Great Mission, great people - rough work life balance - Anonymous employee Smithsonian Employee Review

4.0
11 Sept 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

People, passion, purpose. Work with meaning. Supporting work and research with something for everyone's interest. Small number of staff means you can take on significant responsibility.

Cons

Hours, bureaucratic- as expected, can be hard to move and advance, can take a long time for promotions. Not a a lot of positions.

Explore other reviews about Smithsonian

5.0
8 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great mission. Strong benefits including health insurance and 403b contribution. Many people stick around for 5, 10, 15+ years.

Cons

Things are sometimes slow due to bureaucracy.

4.0
6 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There is a strong community and network in museum and natural science collections and support.

Cons

Working conditions have a standard of museum environment settings, not ideal for those that desire to be outside all day.

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