Is RAND a good company to work for?

RAND has an overall rating of 4.0 out of 5, based on over 554 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months. 73% of employees would recommend working at RAND to a friend and 35% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about RAND have been left by employees working as Summer Associate , Research Assistant and Assistant Policy Researcher .

Does RAND pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, RAND employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.7 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at RAND. This rating has improved by 5% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at RAND?

73% of RAND employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated RAND 4.3 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.9 for culture and values and 3.5 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at RAND?

Research Assistant (45) , Administrative Assistant (21) , Assistant Policy Researcher (17) , Analyst (15) , Researcher (15) , Summer Associate (12) , Manager (7) , Policy Analyst (7) , Assistant Policy Analyst (6) , Finance (6) , Policy Researcher (5) , Senior Analyst (5) , Associate Policy Researcher (4) , Behavioral Scientist (4) , Senior Political Scientist (4)

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

"Great people and very intellectual" ((in 69 reviews)); "Great location and colleagues with expertise in their field." ((in 61 reviews)); "The benefits for time off and health insurance can be good." ((in 45 reviews)); "Work with brilliant coworkers in multiple disciplines." ((in 11 reviews)); "Beautiful office, lots of collaborative spaces" ((in 8 reviews))

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

"Low pay relative to outside (non" ((in 19 reviews)); "salaries are low (at least at the Europe office)" ((in 12 reviews)); "Long hours because of gripping topics and always juggling priorities on different projects." ((in 12 reviews)); "1, That flat management, no boss thing means no one is micro" ((in 11 reviews)); "aggressed by managers and directors that I relied on for work and management was unequipped to deal with these issues." ((in 8 reviews))

What are employees saying about RAND layoffs in 2026?

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

What are the top reviewed RAND locations?

Santa Monica , Washington , Arlington , Pittsburgh , Los Angeles , New York , San Francisco , Boston , Idaho Falls , Chicago , Bristow , Randolph , Austin , Honolulu , Arcadia , Woodland Hills , Pawtucket , Baltimore , Central , Crystal City

RAND reviews

4.0

73% would recommend to a friend

(502 total reviews)

Jason Matheny

53% approve of CEO

35% positive business outlook

Ratings by demographic groups

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RAND has an employee rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars, based on 502 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The RAND employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Management & Consulting industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

502 reviews

1.0

Oct 7, 2014

Incompetent middle managers regularly decide amongst themselves -- Everyone else cleans up their mess

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Many of the nation's most influential policy advisers and researchers have roamed the famed halls of RAND. Generally people are friendly and accessible. A great place to make connections-- If you are a member of the research staff.

Cons

If you aren't a member of the research staff, or an executive, you'll fit into this box. Your job is to keep the lights on, the floors clean, the facilities running. You are a cost center. You are not seen to add value. You may not be seen at all. While many concepts behind modern technologies are the brainchildren of RAND alumni, technology is no longer a science here; it is merely 'IT'. Middle managers of the top-heavy IT department deliberate amongst themselves, and regularly make irresponsible, uninformed, and outdated decisions by committee, leaving no one accountable for the perpetual mess. IT literally holds this organization back in the 20th century.

5.0

Oct 21, 2022

So Lucky to Be Here

Senior behavioural scientist

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

I get to work on a range of compelling, import policy problems--it's incredibly intellectually stimulating. I'm surrounded by brilliant colleagues, and because you build your own network, I work with people I really like and care about. The compensation and benefits are amazing, and the hierarchy is super flat. I talk to my "boss" every two years--I just go out and do good work and run my own time.

Cons

RAND has this crazy "internal labor market" where you have to find approx 230 days of project work, either by bringing in work/grants or being hired internally on teams. It's been easy for me but I have seen a lot of good colleagues leave RAND early because hunting for work stressed them out.

1.0

Jan 1, 2021

So. Much. Denial.

Finance

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Some smart people. Some great colleagues. Benefits.

Cons

Very poor and un self-aware senior management. Little to no effectively communicated strategic vision for the organization as a whole—too many disparate parts (FFRDC, graduate school, social and economic policy divisions) shoehorned under a single organizational umbrella leads to muddled communication , toxic silo-ing, and conflicting incentives. Little to no diversity among top management and little demonstrated commitment to change that other than platitudes and lip service. Emphasis on ‘collegiality’ rather than—constructive, mediated—confrontation. Rather than constructively, proactively address conflicts, HR stalls, denies, or shuffles people. Despite similar feedback from multiple consultants management continues to effectively do nothing to address sources of interpersonal/interdepartmental tension, lack of equity/opportunity, or effective support for either research or administrative staff. God help new hires in 2021 regardless of what side of the house they’re trying to work for.

Viewing 7 - 9 of 502 Reviews

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Incompetent middle managers regularly decide amongst themselves -- Everyone else cleans up their mess

So Lucky to Be Here

So. Much. Denial.

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