Does Charles River Laboratories pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Charles River Laboratories employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.0 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Charles River Laboratories. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Charles River Laboratories?

49% of Charles River Laboratories employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Charles River Laboratories 3.2 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.2 for culture and values and 3.1 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Charles River Laboratories?

Lab Technician (78) , Scientist (69) , Animal Care Technician (65) , Research Technician (55) , Technician (52) , Analyst (51) , Research Associate (46) , Research Scientist (42) , Supervisor (37) , Research Assistant (36) , Laboratory Technician (31) , Study Director (27) , Project Manager (25) , Manager (22) , Associate Scientist (20)

What are the pros of working at Charles River Laboratories according to real employee reviews?

"The ability to move around within the company is relatively good and the benefits are good." ((in 235 reviews)); "Great people you work with and a relatively easy job with very easy to understand ladder to climb." ((in 170 reviews)); "Great people and team to work with" ((in 46 reviews)); "Colleagues are nice and friendly." ((in 42 reviews)); "flexibility friendly easy good training" ((in 34 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Charles River Laboratories according to real employee reviews?

"sites are disorganized and pay is low" ((in 188 reviews)); "Management is poor and people who are in charge lack knowledge of CDMO" ((in 167 reviews)); "The low salary also makes it hard to subsequently ask for more at another company." ((in 112 reviews)); "Long hours are common and they happen with little or no warning and frequently (at least a couple times a week)." ((in 43 reviews)); "upper management could do better caring for the employees." ((in 33 reviews))

What are employees saying about Charles River Laboratories layoffs in 2026?

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

What are the top reviewed Charles River Laboratories locations?

Wilmington , Mattawan , Reno , Ashland , Horsham , Shrewsbury , Memphis , Boston , Charleston , Worcester , Chicago , Bethesda , Raleigh , South San Francisco , Malvern , Wayne , Cambridge , Skokie , San Diego , Rockville , Morrisville , Newark , Frederick , Philadelphia , Kalamazoo , Spencerville , Wilmington , Durham , Kingston , Catskill

Charles River Laboratories reviews

3.1

49% would recommend to a friend

(2,372 total reviews)

Birgit Girshick

66% approve of CEO

33% positive business outlook

Company ratings over time

Ratings trend for the last 6 months (2,372 reviews)

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Charles River Laboratories has an employee rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars, based on 2,372 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Charles River Laboratories employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews

5.0

Jun 12, 2026

Great place to work

Procurement

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great place to work. Work/life balance is best I've been part of.

Cons

Very big company, don't always know who to go to

Charles River Laboratories Response

2w

We're thrilled to hear you're enjoying your time at Charles River! Your contributions make a difference, and we’re grateful to have you on the team.

1.0

Jun 12, 2026

Work environment marred by awful management and deception

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

- No organization in org structure, can move around if you do well - No one is working, so if you work, you get promoted

Cons

- Genuinely awful management styles from some of the most senior people at the company - Horrifying HR, inhuman and cowardly - I wouldn't recommend anyone I know or love to work here. It's made up of lies and deception from some of the nastiest people I've ever known

Charles River Laboratories Response

2w

We appreciate your candid feedback. We’re committed to developing strong, supportive leaders who embody our values. Your comments are valuable as we continue to invest in leadership development and accountability.

4.0

Jun 8, 2026

Supportive management but cross-team interactions lacking

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

+ Supportive management + Somehat of a “family feel” environment for most staff + Clear guidance

Cons

- A lot of younger new starters who don’t interact as much with older staff from other departments. Cross team considerations? - Current work load fluctuates last minute

Viewing 7 - 9 of 2,372 Reviews

Jobs at Charles River Laboratories

Associate Director Global Marketing - Biologics Testing (REMOTE)

Animal Care Technician I

Animal Care Technician I