Does Cato pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Cato employees rate their compensation and benefits as 2.1 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Cato. This rating has decreased by 11% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Cato?

26% of Cato employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Cato 2.8 out of 5 for work life balance, 2.7 for culture and values and 2.4 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Cato?

Sales Associate (174) , Store Manager (167) , Assistant Manager (114) , First Assistant Manager (51) , Second Assistant Manager (42) , Retail Sales Associate (29) , Manager (18) , Assistant Buyer (17) , Assistant Store Manager (16) , Sales Associate/Cashier (16) , Retail Store Manager (15) , District Manager (14) , 2nd Assistant Manager (8) , Buyer (8) , Sales Representative (8)

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

"great people to work with" ((in 57 reviews)); "My coworkers were great!" ((in 47 reviews)); "Customer service and a niche clientele; Flexible scheduling; potential PTO" ((in 31 reviews)); "They have great benefits and the discount is fair." ((in 30 reviews)); "In store staff is great!" ((in 23 reviews))

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

"Low pay for increasing and unnecessary store duties (depends on the management and your attitude)" ((in 299 reviews)); "Upper management does not care about you at all" ((in 51 reviews)); "Poor management" ((in 50 reviews)); "the top leve managers have no idea of how much they are asking of the first line employees." ((in 46 reviews)); "Long hours for the full time positions but 12 hour days are common in retail." ((in 29 reviews))

What are employees saying about Cato redundancies in 2026?

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

Cato Reviews

2.6

26% would recommend to a friend

(1,216 total reviews)

John P. Derham Cato

21% approve of CEO

17% positive business outlook

Company ratings over time

Ratings trend for the last 6 months (1,216 reviews)

Ratings by demographic groups

Ethnic group

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Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Cato has an employee rating of 2.6 out of 5 stars, based on 1,216 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The Cato employee rating is 26% below average for employers within the Retail and wholesale industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

1K reviews

4.0

23 Jun 2026

Flexible job with good customer interactions but low pay

Store manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

Overall really not a difficult job, had good customer interactions, flexibility, 20% discount.

Cons

Changed bonus criteria so that many stores no longer qualify, bonus itself is low. Customer focused, but a struggle to get all tasks accomplished with little staff, hours, or pay. Wanted associates to work for minimum wage, which made finding decent staff a challenge.

5.0

17 May 2026

Cato Fashions

Retail sales associate

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

The Employee Discount: One of the biggest perks mentioned by staff is the 20% employee discount, which usually applies to everything in the store, including clearance items. Fun Environment for Fashion Lovers: If you enjoy clothing, styling, visual merchandising, and putting together outfits on mannequins, the day-to-day work can be highly creative and genuinely fun. Tight-Knit Teams & Loyal Customers: Because Cato locations are usually smaller boutique-style setups rather than massive department stores, the staff sizes are small (often under 5–8 people). This frequently leads to a tight-knit, low-drama team environment. Employees also note that Cato has a very loyal base of regular customers, making guest interactions rewarding.

Cons

Lack of Extra Benefits for Part-Time: Most part-time positions do not offer paid breaks or paid sick leave, meaning if you have to miss a shift, you simply lose out on those hours. Older Technology: Some employees note that the company’s point-of-sale (POS) registers and inventory management systems feel a bit outdated or slow compared to larger corporate retail chains.

1.0

14 May 2026

Great people and flexible hours, but low pay and micromanagement

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

great chance to meet a variety of people and flexible schedule! hours are not terrible

Cons

paid just above minimum wage. corporate doesn’t care about the stores, instead they care more about dress code! they don’t do raises—and when they do it’s incredibly insulting.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 1,216 Reviews

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Jobs at Cato

Part Time Assistant Manager

Part Time Assistant Manager

Part Time Assistant Manager

Part Time Assistant Manager

Part Time Sales Associate

Wichita Falls, TX

View job

Cato

Cato Reviews

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Reviews by job title

Flexible job with good customer interactions but low pay

Cato Fashions

Great people and flexible hours, but low pay and micromanagement

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