Does Penguin Random House pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Penguin Random House employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.3 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Penguin Random House . This rating has been stable over the past 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Penguin Random House ?

73% of Penguin Random House employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Penguin Random House 3.7 out of 5 for work life balance, 4.0 for culture and values and 3.4 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Penguin Random House ?

Editorial Assistant (50) , Editor (33) , Intern (29) , Editorial Intern (25) , Publicity Assistant (22) , Designer (21) , Marketing Assistant (20) , Publicity Intern (15) , Assistant Editor (13) , Director (13) , Senior Designer (13) , Manager (12) , Graphic Designer (11) , Marketing Coordinator (11) , Author (10)

What are the pros of working at Penguin Random House according to real employee reviews?

"Great benefit as well as perks" ((in 190 reviews)); "The people were great and everyone wants to help you succeed." ((in 136 reviews)); "Very colourful and vibrant office; has a pulp shelf offering free books" ((in 88 reviews)); "Great team and colleagues" ((in 62 reviews)); "Great work/life balance" ((in 50 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Penguin Random House according to real employee reviews?

"Pay was low and that was about it" ((in 141 reviews)); "Poor management and can be improved" ((in 30 reviews)); "Lack of diversity and inclusivity." ((in 22 reviews)); "Long hours running into weekends" ((in 15 reviews)); "You can get a great manager and be the happiest on earth." ((in 15 reviews))

What are employees saying about Penguin Random House layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about Penguin Random House layoffs and their outlook for job security at Penguin Random House in 2026.

Penguin Random House reviews

3.9

73% would recommend to a friend

(1,191 total reviews)

Nihar Malaviya

83% approve of CEO

71% positive business outlook

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

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Veteran status

Penguin Random House has an employee rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on 1,191 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Penguin Random House employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Audiovisual y medios de comunicación industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

1K reviews

2.0

Jun 23, 2016

No Appreciation

Warehouse worker

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The benefits are hard to complain about. Company insurance and time off is amazing. You get 13 points for the year, every government holiday off and paid, and free book giveaways.

Cons

Several people are moved in and out of their department to be "punished". Management staff doesn't respect hard work, seems based more on who is in the it crowd. Hard work doesn't pay off. It seems all job opportunities are given to those who spend the most time in the office and not on the floor. There is no seniority. Group leaders create rumors and talk behind each others backs. Employee's are two faced and create a rumor mill. Management never keeps its' word. A lot of say one thing do another or flat out lies from supervisor's.

5.0

Feb 17, 2016

One of the best employers I've ever worked for

Manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

People are genuinely nice to one another, the conditions are good and you are treated like a grown up. There is a chance to work with great products and people and you feel like you are doing something that is genuinely worthwhile.

Cons

There are a lot of people who have only ever worked in publishing and who therefore have nothing to compare it with. This means they can be inward looking both in terms of the company and the work. It isn't a high paying industry, but there are other reasons that you would work there.

4.0

Feb 14, 2016

Great Community, Mediocre Pay

Manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

You enter book publishing for the love of the job, not the money. Nearly everybody is kind and a pleasure to work with. The company handles changes in the marketplace like ebooks, self-publishing, and retail landscape with a level head and smart strategies. The CEO overflows with energy, enthusiasm, and a genuine passion for the kind of cultural influence books have on society.

Cons

Pay. Again, you don't do this for the money. While the company is probably the best in the industry at adapting with the technology of the time, its relatively behind any start-up or other brand-recognizable company from another industry. It's a large organization, with a lot of entrenched beliefs that cannot be changed or take too long to convince of a better alternative.

Viewing 331 - 333 of 1,191 Reviews

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