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 283 reviews)); "The benefits are good and it’s steady" ((in 223 reviews)); "Ok pay good pension and benifits" ((in 77 reviews)); "Good salary and IT challenges" ((in 73 reviews)); "And good money if you are in the right place for doing very little work." ((in 65 reviews))

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

"no work life balance and 24/7 scheduling" ((in 93 reviews)); "Long hours and being on call at all hour can be difficult for most people with families at home." ((in 67 reviews)); "Big layoffs." ((in 25 reviews)); "It is normal to have a 10 to 15 hour journey home eating into any time off." ((in 24 reviews)); "They don't care about you or your family they just want the bottom $. 1 in 4 managers are good." ((in 22 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.

What are the top reviewed CN locations?

Homewood , Chicago , Memphis , Stevens Point , Fond du Lac , Gary , Jackson , Baton Rouge , Champaign , Duluth , Battle Creek , Detroit , Waterloo , Proctor , Superior , Milwaukee , Flat Rock , Port Huron , New Orleans , Joliet , Markham , Decatur , Wisconsin Rapids , Burlington , Minneapolis , Mattoon , Libertyville , Naperville , Willow Springs , Effingham

CN reviews

3.3

56% would recommend to a friend

(1,533 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 1,533 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

Oct 25, 2020

CN Review

Yardmaster

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great pay and benefits. Paid training.

Cons

It’s a very big company. Very impersonal work place due to policies. Feels like you are just a number, comply or get in trouble. I had to spend an hour on the phone jumping through hoops to mark off of work the day my father passed away.

CN Response

5y

Thank you for sharing your feedback and for your hard work at CN. When we recruit talent to our operations teams, we spend a lot of time going over the working conditions and the realities associated with the railroad operating 24/7/365 days a year, including how being on call can disrupt your family life and important events. We pride ourselves on providing our team with great benefits and strive hard to create a work environment where everyone feels good to work in, and where all employees have an opportunity to develop and grow their career. Thank you for helping move our business and the economy forward.

1.0

Apr 25, 2020

Could be a great job, money is good but poor quality of life

Locomotive engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great pay and benefits with a pension.

Cons

Managment is vindictive and constantly harassing employees. Will always fear for your job depending on the day. Sometimes they want you to work fast and break rules other days they want 100% rules compliance. You will be tested daily at work if you fail, you get time off or terminated. Schedule is on call with 2 hour call to get to work. You won't be able make plans and stay out of town alot.

CN Response

6y

Thank you for sharing your feedback. With a 24/7/365 operation CN could not function without our dedicated employees. We thank you for your hard work. We strive hard to create an environment where everyone feels good to work in, safety is a core value at CN and we pride ourselves on providing our team members with a safe work environment. We are concerned to hear about your current experience and strongly encourage you to reach out to your manager or Human Resources Business Partner to share your thoughts.

4.0

Apr 24, 2020

My time at Canadian national railroad

Electrician

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

decent money for job tasks

Cons

work schedule. i was off on Tuesday and Wednesday, working 3-11 pm every other day.

CN Response

6y

Thank you for sharing your feedback. With a 24/7/365 operation CN could not function without our dedicated employees. We thank you for your hard work and having helped move our business and the economy forward. We hope that you have found a position that is more in line with your career expectations.

Viewing 256 - 258 of 1,533 Reviews

Jobs at CN

Rail Track Maintainer

Rail Track Maintainer

Facilities Maintenance Electrician

Regional Chief, Engineering

CN

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CN Review

Could be a great job, money is good but poor quality of life

My time at Canadian national railroad

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