Is Harvard University a good company to work for?

Harvard University has an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5, based on over 4,621 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months. 83% of employees would recommend working at Harvard University to a friend and 69% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about Harvard University have been left by employees working as Undergraduate Course Assistant , Course Assistant and Intern .

Does Harvard University pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Harvard University employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.8 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Harvard University. This rating has decreased by 3% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Harvard University?

83% of Harvard University employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Harvard University 4.0 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.9 for culture and values and 4.0 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Harvard University?

Research Assistant (271) , Postdoctoral Fellow (231) , PhD Student (100) , Graduate Student (93) , Research Associate (86) , Teaching Fellow (67) , Teaching Assistant (63) , Graduate Research Assistant (60) , PhD Graduate Student (50) , Staff Assistant (50) , Program Coordinator (43) , Research Fellow (43) , Researcher (41) , Director (35) , Intern (34)

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

"Nice to work with and the people are great." ((in 291 reviews)); "great colleagues to work and discuss with" ((in 161 reviews)); "Flexibility and good work/life balance" ((in 96 reviews)); "The hours are flexible and fairly easy" ((in 96 reviews)); "There are many opportunities to collaborate in related fields and attend talks or seminars in entirely different fields that are of interest." ((in 64 reviews))

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

"Pay is low for the cost of living but worth it if you make the most of it." ((in 222 reviews)); "Salaries are low but I believe this to be the case in higher ed more generally." ((in 147 reviews)); "Toxic culture (depending on lab/department)" ((in 47 reviews)); "Toxic managers and workplaces were tolerated if the work got done." ((in 23 reviews)); "Senior management and their leadership" ((in 18 reviews))

What are employees saying about Harvard University layoffs in 2026?

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

What are the top reviewed Harvard University locations?

Cambridge , Boston , New York , Harvard , Allston , Washington , Harvard , San Antonio , Los Angeles , San Francisco , Cambridge , Somerville , Houston , Denver , Miami , Brockton , Brookline , Jamaica Plain , Malden , Atlanta , Jersey City , Ohio , Boston , Brooklyn , Madison , Orono , Lander , Austin , Frisco , Lubbock

Harvard University reviews

4.2

83% would recommend to a friend

(4,072 total reviews)

Alan Garber

80% approve of CEO

69% positive business outlook

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Harvard University has an employee rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, based on 4,072 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The Harvard University employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Education industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

4K reviews

3.0

Mar 13, 2009

Great benefits, job is alright.

Staff assistant

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

excellent benefits and not just health but within the greater Boston area, discounts to all sorts of things. good intellectual opportunities through lectures and talks and such around campus. the extension school provides an incredible opportunities to get degrees and certificates. Also once you work for Harvard it is much easier to get a different job in a different Harvard school or department.

Cons

poor management. pay inst great. people can be really frustrating to work with. a lot of big egos float around no matter what school or department you are in. Also it is HUGE so it can take a while to get a good understanding of how everything works. Not a lot of feedback or positive reinforcement. My particular job (staff assistant) doesn't require much brain power which most of the time I hate.

4.0

Feb 27, 2009

If You Want to Win, Never Let Down Your Guard

Research assistant

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

It's an amazing place to meet people. I met CEOs, heard world leaders speak, dined with Nobel laureates. It also has unparalleled benefits, including great health care, wonderful facilities, and generous vacation policies. It's impossible not to feel like you're in the middle of something very important, because the people around you are literally in the New York Times day in and out. It feels at times like the center of the universe, and the brand name gives you good access to most of what you may want to do. Some of the professors are true visionaries and some of the students inspirations.

Cons

Contrary to popular belief, Harvard is not necessarily a great place to be an intellectual. The university places a higher premium on being important and untactful than on service to the Truth. This is probably wise (they are Harvard for a reason), but coming from a more naive and honest environment led to a little culture shock upon first arrival. There is a clear pecking order. President, University Professors, Deans, Head of Research Centers, Professors, Junior Faculty, Annointed Golden Children of Famous Professors... Staff. Don't fool yourself. Everyone has daggers under their cloaks and wants anything they can take from you. It's Harvard!

4.0

Feb 27, 2009

This is a great place to work, but know your strengths stand by them.

Administrative assistant

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

My benefits are great, and other than the most senior management person in my office, my superiors are pretty accommodating and fair about pretty much everything.

Cons

Everyone is very wrapped up in "the meeting" culture and spends far too much time talking about things and not enough time doing. My department in particular could be so much more productive if people were just allowed to do their job and not have to have a summit over every decision being made and talking things to death. If you have 5 meetings in a day, that only leaves you barely 2 hours to get anything done, but each meeting generates at least 3 hours of additional work to be done. I have seen this in many departments I have worked in across the company

Viewing 4042 - 4044 of 4,072 Reviews

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Jobs at Harvard University