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Stanford University

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Good job once you park and get to the office - Web Developer Stanford University Employee Review

4.0
Jun 12, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They know they're not competitive on salary so they try to have great benefits to make up for it. The place offers a good work/life balance, tuition/childcare programs (work there for five years and your kid gets money to pay tuition at any college), lots of options for health insurance at relatively reasonable prices, continuing education opportunities, and nice touches like free Caltrain passes. You have to work hard but not too hard. It's a good, steady job and you know what to expect most days. It's not saving the world, but it still feels meaningful enough. Management treats people like adults.

Cons

Parking. Seriously. Parking on campus sucks. Most technical jobs have a work @ home option at least some of the time, but you're still probably going to be looking for a parking space three or four days a week. Biking is an option in good weather, if you're brave enough, or you can take public transit and the free shuttle from Caltrain. It takes a while to get where you're going, but it's about even compared to a bad parking day. The other risk is that you might have to interact with actual college students, but it can usually be avoided.

Explore other reviews about Stanford University

5.0
Jun 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

World-class research and collaboration. Startup power-house!

Cons

Comparatively lower pay for this location.

4.0
Jun 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Overall, Stanford is an amazing place to work. The environment and benefits can't be beat. You can go for a swim on your lunch break or a walk around the lake. The recreational classes and opportunities are usually great. Eating at the dining hall, although pricy, is a real treat.

Cons

If you're not senior management, faculty, development, etc., Stanford's pay has not kept up with the cost of living in the area. If you come for a job from outside of California, be prepared for a real shock when you see the kinds of rentals and the prices. Beauty has a price. You will not be able to live near campus as the average employee. Unless you're really familiar with the traffic in California, don't look at places that you think are an hour away, because they'll be two hours away by car. And you'll have to pay to park on campus, so not driving at all is your best option. Many administrative jobs are held by partners of people working in tech or faculty, because that's the only way you can afford to live there. If you don't have a partner making $200K+, you'll be taking the train or bus for an hour. If you're thinking about buying a house and you don't have a suitcase of cash, that sound you're hearing is my laughter. It's also important to realize that the working conditions across campus vary by unit. Working at the Graduate School of Business will seem more like a corporate job; working in Medicine could be brutal; and the treatment you will get can vary by department.

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