Does Watco Companies pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Watco Companies employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.4 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Watco Companies. This rating has decreased by 3% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Watco Companies?

66% of Watco Companies employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Watco Companies 3.5 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.5 for culture and values and 3.5 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Watco Companies?

Railroad Conductor (12) , Conductor (10) , Operator (10) , Manager (9) , Engineer (6) , Switchman (6) , Customer Service Representative (5) , Account Manager (4) , Locomotive Engineer (4) , Locomotive Engineer/Conductor (4) , Safety Manager (3) , Supervisor (3) , Account and Administrative Coordinator (2) , Accountant (2) , Analyst (2)

What are the pros of working at Watco Companies according to real employee reviews?

"Good Benefits such as retirement" ((in 26 reviews)); "Good people to work with" ((in 19 reviews)); "Railroad retirement" ((in 7 reviews)); "friendly work environment" ((in 6 reviews)); "When there is no barges then it's laid back in the shade doing nothing easy money and the crew are all good guys that got each other's backs" ((in 6 reviews))

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

"Poor management more concerned about whose butt to kiss then actually managing crews." ((in 25 reviews)); "Upper management has lost touch with their sites and only concerned with spending." ((in 11 reviews)); "6 different managers in the last 3 years." ((in 7 reviews)); "Long hours, but it is railroading afterall" ((in 5 reviews)); "average bonuses." ((in 3 reviews))

What are employees saying about Watco Companies layoffs in 2026?

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

What are the top reviewed Watco Companies locations?

Pittsburg , Houston , Overland Park , Wichita , Kansas City , Birmingham , Madison , Osceola , Springdale , Tioga , Tuscaloosa , Oklahoma City , Toledo , Baton Rouge , Ferndale , Cherryvale , Linden , Wood River , Janesville , Tulsa , Hawesville , Wright , Austin , Freeport , Belle , Whiting , Keenesburg , Minden , Fitzgerald , Newark

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Watco Companies

Watco Companies reviews

3.5

66% would recommend to a friend

(287 total reviews)

Dan Smith

77% approve of CEO

61% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

3.5

Culture & values

3.5

Work/Life balance

3.5

Career opportunities

3.4

Compensation and benefits

3.3

Diversity & inclusion

3.2

Senior management

Watco Companies has an employee rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, based on 287 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Watco Companies 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

287 reviews

5.0

Feb 15, 2021

Great company

Operator

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Team atmosphere they value their team members I’ll pretty much go out their way to help you out if you have any personal issues or family great management the training is very valuable

Cons

Cold weather and outdoor work

Watco Companies Response

Thanks for taking the time to provide your feedback. Best of luck as you move on from Watco and stay warm!

3.0

Feb 2, 2021

Watco Hodge LAS

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great schedule and time home

Cons

Very low pay scale in comparison to other railroads

Watco Companies Response

Thanks for the feedback. It's always good advice to pass along "thanks" to our Team Members.

2.0

Jan 18, 2021

Poor Management

Locomotive engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good team environment with other crew members

Cons

Poor management more concerned about whose butt to kiss then actually managing crews.

Watco Companies Response

Appreciate you taking the time to provide your feedback. It's good to hear about the team environment. If you'd every like to further discuss the concerns you mention, feel free to email me at rpeterson@watco.com.

Viewing 142 - 144 of 287 Reviews

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Jobs at Watco Companies

Senior SOC Analyst - Overland Park, KS / Pittsburg, KS / Lowell, AR

Senior SOC Analyst - Overland Park, KS / Pittsburg, KS / Lowell, AR

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Transportation Coordinator

Transportation Coordinator - Overland Park, KS