Pay is great, but don't think for a second that you're not expendable. - Anonymous employee Caterpillar Employee Review

3.0
Mar 20, 2012
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Peoria is a great place to raise a family. The cost of living is low, and you can make a good living on a Caterpillar salary.

Cons

Cat managers are chosen, trained, groomed, and highly incented to be shrewd business leaders. They will do whatever it takes to make Cat successful in any business climate. Where other American manufacturers have fallen in decline, Cat is a global powerhouse. But don't think for a second that you are anything more than a piece of meat. If it's you or Cat's survival, you will be gone so fast your head will spin. The culture is generally Midwestern hospitable, but duck for cover in a recession! Work life balance goes out the window!

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5.0
Jun 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great benefits Great WLB Great pay

Cons

Low mobility to move up within company

2.0
Jun 10, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good health insurance and benefits, good yearly bonuses. The pay is good.

Cons

They are enforcing returning to office by any means necessary. They have lost many high-quality producers who have refused to relocate or refuse to come in. Here's the kicker - they are requiring in-person attendance at the Chicago office and there aren't even enough desks for everyone. It would be a literal fire hazard if we all came into the Chicago office at the same time, M-F, during business hours. No one knows how or if they are going to actually enforce this. Cost of gas is insane, Joe doesn't care about the workers. Or the work for that matter. It's obvious this is a soft layoff, they have made a bunch of people quit. Their internal design agency is falling apart, lots of people have quit, not only because of return to office but because of the toxic politics, favoritism, and lack of direction and accountability. Mediocre workers are allowed to keep their jobs ONLY because of their ability to put their bodies in a chair and work in-person. The other relocation option HR gave besides Chicago was Peoria. No one wants to live in Peoria for any reason whatsoever, be for real.

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