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 78 reviews)); "Most coworkers were great to work with." ((in 64 reviews)); "Fun work environment" ((in 59 reviews)); "Team within the store is great" ((in 53 reviews)); "Benefits were great." ((in 30 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 241 reviews)); "management is bad" ((in 100 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 31 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

5.0

Jul 27, 2014

There's a Reason they're ranked 1 of the top 100 best companies to work for

Bear builder

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

-If your an aspiring performer or hope to work for Disneyland one day, this is your job. -Kind of like a retail job but not nearly as hard because the clothes are tiny. -Managers are friendly, understanding, and strive to make the company fun to work for while being productive -Dress up days when new stuffed animals are released! -Employees are accepting of all lifestyles -Nothing makes your day more than seeing how happy the kids are to be walking out with a build a bear. -If your a manager the company listens to your concerns and suggestions!

Cons

-minimum wage -you always have to be energetic

1.0

Jul 8, 2014

Not worth the interview process

Bear builder

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Get to make a child happy

Cons

I personally did not like working here. The only thing i enjoyed was making children happy other than that it was poor management, bad coworkers, and they had no room for advancement. some of my coworkers worker there for 5 or 6 years and were still a bear builder with no upgraded pay. i dreaded going there with the 4 to 8 hours i got a week.

4.0

Apr 29, 2014

An awesome experience

Associate workshop manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Family atmosphere. We work as a team. The company values its employees.

Cons

Trying to do more with less labor.

Viewing 202 - 204 of 1,771 Reviews

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