Is Norfolk Southern a good company to work for?

Norfolk Southern has an overall rating of 2.9 out of 5, based on over 2,169 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 394 reviews)); "Good benefits and ability to promote within" ((in 302 reviews)); "4. Good retirement that will follow you to another railroad if you decide to change employers" ((in 89 reviews)); "The people were great and very welcoming." ((in 84 reviews)); "good money and enough to support family" ((in 58 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 166 reviews)); "No work life balance and always short staffed" ((in 126 reviews)); "hours are long and boring" ((in 79 reviews)); "CEO and upper management are horrible." ((in 46 reviews)); "Cannabalism is the corporate 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

Norfolk Southern reviews

2.9

35% would recommend to a friend

(1,914 total reviews)

Mark George

30% approve of CEO

25% positive business outlook

Company ratings over time

Ratings trend for the last 6 months (1,914 reviews)

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Norfolk Southern has an employee rating of 2.9 out of 5 stars, based on 1,914 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).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews

3.0

Sep 7, 2008

Outstanding job security; mediocre compensation.

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Job security, plus the railroad industry is booming.

Cons

Promotions are very arbitrary. Compensation is heavily linked to company performance, and the ball is frequently moved when the company is performing well.

3.0

Aug 21, 2008

Hot in the summer, Cold in the winter, Good Benefits & Pay with a strong Union backing.

Track foreman

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Strong union backing, good benefit package and a good pay scale. Advancement is based upon seniority not equality because all Union jobs require an employee to bid.

Cons

It's a long hot/cold dirty job. Working in the elements will make you old fast. Employees with specific job classifications are not treated equally. Years on the job does not necessarily mean that an employee is knowledgeable.

3.0

Jun 11, 2008

The railroad can be a great place to work.... but comes at a price....

Conductor

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Can't be outsourced overseas. Once you are "marked up" it is almost impossible to be terminated. If you liked trains as a child and dreamed of being a locomotive engineer, this is the job for you!

Cons

No life outside of work at least in your initial years... Do you have any friends? If so, you will find out who your REAL friends are, quickly. Initially, you will work an extra board for several years. You receive a 90 minute call to show up for work. 100% union environment. Union is weak. Company making record profits, having difficult time negotiating fair contract. No financial incentive to go "above and beyond". Jobs are based on seniority, not how competent you are at your job. Want a promotion? As a conductor you must accept MANDATORY promotion to Locomotive Engineer Trainee program. Fail LET, you're terminated.

Viewing 1912 - 1914 of 1,914 Reviews

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Jobs at Norfolk Southern

Regional Sales Support Manager

2026 Electrical Apprentice Signal Trainee (Reading, PA)