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US Census Bureau

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Don't get drawn in, it's not worth it - Mathematical Statistician US Census Bureau Employee Review

1.0
1 May 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Jobs that are working on the Census or other high profile surveys are definitely interesting. Just saying that you work at the Census Bureau will garner a level of respect from almost all people in the public (not quite as much respect from employers the job market, but still some amount.)

Cons

Managers might be good at what they were originally hired for (statistics, research) but they are very very poor at business management techniques, communication, being able to match employee skills with tasks and projects that suit their desires and needs, and so on. They care less about "you" the person with unique abilities, and just care that you can provide them the report, results, etc. that any one of 20 people could do. Don't be drawn in by the aura of the "Census Bureau". It's still a federal agency and a bureaucracy to a T. You go in bright eyed and optimistic, looking to do great things, and end up in a sea of paperwork, performing random tasks that you never went to school for, and are frustrated beyond belief. Whenever you ask something to question authority or current practice, you will get shouted down by those who haven't done a real day of work in years and get the perpetual "that's how we've done it before" and no other good reason for why something is going on. Statisticians and economists aren't the most social people either. Don't anticipate having a mentor of a reasonable age or people you'd actually want to hang out with or see outside of the workplace. And by the way, the neighborhood that the headquarters building is in is one of the worst in the DC area, if not any other metropolitan area. You won't be able to live within 10 miles of the place.

Explore other reviews about US Census Bureau

5.0
8 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Pay and benefits were fair enough

Cons

Large workload with diminishing resources year over year

3.0
27 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Worthwhile work to benefit the city you are working in. Most everyone I worked with was pretty nice and willing to lend a hand if needed. But I feel like I saw the other side of how upper management treats people they don't like as much and i saw aspects that weren't as good through upper managements treatment of others.

Cons

Constantly changing directives from upper management. And they don't have your back when you get questioned why you followed the most recent order from your boss. Inconsistent pay scales by position. Pay varies by location. But they don't adjust it upward. If you hire on in a city that pays less, you don't get a bump if you stay with the company and work in a new city that pays better in your next assignment. Meaning new hires with no experience can easily make more than you because they started in the city that pays more. One of my best employees was paid the least. I felt bad and tried to get their rate adjusted with no luck. It very much has the vibe of they are figuring out things as they go, The department is grossly understaffed. Technology is lacking creating inefficiencies.

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