Does Cato Institute pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Cato Institute employees rate their compensation and benefits as 4.1 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Cato Institute. This rating has improved by 2% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Cato Institute?

96% of Cato Institute employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Cato Institute 4.7 out of 5 for work life balance, 4.7 for culture and values and 4.5 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Cato Institute?

Intern (36) , Internship (9) , Research Assistant (8) , Research Intern (7) , Research Associate (4) , Legal Associate (2) , Producer (2) , Public Opinion (2) , Research Analyst (2)

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

"Good Work environment and flexible" ((in 8 reviews)); "The people are also great to work with." ((in 6 reviews)); "There were daily opportunities to learn from expert scholars and to get to know incredibly talented coworkers; the work was interesting" ((in 4 reviews)); "Great work life balance" ((in 4 reviews)); "driven colleagues" ((in 4 reviews))

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

"Low pay but not surprising for non" ((in 10 reviews)); "The pay, being a nonprofit, and there is not much upward mobility if you do not have a graduate degree." ((in 4 reviews)); "Unclear advancement tracks, low salaries." ((in 3 reviews))

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Cato Institute

Cato Institute Reviews

4.6

96% would recommend to a friend

(71 total reviews)

Peter Goettler

94% approve of CEO

90% positive business outlook

Cato Institute has an employee rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, based on 71 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The Cato Institute employee rating is 23% above average for employers within the Non-profit and NGO industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

71 reviews

5.0

16 Mar 2026

Good job

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

Supportive environment and a motivated team.

Cons

Work balance varies per week

5.0

12 Mar 2026

Good entry-level role for research experience

Research assistant

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

Supportive colleagues and strong exposure to research projects. Opportunities to develop analytical, writing, and data skills. Meaningful work contributing to policy and educational initiatives.

Cons

Workload can vary depending on project timelines

5.0

27 Oct 2025

Great Institute

Research assistant

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

Scholars were extremely knowledgeable and professional.

Cons

No serious cons. A couple of minor annoyances.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 71 Reviews

Jobs at Cato Institute

Research Associate for Budget and Entitlement Policy

Curriculum Lead, Sphere Education Initiatives

Development and Events Assistant

Policy Engagement Specialist

Email Marketing Manager