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 175 reviews)); "The people are great and passionate about what they do" ((in 157 reviews)); "Good salary and experience overall" ((in 150 reviews)); "Great for CV and great colleagues" ((in 127 reviews)); "Good work environment for beginners" ((in 84 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 111 reviews)); "Management is poor" ((in 49 reviews)); "It is hard to have toxic managers held accountable due to the nature of the org" ((in 24 reviews)); "No job security at all" ((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.

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United Nations

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 category

4.3

Diversity & inclusion

4.0

Culture & values

3.9

Work/Life balance

3.9

Compensation and benefits

3.6

Senior management

3.6

Career opportunities

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).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

2K reviews

2.0

Oct 14, 2024

Great benefits while enduring toxic work culture

Communciation officer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Pension Health insurance Education grant Multicultural environment Good ethical and moral values

Cons

Toxic environment Zero career progression-unless you have friends in higher positions No accountability for incompetent behavior Obsolete organizational structure

1.0

Oct 12, 2024

A place where narcissists can thrive

Program manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Unqualified people can have a long secure and comfortable lifestyle with lots of business class travel. They can fail upwards one promotion at a time, followed by a sweet pension at retirement. There's zero accountability if you wish to waste resources, terrify your staff or hire incompetent people. You can tell people at parties that you "work at the UN".

Cons

It's really amazing how many senior managers seem to have little respect for the mission of the organization or its staff. Some of these people seem to be truly oblivious or in denial to how bad things are... Claiming that things are highly successful despite all evidence to the contrary. Ignoring all advice from highly paid consultants and professional staff. Insisting that brain-dead cronies are highly qualified and deserving of their positions. There's also an undercurrent of meanness and cruelty to many managers that seems in part to force out anyone competent or who cares.

4.0

Oct 11, 2024

Work-life balance

Public information officer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Multicultural, multilingual team, which fosters an enriching and inclusive work environment. Numerous opportunities for professional growth, with training programs, mentoring, and job mobility across various locations and roles, allowing employees to develop a wide range of skills and experiences. Competitive salaries, comprehensive health insurance, and retirement benefits. Staff also enjoy paid vacation, maternity/paternity leave, and allowances based on location and family situation.

Cons

Bureaucracy and slow decision-making High competition for jobs Job insecurity Emotional and mental strain

Viewing 169 - 171 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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Programme Management Assistant, G5

Wien

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Passenger and Cargo Control Programme (PCCP) Intern

Wien

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Consultant (GLOZ99/Anti-Corruption)

Wien

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