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

2.0

Nov 25, 2025

1950s style management

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Pay, Employee share incentive programs, delivering goods for North America.

Cons

Treat their employees as disposable. High-school like cliques and gossip that can derail your career that isn’t verified or true with HR perpetuating it instead of standing up for bad behavior.

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 helping move our business and the economy forward. Please share your thoughts during our regular Interaction surveys.

2.0

Nov 25, 2025

US operations.

Locomotive engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Management has gotten less abusive over the last 5 years. Pay and benefits are better than most places that you can work without a degree.

Cons

Depending on what department you are in your experiences working for cn will differ greatly. It seems that the unionized employees are seen as little more than chattel. Depending on the department you are working in, work life balance can be non existent.

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. We thank you for helping move our business and the economy forward. Please share your thoughts during our regular Interaction surveys.

3.0

Nov 24, 2025

Demanding

Railroad conductor

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Fun at times Good people to work with on the ground

Cons

The schedule, wacky hours,goofy weather

CN Response

6mo

Thank you for your feedback and for your hard work. With a 24/7/365 operation CN could not function without its dedicated employees and interns. We thank you for helping move our business and the economy forward. Please share your thoughts on your regular Interaction surveys.

Viewing 37 - 39 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

1950s style management

US operations.

Demanding

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