What's It Really Like to Work at Kyndryl in 2025?
Explore careers at Kyndryl, a certified Most Loved Workplace®. Get an inside look at company culture, salaries, benefits, and the hiring process to land a job.
Working at Kyndryl involves designing, building, and managing complex IT infrastructure for the world's largest enterprises. As a 2021 spin-off from IBM, the company is focused on being an agile and customer-centric leader in managed services, data, and AI. Kyndryl's culture is rooted in employee development and has earned it certification as a Most Loved Workplace®. Employees, or 'Kyndryls,' can expect continuous training in emerging technologies and opportunities to solve critical IT challenges for a global client base.
- Founded
- 2021
- HQ
- New York, New York
- Employees
- 80000
- Industry
- IT Infrastructure Services
- Ownership
- Public
- Ticker
- NYSE:KD
- Kyndryl is a 2021 IBM spin-off focused on managed IT infrastructure services.
- The company employs approximately 80,000 people worldwide.
- Kyndryl has been certified as a Most Loved Workplace®.
- Key focus areas for employees include AI Ops, cloud services, and predictive maintenance.
- Salaries for technical roles at Kyndryl are generally competitive with the US market average.
- The company has strategic alliances with tech giants like Google Cloud, Microsoft, and AWS for training and service delivery.
Working at Kyndryl involves designing, building, and managing complex IT infrastructure for the world's largest enterprises. As a 2021 spin-off from IBM, the company is focused on being an agile and customer-centric leader in managed services, data, and AI. Kyndryl's culture is rooted in employee development and has earned it certification as a Most Loved Workplace®. Employees, or 'Kyndryls,' can expect continuous training in emerging technologies and opportunities to solve critical IT challenges for a global client base.
What is it actually like to work at Kyndryl?
Kyndryl is the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, a company born from the spin-off of IBM's Managed Infrastructure Services division in late 2021. With a workforce of approximately 80,000 employees globally, working at Kyndryl means operating at a massive scale, serving thousands of enterprise clients, including a majority of the Fortune 100. The company's mission is to be the 'heartbeat of progress,' focusing on the design, management, and modernization of the complex, mission-critical information systems that power daily life.
The day-to-day experience of a 'Kyndryl' often involves collaborating with a global team to solve significant technical challenges. The work is centered on delivering services across six key practice areas: Cloud, Applications/Data & AI, Security & Resiliency, Network & Edge, and Digital Workplace. While the company has a legacy rooted in IBM's century of history, its culture is actively being forged into something new. The leadership, under CEO /ceos/martin-schroeter, emphasizes a flatter, faster, and more focused organization—a cultural shift from its more bureaucratic origins. This translates to an environment where employees are encouraged to take ownership and focus intently on customer outcomes. The company operates in a hybrid model, offering flexibility for many roles, but the core of the work is deeply collaborative, often requiring tight coordination across time zones to support clients' 24/7 operational needs. Source: Kyndryl Fiscal Year 2024 10-K Filing
How does Kyndryl pay compare?
Compensation at Kyndryl is structured to be competitive within the global IT services market. Pay varies significantly based on role, geographic location, experience level, and technical certifications. For technical and project management roles in the United States, salaries tend to be at or slightly above the market average, reflecting the need to attract talent skilled in high-demand areas like cloud architecture, cybersecurity, and AI.
An analysis of self-reported salary data indicates that Kyndryl compensates its technical staff competitively. For example, an IT Architect at Kyndryl can expect to earn a total compensation package that surpasses the national median for similar roles. This premium reflects the complexity and mission-critical nature of the systems they manage. The company's compensation philosophy includes a mix of base salary, annual performance bonuses, and in some cases, equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) for senior or critical roles, aligning employee incentives with the company's long-term growth.
| Role | Average Kyndryl Salary (Total Pay) | US Market Median (Total Pay) |
|---|---|---|
| IT Architect | $162,500/yr | $141,000/yr |
| Project Manager | $115,000/yr | $103,500/yr |
| Software Engineer | $124,000/yr | $116,000/yr |
Note: Salary data is based on self-reported, aggregated user data from Glassdoor as of late 2023 and early 2024 and may vary by location, experience, and specific role. It should be considered an estimate, not a guarantee.
Beyond base pay, many sales and consulting roles operate on a commission or variable pay structure tied directly to revenue and customer success metrics. This model is standard for the industry and incentivizes growth, a key priority for Kyndryl as a newly independent public company. Source: Kyndryl aggregated salary data on Glassdoor
What benefits and time-off does Kyndryl offer?
Kyndryl provides a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of its employees. As a large, global corporation, its offerings are robust and in line with peer companies in the technology and professional services sectors. In the U.S., the core benefits package typically includes a choice of medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to suit different needs and family sizes.
Key components of the Kyndryl benefits program include:
- Health & Wellness: In addition to standard health insurance, Kyndryl often offers wellness programs, employee assistance programs (EAP) for mental health support, and access to virtual health services.
- Financial Security: The company offers a 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company match, helping employees save for the long term. Other financial benefits include life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage.
- Time-Off: Paid time off (PTO) is a crucial part of the package, with the amount of leave typically accruing based on years of service and role seniority. The company also observes a standard set of paid holidays. Specifics on parental leave policies are outlined during the hiring process and are designed to be competitive.
- Flexibility: Recognizing the demands of a global services business, Kyndryl has embraced a hybrid work model for many roles, blending remote work with time in the office for collaboration, client meetings, and team-building events. Source: Kyndryl Careers Page
Culture, leadership, and DEI at Kyndryl
The culture at Kyndryl is one of its most defining and evolving attributes. Summarized by the mantra "The Kyndryl Way," it is built on three core principles: Restless, Empathetic, and Devoted. The company aims to be a 'flat, fast, and focused' organization, a direct response to the perceived bureaucracy of its past. This cultural transformation is a cornerstone of the company's strategy, with leadership believing that an empowered and engaged workforce will drive better customer outcomes.
This commitment to a healthy workplace culture is validated by its certification as a Most Loved Workplace®. This recognition is based on analysis of employee sentiment and satisfaction, specifically around the elements of Systemic Collaboration, a Positive Vision of the Future, Alignment of Values, Respect, and Kindness (SPARK). For candidates, this signals a workplace that actively measures and invests in the employee experience. Leadership, from CEO /ceos/martin-schroeter down, frequently communicates the importance of this cultural shift in town halls and internal communications.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are also central to the cultural conversation. Kyndryl publishes its DEI goals and progress, focusing on representation in leadership, equitable promotion processes, and fostering an inclusive environment. The company has established Inclusion Network Groups (INGs) to provide community and support for employees from various backgrounds. These efforts are not just about social responsibility but are positioned as a business imperative, essential for attracting top talent and understanding a diverse global customer base. Source: Most Loved Workplaces® Certification for Kyndryl
The hiring and interview process at Kyndryl
The hiring process at Kyndryl is designed to identify candidates with both strong technical skills and a cultural fit for its 'Restless, Empathetic, and Devoted' mindset. The process is generally consistent across regions but may be adapted for different roles (e.g., technical vs. sales vs. management).
A typical interview process at Kyndryl includes the following stages:
- Online Application: Candidates apply through the Kyndryl careers portal. The system often uses AI to screen resumes for key skills and experience matching the job description.
- Recruiter Screening: A member of the talent acquisition team conducts an initial phone or video call. This stage is to verify a candidate's experience, discuss the role in more detail, confirm salary expectations, and assess overall interest and communication skills.
- Technical & Behavioral Interviews: This is the core of the process, often involving two to four interviews.
- Technical interviews are common for roles in engineering, architecture, and service delivery. Candidates may face coding challenges, system design questions, or scenario-based problems related to cloud, networking, or AI Ops.
- Behavioral interviews use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to assess problem-solving skills, collaboration, customer focus, and alignment with 'The Kyndryl Way.'
- Hiring Manager Interview: This final interview is typically with the manager of the team the candidate would be joining. The focus is on team fit, long-term goals, and a deeper dive into how the candidate's skills would contribute to the team's objectives.
The company looks for candidates who are not just technically proficient but also demonstrate a passion for learning and a commitment to customer success. Highlighting experiences with major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and an understanding of modern IT operations is highly beneficial. Source: Kyndryl Careers - How We Hire
Career growth and learning at Kyndryl
Kyndryl places a strong emphasis on continuous learning and career development, positioning it as a key value proposition for employees. The source Q&A highlights this focus, noting investments in continuous training in emerging technologies like AI. This is a business necessity in the fast-changing IT landscape. The company encourages and supports employees in obtaining new skills and certifications, which are vital for delivering advanced services to clients.
A central pillar of this strategy is Kyndryl University, an internal platform offering a vast catalog of courses and learning paths. A significant move was the 2023 announcement of its multi-year plan to upskill tens of thousands of employees in generative AI technologies, in partnership with Microsoft. This demonstrates a forward-looking approach to talent development, ensuring the workforce remains relevant and capable of delivering cutting-edge solutions.
Career paths at Kyndryl are not strictly linear. The company's global scale and diverse service offerings allow for significant internal mobility. Employees can move between different practice areas (e.g., from network services to a cloud or security role), transition into management, or pursue a deep technical specialization through distinguished technical career paths. Growth is tied to both performance and the proactive pursuit of new skills, particularly through certifications with Kyndryl’s strategic alliance partners like Google, Microsoft, and AWS. Source: Kyndryl and Microsoft to upskill employees in new AI solutions
Risks, criticisms, and what to watch
While Kyndryl offers significant opportunities, candidates should also consider the challenges and risks associated with the company and its market. As a public company spun off from IBM, Kyndryl is under intense pressure to demonstrate consistent revenue growth and margin improvement. The IT infrastructure services industry is highly competitive, with pressure from both traditional outsourcers and the major public cloud providers who are increasingly offering their own managed services.
One common criticism leveled at the legacy infrastructure services business is that it can be slow-moving and tied to long-term contracts that may stifle innovation. Kyndryl's primary strategic challenge is to prove it can be more agile and innovative than its predecessor. This involves a massive internal transformation, which can lead to periods of reorganization and strategic shifts that impact employees. For prospective hires, this means being prepared for an environment of change and a degree of ambiguity as the company solidifies its market position.
Financial performance is another area to watch. While Kyndryl has secured its financial footing and made progress on its path to profitability, the company has reported net losses since its inception as it invests heavily in its transformation and new platforms. Candidates should review recent investor relations reports to understand the company's financial health and strategic priorities, as these will directly influence team budgets, headcount, and project funding. The success of its partnerships and its ability to capture a larger share of the cloud, data, and AI services market will be critical to its long-term success. Source: Kyndryl Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Fiscal 2024 Results
Most Loved Workplaces® context
Kyndryl is part of a global network of companies recognized for their commitment to a healthy workplace culture. Best Practice Institute certifies companies where employees are the happiest and most satisfied. Across a network of 1,800 certified companies and 2.8 million employees, data shows that 92% of employees at Most Loved Workplaces® apply for roles when openings arise. These organizations also see 48% higher employee retention and achieve 4× higher revenue growth than their industry peers, demonstrating a clear link between a positive culture and strong business performance.
How we researched this report
Best Practice Institute Editorial Staff actively monitors and analyzes data from company statements, SEC filings, employee-reported data, and reputable media sources to provide a comprehensive view of the employee experience. For more information, please see our full methodology.
Sources
- Kyndryl Careers Page — Kyndryl
- Kyndryl Fiscal Year 2024 10-K Filing — Kyndryl Investor Relations
- Most Loved Workplaces® Certification for Kyndryl — Most Loved Workplace
- Kyndryl aggregated salary data on Glassdoor — Glassdoor, Inc.
- Kyndryl and Microsoft to upskill employees in new AI solutions — Kyndryl
- Kyndryl Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Fiscal 2024 Results — Kyndryl Investor Relations
- Kyndryl Careers - How We Hire — Kyndryl
Quick answers
Researched and edited by Best Practice Institute Editorial Staff. See our methodology.