Is Harvard University a good company to work for?

Harvard University has an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5, based on over 4,620 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months. 85% of employees would recommend working at Harvard University to a friend and 68% 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 2% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Harvard University?

85% 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, 4.0 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 281 reviews)); "great colleagues to work and discuss with" ((in 153 reviews)); "Flexibility and good work/life balance" ((in 97 reviews)); "The hours are flexible and fairly easy" ((in 89 reviews)); "Great opportunity to get research experience in your CV." ((in 61 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 211 reviews)); "Salaries are low but I believe this to be the case in higher ed more generally." ((in 151 reviews)); "Toxic culture (depending on lab/department)" ((in 45 reviews)); "Toxic managers and workplaces were tolerated if the work got done." ((in 25 reviews)); "Senior management and their leadership" ((in 19 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

85% would recommend to a friend

(4,072 total reviews)

Alan Garber

83% approve of CEO

68% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

4.2

Diversity & inclusion

4.0

Culture & values

4.0

Work/Life balance

4.0

Career opportunities

3.8

Compensation and benefits

3.7

Senior management

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).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

4K reviews

4.0

Apr 4, 2010

Great place to work, terrific peers.

Research support

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

I am sure the specific professors and/or doctoral students you work with will determine the relative success of your time at HBS. But, my time was made immeasurably better by having a great doctoral student and professor to work with/for.

Cons

Not many cons other than the Business School Campus is not terribly easy to commute to, without a car, as most of the surrounding housing is for students at Harvard/HBS.

4.0

Mar 30, 2010

Decent Salary, Great Benefits!

Staff assistant iii

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great benefits package. 15 vacation days + 3 personal days (18 total) to start! After 5 years of service, earn 20 vacation days, plus personal days, per year. Great discounts on Harvard courses - take Harvard Extension School courses for $40 each (currently) - up to two per semester (spring, fall, and summer). I don't know what will happen in this economy, but there have been up until summer 2009 great yearly pay raises (4 to 5 %) - negotiated by the Harvard Clerical and Technical Workers Union. A lot of professional career-development and skills-development trainings and workshops. An environmentally friendly environment.

Cons

For some, the salary may not be as high as could be earned elsewhere. Harvard, surprisingly, will not give free tuition to the children of its employees!

4.0

Mar 26, 2010

Recent downsizing leaves good people unemployed

Human resources professional

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Up until recently, long term employment potential. Overall a great place to work. There are just about any job function one could imagine which falls outside the realms of strict academia: from marketing, IT, to finance and accounting. A great place for people to find a long career if their department is well funded. Work life balance is excellence. Most non-Union roles are allowed 4 weeks of vacation, Christmas recess, personal days, holidays and sick days. Excellent access to further education: Harvard Extensions courses at $40 each means one can get a degree for less than $3,000 Convenient on bus and subway lines; *excellent* benefits package Smart coworkers who seem to care about their jobs Career mobility and development is largely dependent on the school/business unit one works in and the skill of the person's manager. You make your career happen here. Harvard's Center for Workplace Development (CWD) offers great programs for professional growth

Cons

Recent reactions to the economic climate meant that many good people were forced to leave. A lot of focus is put on the HUCTW jobs that were lost because they have strong advocacy. For those who are not affiliated with a union, Very slow to change. It takes a mountain to convince the system that things could be done more efficiently/effectively. Innovation is not a driver to success. Decentralization means that the schools and business units operate in their own way so there is little consistency across the universtiy. There are no rules here, only recommendations. A nod to the highly decentralized format

Viewing 4009 - 4011 of 4,072 Reviews

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Jobs at Harvard University

Service Desk Assistant