How hard is it to get promoted at UCLA?

I would say hard. For several reasons. 1. Changing positions is pretty much the only way you will ever see a significant bump in salary. 2. Many positions require specialized training, education, skills, etc. 3. Often positions have a hard ceiling you cannot be promoted into - for example senior senior positions are mostly faculty too. 4. People tend to stay a long time so there is nowhere to go. The takeaway is, it's a place people are committed to working at because of what it is - they stay a long time. There are also people who work there for the benefits and do not care about anything else - they stay a long time - I will let you imaging what this crowd is like. The rest come for a while and go when they have had their fill - or want a promotion.