Minimal pay for California - Freight Conductor Union Pacific Employee Review

1.0
Jun 15, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You get a pension and if you stay longer than five-six years you’ll earn enough to rent or buy a place to stay in the cheaper parts of the state.

Cons

The company pays well for most states, but in California you will be living on an extremely tight budget and Union Pacific refuses to even consider the idea of a C.O.L.A. Despite the fact that many of it’s employees live out of their cars because they can’t afford to live a reasonable life compared to the cost of living and the managers say that it’s a good thing because that makes employees want to stay marked up and eager to work. Due to this we can’t convince anyone to stick around long enough to actually work, so they just hire anyone willing to apply and offer them basically zero training knowing they won’t be around more than a few months at most.

Explore other reviews about Union Pacific

5.0
Apr 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great flexibility and opportunity to move around within the company

Cons

You travel a good amount for the role depending on your work location.

3.0
Jul 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good benefits Work about every other day Pay has potential to be good

Cons

New hires do 100% of the work for 80% of the pay and won’t get fully compensated for the first 4 years. They are also expected to know every transportation job on site rather than focusing on one area like guys who have been here longer so 20% less pay but required to know more, do more, have to wear orange hats for a full year allowing management to easily identify them on camera or in person so they can watch them more closely hoping to catch them breaking a rule. So less pay but a more stressful work place requiring you to know more and get singled out hoping to catch them in a mistake. There is absolutely zero work life balance. Coming from a place where I had 20 plus years and able to hold a decent amount of PTO to getting a single day of paid vacation the first year and trying to balance a family life while also trying to provide for them is impossible. You sacrifice seeing your children grow up, play sports, go on vacations with them so you can provide for them. By the time you have enough years in to take a vacation with them they are grown and you missed the most important years of their lives. I know this as a child of a railroader and now as a parent who’s children barely get to see him.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All