McMaster-Carr reviews

2.8

29% would recommend to a friend

(1,365 total reviews)

Jay Delaney

30% approve of CEO

45% positive business outlook

McMaster-Carr has an employee rating of 2.8 out of 5 stars, based on 1,365 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The McMaster-Carr employee rating is 24% below average for employers within the Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

1K reviews
1.0
May 29, 2026

AVOID Management Trainee Program

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The benefits and the compensation

Cons

If you are an Ivy League or top 20 recruit being scouted by this company, AVOID AVOID AVOID this role unless you desperately need the money, because that’s the only reason to work here. Universities literally ban this company from recruiting fairs because the culture is so toxic. Read the negative reviews about the Management Development Program closely because they are entirely accurate. The touted work life balance is simply not real. Reach out to any alumni of this company and they will tell you how much they hated their time there. You will receive a high salary with excellent benefits, but those financial perks are the only thing you will like about your job. The management trainee role is half project based and half management based. You will be forced to critique and frequently fire employees 30 years older than you while lacking the experience to actually perform the jobs you are managing. The daily environment is defined by deep fear and intense pressure. Management is highly political and extremely toxic. Your own managers will readily throw you under the bus for their mistakes. Job security is practically nonexistent. I have seen people get fired five to six months in with no warning. If a manager simply does not like you, you will be pushed out. The micromanagement is severe. This extends to monitored bathroom breaks and a strict ban on personal desk items to mask the appearance of high turnover among both trainees and regular staff. Furthermore, the technological infrastructure is completely archaic. Your days will be spent frustratingly trying to sort and pull data from a system in desperate need of modernization. Leadership actively discourages new ideas while saying they want new talent. Sharing new ideas to the wrong person who wants to protect the status quo can easily cost you your job or on the “watchlist”. You will also have minimal to no say over which department you are placed in during your rotations. Everyone is constantly on edge. It is a stressful environment that will eventually wear you down. This is not a long-term job. About 60% percent of managers get fired 1-3 years in.

1.0
Jan 15, 2026

Toxic management culture with constant fear of termination

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good pay and benefits. Thats it,

Cons

My experience at McMaster-Carr was disappointing and ultimately unsustainable due to poor management practices and an environment of constant instability. Management frequently made decisions without transparency, clear expectations, or meaningful feedback. There was a pervasive culture of fear driven by frequent terminations, often with little warning or clear justification. This created an atmosphere where employees felt expendable rather than supported, which severely impacted morale and collaboration. Rather than investing in employee development or coaching, management appeared quick to fire individuals instead of addressing systemic issues or providing opportunities for improvement. As a result, turnover was extremely high, and teams lacked continuity, institutional knowledge, and psychological safety. While the company promotes an image of operational excellence, the internal culture did not reflect those values in practice. I would caution prospective employees to carefully consider whether they are comfortable working in a rigid, high-pressure environment with limited job security and minimal managerial support.

1.0
Nov 25, 2025

Great Pay, Not So Great Culture

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pay is amazing with great bonuses. Probably better than you'll find anywhere else for the type of work, especially for an entry-level role.

Cons

Management Development rotational fails to mention that you'll probably be standing in a warehouse for 9 hours a day doing nothing. If you're lucky you might be placed in the office, but the work they expect you to complete is more than an average person can handle. Claim to have a great work-life balance but I spent many evenings and weekends either required to work shifts or to catch up on work. Be prepared to be uprooted from your work and placed in another role with little to no heads up. Management treats individual contributors like lower class citizens. High pressure work with competition between everyone in the management program.

Viewing 166 - 168 of 1,365 Reviews

Glassdoor has 1,403 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.