Is Norfolk Southern a good company to work for?

Norfolk Southern has an overall rating of 2.9 out of 5, based on over 2,171 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has increased by 1% over the last 12 months. 35% of employees would recommend working at Norfolk Southern to a friend and 25% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about Norfolk Southern have been left by employees working as Intern , Track Supervisor and Management Trainee .

Does Norfolk Southern pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Norfolk Southern employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.5 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Norfolk Southern. This rating has improved by 2% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Norfolk Southern?

35% of Norfolk Southern employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Norfolk Southern 2.2 out of 5 for work life balance, 2.4 for culture and values and 2.9 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Norfolk Southern?

Railroad Conductor (202) , Conductor (98) , Locomotive Engineer (59) , Freight Conductor (43) , Engineer (37) , Signal Maintainer (35) , Trainmaster (33) , Intern (29) , Electrician (26) , Machinist (26) , Manager (24) , Train Dispatcher (24) , Train Conductor (19) , Operations Supervisor (18) , Management Trainee (15)

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

"Pay is good but you are paid for the on call lifestyle and selling your life way for a paycheck." ((in 387 reviews)); "Good benefits and they take care of miltary" ((in 292 reviews)); "4. Good retirement that will follow you to another railroad if you decide to change employers" ((in 94 reviews)); "The people were great and very welcoming." ((in 85 reviews)); "good money and enough to support family" ((in 60 reviews))

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

"Lifestyle is awful and management is poor" ((in 160 reviews)); "No work life balance and always short staffed" ((in 126 reviews)); "hours are long and boring" ((in 73 reviews)); "CEO and upper management are horrible." ((in 48 reviews)); "Horrible Culture" ((in 30 reviews))

What are employees saying about Norfolk Southern layoffs in 2026?

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

What are the top reviewed Norfolk Southern locations?

Atlanta , Norfolk , Roanoke , Chicago , Bellevue , Conway , Fort Wayne , Pittsburgh , Harrisburg , Elkhart , Birmingham , Toledo , Altoona , Chattanooga , Decatur , Macon , Louisville , Cleveland , Cincinnati , Knoxville , Charlotte , Columbus , Saint Louis , Savannah , Greensboro , Enola , Greenville , Detroit , Sheffield , Peru

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Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern reviews

2.9

35% would recommend to a friend

(1,916 total reviews)

Mark George

29% approve of CEO

25% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

3.5

Compensation and benefits

3.2

Diversity & inclusion

2.9

Career opportunities

2.4

Culture & values

2.3

Senior management

2.2

Work/Life balance

Norfolk Southern has an employee rating of 2.9 out of 5 stars, based on 1,916 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The Norfolk Southern 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

4.0

Dec 8, 2017

Great Job

Chief oss clerk

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

No one will ever pay you as much as they do with as little qualifications as they require. You will have better benefits and pay than most Americans. Period.

Cons

It takes over your life. Management is AWFUL! Morale is always in the dumpster. Their methods are ineffective and antiquated and they don't care.

1.0

Nov 7, 2017

Evil Company

Operations and service support

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Health Benefits! I would love to say pay, but after railroad retirement and the government half your pay is gone

Cons

Discrimination and racism is only the tip of the iceberg! If you aren’t a white male you will be treated less than and it will be made clear that you are valued as less than!

2.0

May 26, 2017

Assistant Trainmaster

Assistant trainmaster

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

-An illusion of a priority for diversity -Mr. Squires is pretty cool and down to earth

Cons

The list can go on forever...either you're in a tower/terminal or on the road -Work/life balance -Pay is lower than other Class I RR's -Management on all levels above you love to bully and dish out tasks that are nearly impossible to complete -Expected to drive in desolate locations at all times of the night -Expected to answer for decisions mad for you that affect your operations -Expected to be on call...which is what I signed up for but expected to respond to trains/crews that are more than capable of doing the work than I am assisting in a vehicle

Viewing 67 - 69 of 1,916 Reviews

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Jobs at Norfolk Southern

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Great Job

Evil Company

Assistant Trainmaster

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