Is Norfolk Southern a good company to work for?

Norfolk Southern has an overall rating of 2.9 out of 5, based on over 2,170 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 and they force you to work your off days and work over your shift." ((in 379 reviews)); "Great benefits and retirement plan" ((in 291 reviews)); "4. Good retirement that will follow you to another railroad if you decide to change employers" ((in 92 reviews)); "The people were great and very welcoming." ((in 84 reviews)); "the money was good and it was easy work" ((in 63 reviews))

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

"Poor management, have to pay for parking, having to bid on jobs" ((in 168 reviews)); "No work life balance and always short staffed" ((in 127 reviews)); "hours are long and boring" ((in 80 reviews)); "CEO and upper management are horrible." ((in 47 reviews)); "too many managers that are not qualified to be in supervisory positions." ((in 28 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

(1,915 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 1,915 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

Jan 7, 2010

Good job with full benifts

Yardmaster

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Pay is very competivtive, no degree is nessasary, and many employees are union.

Cons

All transportation jobs are on shiftwork. I think the company can be way better managed.

2.0

May 16, 2009

Sit back and get lost in the crowd

Information technology

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The people in my department were interesting enough at the personal level.

Cons

You are a small part of a sprawling, impersonal bureaucracy. Almost everyone within my department with whom I interacted seemed dissatisfied with their jobs in one way or another. It typically stemmed from an overall distaste for the way senior management chose to run things.

5.0

Feb 15, 2009

Great rewards for above average performers

Middle management - transportation

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Stability, compensation, career growth and advancement, interesting, challenging and changing tasks. NS offers it's managers the opportunity to step out from behind the curtain of anonimity and shine. Those leaders who perform well while demonstrating respect, integrity, teamwork and are open to innovative ideas will quickly move to the front of the pack. NS offers opportunities at all levels regardless of ecucation. Short of attaining the executive level (where Wall Street expects a pedigree), those with nothing more than a high school education wil find no "glass ceiling".

Cons

There are not a lot of downsides, though NS attracts self starters who are willing to go the extra mile to acomplish a goal or meet a challenge. Those not making the grade will find many faults with NS, though they would with almost any employer short of McDonalds.

Viewing 1852 - 1854 of 1,915 Reviews

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Norfolk Southern

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Ratings by category

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Good job with full benifts

Sit back and get lost in the crowd

Great rewards for above average performers

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