McMaster-Carr reviews

2.7

28% would recommend to a friend

(1,363 total reviews)

Jay Delaney

31% approve of CEO

45% positive business outlook

McMaster-Carr has an employee rating of 2.7 out of 5 stars, based on 1,363 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The McMaster-Carr employee rating is 27% below average for employers within the Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

1K reviews
1.0
Mar 30, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The money and benefits feel like a pro, until you realize that many roles here expect people (particularly management) to regularly work 50 and 60+ hour weeks.

Cons

In my experience, most things about this company were untrustworthy, and the culture is abhorrent. Unless you crave an evil work environment and like being misled, don't work here. Micromanagement, constantly changing directions, lack of clear policy, rapid turnover, generally rude and sometimes inappropriate communication, and a culture of false urgency are things you can look forward to here. Starting from how the recruiters described the opportunity -- there isn't actually much "work-life balance" here. They use that term to encompass the fact that they pay what appears to be a high salary and cover benefits. However, given the micromanagement, frequently changing direction, and high turnover, employees (and especially management) are often volunTOLD to work extra hours. In my experience, after considering the many 60+ hour weeks I worked, the pay was not actually competitive because I was basically working 1.5 jobs and spending 2-3 extra hours commuting. Many leaders feel entitled to their employees' free time because of the high salaries. Management here has very limited leadership expertise as it's a family company in which the final say goes with the owners, and the majority of company leadership have not had meaningful work experiences outside of McMaster-Carr. Many were hired as undergraduates or very early in their careers, so they think the inappropriate and untrustworthy behavior is normal--even aspirational in some cases. If you try to change it, you may find yourself on the chopping block next. The longer you stay here, the harder it is to find a new job because the responsibilities are constantly changing, and individuals are often moved to new roles and teams.

1.0
Feb 7, 2024

Had to walk away, quickly

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pay and benefits, but these positive aspects didn't make up for how I felt at this place

Cons

Something ominous feeling......felt treated with disrespect, strange sense of mental confusion. Thank you to all the people that left honest reviews about what you experienced. I don't feel so isolated and alone. Thanks for speaking up with your truths.

2.0
Nov 6, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Benefits and compensation. Tuition reimbursement was one of the biggest pros (see historical reviews) but BEWARE they just changed the terms and you may not be eligible for this benefit.

Cons

I’m not sure where to begin. McMaster claims to be focused on developing and mentoring leaders, the reality often feels like an attempt to shove conformity down our throats. They discourage any unique voices that might challenge senior leadership's ideas or drive innovation. It seems like while the rest of the industry is constantly innovating to grow, McMaster is satisfied with sticking to the status quo. If you dare to contradict senior management, you’ll be shunned and basically your career at McMaster is ruined. I think the worst thing about this company is that many tenured senior members of management appears threatened by the potential of new talent, leading to numerous situations where career development is hindered by upper management. The concept of mentors seems elusive, as promotions seem to depend more on personal connections than merit. While the company does offer excellent benefits, it's often used as a justification for exploiting hardworking employees and gaslighting them into believing they are the problem, when in fact, it's the company's practices and values that are problematic. They say they put people first but in fact, everyone is concerned about protecting themselves. Recently, there has been a remarkable shift in the company's culture, marked by the sudden departure of numerous members of both management and non-management roles. This has fostered a culture of fear, to the point where many people have had to take mental health leave. Those who do manage to stick around for many years are soulless, have no values, or have given up on finding their true happiness. It’s easy to be swept away by McMaster’s golden handcuffs but you’ll pay with your mental and physical health.

Viewing 55 - 57 of 1,363 Reviews

Glassdoor has 1,401 McMaster-Carr reviews submitted anonymously by McMaster-Carr employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if McMaster-Carr is right for you.