Does Cato Institute pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Cato Institute employees rate their compensation and benefits as 4.1 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Cato Institute. This rating has improved by 2% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Cato Institute?

96% of Cato Institute employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Cato Institute 4.7 out of 5 for work life balance, 4.7 for culture and values and 4.5 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Cato Institute?

Intern (36) , Internship (8) , Research Assistant (8) , Research Intern (7) , Research Associate (4) , Legal Associate (2) , Producer (2) , Public Opinion (2) , Research Analyst (2)

What are the pros of working at Cato Institute according to real employee reviews?

"Good Work environment and flexible" ((in 6 reviews)); "driven colleagues" ((in 6 reviews)); "The people are also great to work with." ((in 6 reviews)); "Great coworkers and good research experience" ((in 5 reviews)); "Great education programs and opportunities" ((in 4 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Cato Institute according to real employee reviews?

"Low pay but not surprising for non" ((in 9 reviews)); "Unclear advancement tracks, low salaries." ((in 3 reviews))

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Cato Institute

Cato Institute Reviews

4.6

96% would recommend to a friend

(71 total reviews)

Peter Goettler

94% approve of CEO

90% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

4.7

Culture and values

4.7

Work/Life balance

4.6

Diversity and inclusion

4.5

Senior management

4.5

Career opportunities

4.1

Compensation and benefits

Cato Institute has an employee rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, based on 71 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The Cato Institute employee rating is 23% above average for employers within the Non-profit and NGO industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

71 reviews

4.0

12 May 2026

Good for first job

Prospect research analyst

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

Amazing people and fun environment to learn

Cons

They pay at a "prestige level"

5.0

16 Mar 2026

Good job

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

Supportive environment and a motivated team.

Cons

Work balance varies per week

5.0

12 Mar 2026

Good entry-level role for research experience

Research assistant

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

Supportive colleagues and strong exposure to research projects. Opportunities to develop analytical, writing, and data skills. Meaningful work contributing to policy and educational initiatives.

Cons

Workload can vary depending on project timelines

Viewing 1 - 3 of 71 Reviews

Jobs at Cato Institute

Conference Operations Specialist

Research Associate - Legal Studies

Associate Editor, Free Society Magazine

Email Marketing Manager

Marketing Coordinator