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

3.0

Jan 7, 2016

Track Inspector

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Work on your own, Be your own Boss( More or less ). Work with good professional people.

Cons

On call 24/7 365. Very likely to work several weeks throughout the year when you will be required to work over 80 hours.

1.0

Dec 15, 2015

Terrible, Discriminates against LGBT, Gays

Locomotive engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

4 days off Good team environment, camaraderie. Opportunity for overtime often due to staffing inadequacies. Poker, gambling, football Sundays and lots of down time.

Cons

Horrible Benefits Horrible Management Discrimination against gays, gay marriage. Will not extend benefits to my spouse and child even though Colorado recognizes and allows same sex marriages.

3.0

Nov 24, 2015

Accounting/Finance - terrible upper management

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good co-workers. There are some really talented people who work in watco's overland park office. High levels of intelligence, good work ethic, and a great group of friendly people. The mid-level management is a very smart group who work their butts off, are very competent and genuinely want to put you in a position to succeed.

Cons

For how good the middle management is, they are completely ruined by the upper management, I.e., the VP level and above. They are forced to follow their idiotic and contradictory decisions, many of which are completely scrapped halfway through completion. It is really obvious that upper management plays favorites, and they treat their subordinates like dogs. In their perfect world, everyone would work 60 hours a week and make $40k. They not only play favorites, but they also have flat out enemies elsewhere in the company, and if you are affiliated in any way with one of their enemies, then you can kiss your career aspirations away. Decent chance you will be let go for really no reason also, it probably happened at least 4 times when I was there. The upper management breaks promises, is backstabbing, and creates a toxic, paranoid environment for everyone else.

Viewing 253 - 255 of 286 Reviews

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Jobs at Watco Companies

Switchman - McIntosh, AL

Sprinter Van or Box Truck Delivery Driver (Independent Contractor)

Memphis, TN

View job

Deckhand - New Johnsonville, TN

Switchman - Sheridan, WY

Dispatcher - Wichita, KS