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Stanford University

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just ok - Administrative Assistant Stanford University Employee Review

3.0
Oct 9, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

beautiful campus, if you live near Caltrain then the public transportation is free for employees and makes the commute much easier since cost of living in this area is ridiculous. Free gym access, free kaiser. Work from home once a week depending on your department.

Cons

Every department acts like it's own separate company. It really depends on the department you are working for, but I was not trained well and was thrown into the fire. working for a training grant is awful and you just have to hope the PI you work for will be nice. parking is ridiculously expensive and they don't have free parking for staff, so be prepared to pay 300+ dollars for parking if you don't live by Caltrain. The work life is always all about the students and making sure their lives are easy, but staff is not compensated appropriately and we don't even get free food. Most companies in the Bay Area pay for food for their staff, and we buy food constantly for the students, but staff rarely get to reap that benefit. You'd think with all the money that Stanford has there would be some more room for staff benefits. You are expected to work after-hours sometimes and upper management almost makes it seem like you are supposed to be working overtime without getting compensated for it.

Explore other reviews about Stanford University

5.0
Jun 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good healthcare benefits, cost covered by departments

Cons

Very high COL for the stipends - many students spend >60% of salary on rent.

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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