Worst Paying Job - General Manager Fastenal Employee Review

1.0
Feb 23, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Fastenal really is a great place to work. The people I work with are great and get along really good. The freedoms while out doing sales calls and deliveries can be a plus. Driving a newer truck is great and makes you feel good. Everything about Fastenal is great accept the pay. I would give them a 5 star rating accept the pay is horrible! If you are a young person wanting to get good experience is sales with a single person pay, Fastenal is your place. And then move on as fast as you can.

Cons

The pay plans are horrible and keep getting worse and worse. When I was promoted to GM, I thought that the pay would be a better then OSP. I was dead wrong. I work 50 plus hours a week for about 12.oo an hour. I had to work a part time job on weeknights and weekends until things picked up in my area. If you read the previous reviews, you can see no one is happy with the pay plan. A lot of other OSP's and GM's in the area are currently looking for higher paying jobs. Its allot of stress not really knowing your pay month to month. They pay you off year over year growth and high margin. I would have never wasted my time with this job knowing how bad the pay plans are. They even take money out of your pay for having excess inventory or when customers don't pay on their account on time. I would stay with Fastenal if they compensated the employees fairly. Its not even close! This job is not for anyone with a family with a mortgage and a few bills. Good luck!

Explore other reviews about Fastenal

5.0
Jun 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Management is good Hours are negotiable Time off is available Opportunities to move up always available

Cons

No commissions for part time

3.0
Jun 9, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They offer training programs through their internal “Fastenal School of Business.” A few good mentors to guide you should you find one and if you’re willing.

Cons

* Work/Life Balance - No official WFH opportunities. Branch employees were told to report, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. 15 days of PTO (10 for vacation and 5 for sick). You don’t earn additional PTO until the start of the year following your 5 year anniversary. * Pay - pay is inconsistent and they find reasons to change your pay by eliminating and changing titles. Pay is below industry standard and is a base + bonus program for most roles. * Boys Club - Especially in MN/WI area. Positions created or filled for cast off tenured employees to find them another spot rather than termination. Promotions based on political moves instead of merit or opportunities for growth. Positions posted for new roles internally but sometimes not shared with teams to allow for those politically motivated decisons to fill a spot. If a role is only posted for 1-week vs 2-weeks, it usually means they have a specific candidate in mind to take that role. * Cheap & Tacky - Required to travel but not all meals are covered. Welcome to stay at hotel that offers free breakfast but no per diem for lunch or dinner. Some meetings or trainings might provide lunch. When traveling for team meetings or trainings, usually required to share rooms - sometimes with other employees you’ve never met. Encouraged to book rooms using discount codes provided by customers. There is a target room rate they’d like you to hit and sometimes it means driving out of the way. They’d rather the expense hit elsewhere such as fuel and travel versus the room rate.

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