Caution - Field Research Photographer CoStar Group Employee Review

1.0
13 Jan 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

At first glance this company has a lot to offer. The company has been around for 30+ years and continues to grow. So there are numerous departments and opportunities to move within the company. In certain positions there is an opportunity for travel and equipment (required to do the job) will typically be provided to every employee.

Cons

The opportunity for growth and movement within the company is typically over advertised at hire. To begin with, every position requires a bachelor’s degree or higher, even the low level positions. The salaries are less then adequate for hourly employees and low-mid level management positions. The upper management and executive team profit nicely, however. The salaries are pre-determined based on job classification and do not take previous work experience or market cost of living into account. Therefore an employee working in Omaha Nebraska receives the same compensation as an employee performing the exact same work in New York City. The company will frequently make process, business, and staffing changes that directly impact large departments without proper communication or explanation. Last year the seasoned management team within the Field Research Department were forced out and replaced with many individuals that had little to no experience in leadership. Some of these new managers lack the experience and skill set to develop and mentor their hourly employees. In general, the company has little trust or empathy for their employees working in the field. This negative culture, mistrust, and poor leadership stems directly from the top individuals in the company. The amount of unprofessional, humiliating, and even aggressive communication sent out by these individuals (to the entire company or department) are astounding for a company this size. This is a company that will use you, abuse you, and discard you when continent to do so. Apply at your own risk.

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CoStar Group Response
7y
We are sorry to hear that you have had a negative experience at CoStar Group. We are constantly seeking ways to grow both our business and our people. Our goal is to provide an excellent working environment and promote the personal and professional growth of our employees, because we know that our people are the foundation of the growth and success of our company. We want to see our employees succeed and we do not tolerate unprofessional behavior from our staff, including management. If you would like to chat personally about anything in your review, please email HR-Team@costar.com and someone from the HR team will follow up with you.

Explore other reviews about CoStar Group

5.0
22 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Development, work life balance, competitive environment, career growth opportunities

Cons

A lot of priorities to juggle

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1.0
11 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

401k, medical benefits snacks decent base salary

Cons

Working at CoStar Group was one of the most emotionally exhausting sales environments I’ve experienced. The culture on my team was extremely male-dominated, hyper-competitive, and very much “sink or swim.” Collaboration was talked about constantly by management, but in reality the environment rewarded internal competition, territorial behavior, favoritism, and politics over actual teamwork. As one of the few women on the sales team, I often felt isolated and unsupported. Instead of mentorship or coaching, the expectation was basically: “figure it out yourself.” New hires were thrown into difficult situations with inconsistent training and unrealistic expectations, while certain reps appeared to receive stronger books of business, better territories, or more support than others. It created resentment and a toxic atmosphere where coworkers often felt more like competitors waiting for you to fail than teammates. The turnover was incredibly high, which should have been a red flag. Management pushed aggressive quotas and nonstop pressure while failing to address morale, burnout, or fairness concerns. There was also an unhealthy obsession with leaderboard culture and internal politics that made the workplace feel stressful every single day. What disappointed me most was that I genuinely believed in the product and enjoyed helping clients. Many customers loved working with me, and I built strong relationships. But internally, the environment became mentally draining. The constant competitiveness, lack of support, and toxic culture eventually outweighed the positives of the role.

5
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