Is Caltrans a good company to work for?

Caltrans has an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5, based on over 970 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months. 79% of employees would recommend working at Caltrans to a friend and 76% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about Caltrans have been left by employees working as Associate Right of Way Agent , Civil Engineer and Transportation Engineer, Civil .

Does Caltrans pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Caltrans employees rate their compensation and benefits as 4.0 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Caltrans. This rating has improved by 1% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Caltrans?

79% of Caltrans employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Caltrans 4.3 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.7 for culture and values and 4.0 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Caltrans?

Transportation Engineer (89) , Student Assistant (74) , Transportation Engineer, Civil (41) , Associate Governmental Program Analyst (AGPA) (27) , Environmental Planner (23) , Right of Way Agent (15) , Civil Engineer (14) , Engineer (14) , Intern (14) , Associate Transportation Planner (13) , Associate Right of Way Agent (11) , Highway Maintenance Worker (11) , Senior Transportation Engineer (11) , Associate Environmental Planner (10) , Transportation Planner (10)

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

"Good benefits and long" ((in 92 reviews)); "Great work/life balance and a genuine feeling of positive work for the public (even though the public may not see it that way)." ((in 65 reviews)); "Great people to work with and to learn the legal profession" ((in 50 reviews)); "great job security, benefits, and retirement." ((in 24 reviews)); "Respectful and friendly coworkers" ((in 23 reviews))

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

"High turnover because of low pay" ((in 52 reviews)); "San Diego is expensive and the salaries are low" ((in 21 reviews)); "Lots of red tape, nepotism." ((in 10 reviews)); "Poor upper management." ((in 8 reviews)); "If you have a bad manager, expect a horrible time working." ((in 8 reviews))

What are employees saying about Caltrans layoffs in 2026?

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

What are the top reviewed Caltrans locations?

Sacramento , Oakland , Los Angeles , San Diego , San Bernardino , Fresno , Marysville , Santa Ana , San Luis Obispo , Eureka , Stockton , Redding , Irvine , Orange , San Francisco , Bakersfield , Fontana , San Jose , Yreka , Bishop , Brea , Long Beach , Riverside , West Sacramento , Alameda , Santa Cruz , Fairfield , Central Valley , Sacramento Valley , Austin

Caltrans reviews

4.1

79% would recommend to a friend

(851 total reviews)

Malcolm Dougherty

67% approve of CEO

76% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

4.3

Diversity & inclusion

4.3

Work/Life balance

4.0

Compensation and benefits

4.0

Career opportunities

3.7

Culture & values

3.6

Senior management

Caltrans has an employee rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on 851 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The Caltrans employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Government & Public Administration industry (3.6 stars).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

851 reviews

3.0

Dec 21, 2015

Associate Transportation Planner

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good learning environment. Whether it be through classroom trainings or a fly on the wall in meetings. If you stick there long enough you become an expert in knowing the the inane caltrans procedures and that, surprisingly, sells elsewhere.

Cons

- Not a lot of work. Or rather too many people involved means you feel less directly responsible for the work. This also explains a lot of the work ethic. - Extremely low pay

4.0

Dec 8, 2015

senior associate

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

great work hours and benefits

Cons

projects can be boring and do not vary

1.0

Dec 8, 2015

Good Policy, No Enforecement.

Office technician

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good Policies, such as EEO, Ethics, Violence Prevention, Harassment Prevention, Zero Tolerance of Discrimination and Violence, Upgrade Employee to Higher Position, etc.

Cons

Nobody Enforce Policies, for examples: I was medically terminated without following any rules and regulations, after I got the job back the retaliation never stopped; I do not have job descriptions over ten years; I have only one IDP over ten years without following correct procedure; I did out of classification work over six years; I am the only one in my office with college degree, passed SSA exam., did higher level work, but I am the only one did not get upgrade; my email regarding discrimination to my supervisor was deleted after four month without reading it, and my supervisor said that he read it without opening my email; I have to follow what my supervisor said instead of what the law said; etc.

Viewing 757 - 759 of 851 Reviews

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Jobs at Caltrans

EQUIPMENT MATERIEL SPECIALIST

CALTRANS HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE WORKER

HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT SUPERINTENDENT I

Caltrans

Caltrans reviews

Ratings by category

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Associate Transportation Planner

senior associate

Good Policy, No Enforecement.

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