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 28 reviews)); "Good people to work with" ((in 22 reviews)); "They actually care about ALL team members" ((in 7 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 7 reviews)); "friendly work environment" ((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 28 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 6 reviews)); "And to top it all the pay is terrible and they will not give you a raise unless you are a senior employee." ((in 5 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

(286 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 286 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

286 reviews

5.0

Apr 10, 2024

Good to work for

Carrier representative

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Work from home. Good pay.

Cons

Management has a lot of issues

Watco Companies Response

Thanks for your feedback. If you'd ever like to discuss your ideas for improvement, feel free to reach out to rpeterson@watco.com.

2.0

Apr 4, 2024

Disappointing

Mid-level manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Overall, great corporate environment. They believe what the preach and the corporate executive team is always accessible. Good pay and benefits, solid job. I am a fan of Watco corporate.

Cons

Appears that a lack of corporate oversight has enabled poor local leadership. This has led to an exodus of experienced managers/team members.

Watco Companies Response

If you'd like to discuss your ideas for improvement, feel free to email me at rpeterson@watco.com.

4.0

Apr 1, 2024

Driving for Watco

Train driver

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

•Great people •Family friendly •Good work life balance •decent money •opportunities to move location •social team outings •team environment

Cons

•poor equipment/locos •no incentives •no weekend penalties •no forecasted roster, hard to plan ahead •communication breakdowns •car driving at dangerous hours

Watco Companies Response

Thanks for your feedback. We're always looking to improve, so if you'd ever like to discuss your ideas for improvement, email me at rpeterson@watco.com.

Viewing 34 - 36 of 286 Reviews

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