Does United Nations pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, United Nations employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.9 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at United Nations. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at United Nations?

77% of United Nations employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated United Nations 3.9 out of 5 for work life balance, 4.0 for culture and values and 3.6 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at United Nations?

Intern (400) , Consultant (142) , Internship (130) , Administrative Assistant (59) , Project Manager (46) , Research Assistant (30) , Political Affairs Officer (24) , Officer (23) , Political Affairs Intern (19) , Security Officer (18) , Team Assistant (18) , Analyst (16) , Director (16) , Economic Affairs Officer (16) , Finance Assistant (15)

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

"stable happy versatile good benefit" ((in 182 reviews)); "The people are great and passionate about what they do" ((in 162 reviews)); "a good salary and traveling by plane" ((in 155 reviews)); "Great for CV and great colleagues" ((in 129 reviews)); "Good work environment for beginners" ((in 79 reviews))

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

"The internship is unpaid and probably with rooms of improvement regarding the plan for career guidance" ((in 107 reviews)); "Management is poor" ((in 49 reviews)); "No job security at all" ((in 27 reviews)); "It is hard to have toxic managers held accountable due to the nature of the org" ((in 24 reviews)); "Too much bureaucracy and almost impossible to get promoted.It is hard to do things differently due to the bureaucratic nature of the organization." ((in 23 reviews))

What are employees saying about United Nations layoffs in 2026?

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

United Nations reviews

4.0

77% would recommend to a friend

(2,244 total reviews)

António Guterres

75% approve of CEO

57% positive business outlook

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

United Nations has an employee rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars, based on 2,244 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The United Nations employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Regierung & öffentliche Verwaltung industry (3.6 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews

4.0

Nov 5, 2013

Amazing experience, bureaucracy at its peak

Programmer budget officer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

global exposure, interesting work. The world is for you to pick as they operate in almost every country. Great if you are looking to get involved in international development. But the work at NYC HQ is not field work, thus if international development is what you are expecting, get a duty station outside the HQ.

Cons

very bureaucratic, hard to recommend changes. Can be hard to get a promotion if you do not know the right people.

4.0

Sep 23, 2013

Good entry-level job

It consultant

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

High starting salaries, especially for college/university graduates. In addition, cafeteria food was great, although the sizable lunch break (1 hour) enabled me to sample food from the area's eating option. Also, 9am-5pm (or 5:30pm when UNGA/General Assembly is in session) working hours and differential compensation (overtime) is paid for extended hours. Substantial camaraderie between staff, depending on the particular unit.

Cons

Career progression is quite difficult, don't expect to make 6 figures within 5 years of starting. In addition, seamless, etc does not deliver to the Secretariat building (although they may deliver to other buildings). Unfortunately, the UN is not the most transparent employer around and there are many hoops that have to be jumped through to get a satisfactory answer.

4.0

Aug 11, 2013

Procurement Officer

Procurement officer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Very competitive pay, great benefits, 6-week vacation!

Cons

There is a lot of inner politics, favoritism is rampant. It is difficult to get a promotion.

Viewing 133 - 135 of 2,244 Reviews

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Jobs at United Nations

Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Intern

Wien

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PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER, P3

Wien

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Consultant (GLOZ99/Anti-Corruption)

Wien

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Passenger and Cargo Control Programme (PCCP) Intern

Wien

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Intern - Programme Management

Wien

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United Nations

United Nations reviews

Company ratings over time

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Amazing experience, bureaucracy at its peak

Good entry-level job

Procurement Officer

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

Jobs at United Nations