Does CN pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, CN employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.9 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at CN. This rating has improved by 1% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at CN?

56% of CN employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated CN 2.6 out of 5 for work life balance, 2.8 for culture and values and 3.1 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at CN?

Railroad Conductor (126) , Locomotive Engineer (75) , Train Conductor (55) , Conductor (49) , Freight Conductor (49) , Intern (23) , Manager (21) , Project Manager (21) , Trainmaster (19) , Analyst (15) , Supervisor (15) , Carman (14) , Heavy Equipment Operator (14) , Engineer (13) , Freight Train Conductor (13)

What are the pros of working at CN according to real employee reviews?

"Pay is good and stock plan is nice.." ((in 279 reviews)); "The benefits are good and it’s steady" ((in 225 reviews)); "Good salary and IT challenges" ((in 78 reviews)); "good pension plan for unionized employees" ((in 76 reviews)); "And good money if you are in the right place for doing very little work." ((in 63 reviews))

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

"no work life balance and 24/7 scheduling" ((in 100 reviews)); "Long hours and being on call at all hour can be difficult for most people with families at home." ((in 68 reviews)); "Constant layoffs and employee/management shortage" ((in 25 reviews)); "Terrible leadership who have made mistakes after mistakes but are not held accountable." ((in 21 reviews)); "It is normal to have a 10 to 15 hour journey home eating into any time off." ((in 21 reviews))

What are employees saying about CN layoffs in 2026?

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

CN reviews

3.3

56% would recommend to a friend

(1,532 total reviews)

Tracy Robinson

46% approve of CEO

46% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

3.9

Compensation and benefits

3.5

Diversity & inclusion

3.1

Career opportunities

2.8

Culture & values

2.6

Work/Life balance

2.6

Senior management

CN has an employee rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars, based on 1,532 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The CN 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

1.0

Dec 16, 2025

Not fair and is not flexible

Procurement specialist

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The Bonus and the layoff package is ur there for a long time

Cons

Management needs to look at procurement closer and not all floors are fair with giving employees real promotions to people who know how to work

CN Response

5mo

Thank you for your feedback and for your hard work. We thank you for having helped move our business and the economy forward and hope you shared your thoughts during your exit interview.

1.0

Dec 7, 2025

Agent

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Learn aot depending on the manager

Cons

alot of layoffs and mostly people with knowledge

CN Response

6mo

Thank you for your feedback and for your hard work. We pride ourselves on providing our team members with great pay and benefits. With a 24/7/365 operation CN could not function without its dedicated employees. We thank you for having helped move our business and the economy forward and hope you shared your thoughts during your exit interview.

1.0

Nov 27, 2025

Cuts each four years

System integration specialist

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The benefits and salary are good, but ultimately not worth it in the long run.

Cons

Canadian National Railway presents itself as a company that values its employees and long-term stability, but in reality, most decisions are driven by shareholder interests. Management often makes ambitious promises about growth, innovation, and job security, yet these goals are frequently sidelined to meet quarterly targets. Layoffs seem to come in cycles — roughly every four years — which makes it difficult to feel secure or build a long-term career here. The work itself can be interesting and the pay is competitive, but the constant restructuring and shifting priorities can be discouraging. If you’re looking for stability and transparency from leadership, CN might not deliver on what’s promised.

CN Response

6mo

Thank you for your feedback and for your hard work. We pride ourselves on providing our team members with great pay and benefits. With a 24/7/365 operation CN could not function without its dedicated employees. We thank you for having helped move our business and the economy forward and hope you shared your thoughts during your exit interview.

Viewing 34 - 36 of 1,532 Reviews

Jobs at CN

Rail Track Maintainer

International Falls, MN

Rail Track Maintainer

Facilities Maintenance Electrician

Chief Engineer, Bridges and Structures

Senior Engineer, Bridge Testing

CN

CN reviews

Ratings by category

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Not fair and is not flexible

Agent

Cuts each four years

Jobs at CN

CN reviews FAQs

Want the inside scoop on your own company?

Bowls

Followed companies

Job searches

CN reviews FAQs

Jobs at CN