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 demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

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).

Reviews by job title

851 reviews

3.0

Nov 19, 2011

You get out of it what you put into it.

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Many interesting projects Many good people Flexibility and autonomy if you work hard and show initiative Statewide opportunities. Multi-disiplinary work environment - unending challenges if you seek them out.

Cons

Pay has not kept up with private sector or inflation over the past 25 years. Too many bureaucrats who don't help. Caltrans is made scapegoat by public and elected officials, often when not to blame. (There is plenty to blame on Caltrans, but often missed.)

4.0

Apr 15, 2011

Not bad if you are not ambitious!

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Secure, Little stress, Family friendly

Cons

Little motivation, Bureaucracy, No compensation for advanced degrees

4.0

Sep 8, 2010

It's a state job...

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

It's probably like working at other IT shops, but being that they're the state, they don't get to innovate too much, just follow.

Cons

Though they do have an open source policy, they still go with the big names (MS, Oracle) even though other open source options exist, but this is more a statewide standards policy than anything else.

Viewing 91 - 93 of 851 Reviews

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Jobs at Caltrans

EQUIPMENT MATERIEL SPECIALIST

CALTRANS HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE WORKER

HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT SUPERINTENDENT I

Caltrans

Caltrans reviews

Company ratings over time

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

You get out of it what you put into it.

Not bad if you are not ambitious!

It's a state job...

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

Jobs at Caltrans