyes by (at first) All that mentioned above is true for most stores, but still the right management is needed. I've had the coolest manager, most uplifting, that worked with and listened to the whole team's ideas, very laid back,& we all loved challenging and competing with each other YET we would always be giving tips to the others to help the entire store. It was great team work, but after that manger left, we had a few bad ones that were very hard to work with.

Cons

-HOURS suck! -pay is minimum wage -hours are bad even for associate managers -You can't be super excited and happy all the time, you're human. This is supposed to be a happy place, and the over-excitement gets old and annoying. -some of your co-workers might be strange.

5.0

Oct 11, 2014

This is one of the best experiences you will ever have in your professional life.

Assistant manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Everyone on the Team from Head Office to the District Managers are there to help inspire and mentor you while you develop your business. Personal development is encouraged and there was always new challenges to make the customer experience the memory that was cherished.

Cons

The store I worked at closed however, I would work for them again without hesitation.

Viewing 1630 - 1632 of 1,771 Reviews

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