Great firm, but really lacking in compensating their hard-working employees. - Senior Consultant Booz Allen Hamilton Employee Review

2.0
3 Mar 2009
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They hire top-notch talent and they screen their prospective employees well. It's nice to feel like you work with a group of smart, capable people. They have an excellent list of clients, so it's a great opportunity to work with important US Government clients. If you're lucky enough to work on several clients (as opposed to an engagement with one client for a long period of time), you also get to learn how the major departments of the Federal Government operate. They encourage community service and provide many opportunities to do so, but it can be a significant sacrifice if you're very busy with your client work. They have forums, communities, clubs, etc. for just about everything you can think of, so if you're interested in joining a sports team, book club, or minority group, it's very easy to do so. Great Christmas parties and lots of catered events (food!).

Cons

Their retirement package is awful, considering how profitable and established they are. When they hire you, they tell you that they will contribute 10% of your salary, but only after a one-year waiting period. Fine, but where they deceive you is... they don't explain that you have to be vested for 6 YEARS! That's insane, and it especially hurts young people who are not likely to work at the same firm for 6+ years - especially since they only increase your salary 1-4% every year, even with good performance. There is no discretion for things like salary increases, everything follows a rigid formula. The bureaucracy is usually very old school, time-consuming, and counter productive. They pay is average to poor, considering they hire from the cream of the crop. Very low compared to the other consulting firms. It's very hard to have a relationship with your boss when they (Sr. Associates/Principals) barely have the time to answer emails. The review process is thorough, but it's way too time-consuming. It's not uncommon for employees to spend 40 hours writing their own self-assessment every year - ON THEIR OWN TIME. The dress code is very formal and conservative, even on casual Fridays men are mostly wearing black/grey/navy business suits. Ugh.

Explore other reviews about Booz Allen Hamilton

5.0
16 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great benefits and work culture. A lot of great opportunities to network and grow in your career.

Cons

Typical consulting work type stuff. All the extra non-paid internal firm work you have to do to get noticed and promoted. It can also be difficult to find a project that aligns with your career interests and aspirations leaving you to work with a client or on a project that’s less than ideal (e.g., super demanding client, very monotonous tasking with little opportunity to grow, etc.) Since Booz Allen mainly deals with federal clients, you’re also susceptible to project funding cuts and company layoffs do to current political climate (e.g., government shutdown, idiotic DODGE cuts, etc.)

1
3.0
8 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Strong mission-focused culture with meaningful work supporting national security missions. Great exposure to diverse projects, talented teammates, flexible work arrangements, and opportunities to develop skills across security, intelligence, cyber, and consulting. Benefits and professional development resources are solid.

Cons

The company culture and employee experience have changed significantly in recent years. Earlier years felt more mission-focused and employee-centered, while recent organizational shifts, government spending pressures, and increased emphasis on becoming a technology-focused company have created uncertainty for some employees. Frequent changes in priorities, restructuring, and business decisions can make job stability feel less predictable. Employees may sometimes feel disconnected from leadership, and concerns raised through HR or management channels do not always appear to result in meaningful action or transparency.

1
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