Smithsonian reviews

4.1

69% would recommend to a friend

(504 total reviews)
avatar

Dr. David J. Skorton

75% approve of CEO

57% positive business outlook

Smithsonian has an employee rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on 504 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The Smithsonian employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Nonprofit & NGO industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

504 reviews
5.0
Mar 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong resources and a collaborative culture. Flexible mentorship and the freedom to explore diverse methods and research directions make this an extremely motivating environment to grow as a postdoc and, most importantly, as an independent researcher.

Cons

As a large institution, administrative processes and communication (e.g., contracts, payroll, or related matters) can occasionally be slow.

2.0
Mar 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It's the Smithsonian Incredibly smart and hardworking people

Cons

Bureaucracy - tons of forms for every single thing, yet when it comes to doing the work, there's no formalized manual/instructions. Red tape often stifles any creativity. Low salary but high expectations (clearly people burn out and leave] Microaggression and micromanagement from supervisors, yet they're oblivious.

4.0
Feb 27, 2026

Good

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good staff that are cordial.

Cons

Museum needs some updates in building.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 504 Reviews

Glassdoor has 792 Smithsonian reviews submitted anonymously by Smithsonian employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Smithsonian is right for you.