Black hole and professional death - Anonymous employee Berklee Employee Review

2.0
Mar 2, 2012
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

the best thing about Berklee is that It is in Boston... hardly an accomplishment.

Cons

Absurdly low pay for the huge workload. They will exploit you for decades at more than full-time teaching load while artificially classifying you as part-time. At least half of the faculty have no business holding an academic position. Most are unemployable at other institutions and are thus unusually thrilled with their crap job and lackluster professional atmosphere. The place has the least regard for a few esteemed faculty as any place I've worked. It caters to the lower end. Estimates are 120% of industry standard in work load with about 60% of the pay. Try 12+ teaching hours per semester at ca $37,000 per year or less. They continue to create new high-paying administrative positions and virtually never improve the work conditions of their faculty. Now... with all this energy and money directed towards expansion, capitol improvements and bloating the administrative ranks, there is a 2 million dollar shortfall. Guess the faculty can't expect things to improve anytime soon. The place is a joke and you are penalized for sticking around and most only do it because the school is in Boston. Let's see if the faculty would stick around if Berklee were in a small midwestern town.

Explore other reviews about Berklee

5.0
Apr 15, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Amazing work culture, understanding managers, and supportive colleagues. I feel truly valued and I can breathe even during peak times.

Cons

So far no cons at all. Everything is wonderful!

1.0
Apr 20, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-helping students -talking about music

Cons

-forced to train the ai bot that will replace you -despite being the top performer on your team and being reassured repeatedly your job is secure, you will get laid off with no explanation or respect -c suite prefers to keep their 500k+ salaries and 80k+ bonuses even if it means laying off 80+ employees who only make 55k -CEO led first layoffs in berklee's entire history, no transparency with any managers, no discussion or anything -CEO used money "saved" from layoffs to give other employees bonuses and buy unnecessary property

3
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