Is Institute for Defense Analyses a good company to work for?

Institute for Defense Analyses has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5, based on over 231 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has decreased by 10% over the last 12 months. 59% of employees would recommend working at Institute for Defense Analyses to a friend and 44% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about Institute for Defense Analyses have been left by employees working as Summer Associate , Research Associate and Research Staff Member .

Does Institute for Defense Analyses pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Institute for Defense Analyses employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.5 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Institute for Defense Analyses. This rating has decreased by 9% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Institute for Defense Analyses?

59% of Institute for Defense Analyses employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Institute for Defense Analyses 3.8 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.2 for culture and values and 2.9 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Institute for Defense Analyses?

Research Staff Member (44) , Research Associate (21) , Summer Associate (14) , Research Assistant (7) , Research Analyst (4) , Researcher (4) , Senior Research Manager (4) , Computer Systems Administrator (3) , Intern (3) , Science Policy Fellow (3) , Security (3) , Analyst (2) , Data Science Fellow (2) , Data Scientist (2) , Personnel Security Specialist (2)

What are the pros of working at Institute for Defense Analyses according to real employee reviews?

"Great Benefits and PTO" ((in 29 reviews)); "Nice people throughout the company." ((in 16 reviews)); "I've got smart colleagues to work with." ((in 15 reviews)); "Great work life balance at work" ((in 11 reviews)); "Great retirement benefits" ((in 5 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Institute for Defense Analyses according to real employee reviews?

"Pay is low." ((in 10 reviews)); "Cons are pay scales are not transparent and upward mobility is mainly driven by educational degree." ((in 5 reviews)); "Fraud, unprofessional supervisors, unethical management and senior management, pay is inadequate, senior management are not knowledgeable." ((in 3 reviews)); "Not too many cons in my view; fairly flat management structure" ((in 3 reviews))

What are employees saying about Institute for Defense Analyses layoffs in 2026?

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

What are the top reviewed Institute for Defense Analyses locations?

Alexandria , Washington , Princeton , Arlington , Bowie , New Alexandria

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Institute for Defense Analyses

Institute for Defense Analyses reviews

3.6

59% would recommend to a friend

(206 total reviews)

Adm. Charles A. Richard, USN (Ret.)

100% approve of CEO

44% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

3.8

Work/Life balance

3.5

Compensation and benefits

3.4

Diversity & inclusion

3.2

Culture & values

2.9

Senior management

2.9

Career opportunities

Institute for Defense Analyses has an employee rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, based on 206 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Institute for Defense Analyses employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Government & Public Administration industry (3.6 stars).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

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Reviews by job title

206 reviews

2.0

May 6, 2024

Low pay

Security guard

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good retirement company contribution, 11%

Cons

Low pay and raises. Flat org, no upward mobility. Discrimination. Favoritism.

Institute for Defense Analyses Response

While IDA’s organizational structure does include a uniquely flat design, growth within your position, skillset or area of responsibility is encouraged. Cross-divisional opportunities for growth also remain a part of how we foster development for our staff. Every employee at IDA plays a role in furthering our Mission. Please note that IDA takes discrimination allegations very seriously and investigates all complaints. To file a complaint or share information as a former employee, you can use this link: https://www.ida.org/about-ida/code-of-conduct or reach out to CorporateCompliance@ida.org.

3.0

May 3, 2024

Average

Project assistant

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Working as a Project Assistant was a great experience with the SFRD team, I learned a lot and was able to gain new skills during my time as a Project Assistant.

Cons

At times it was difficult with the structure of whom the Project Assistants reported to which in turn cause confusion for the team and for the Project Assistant on who to report to. There was no room for career growth as a Project Assistant.

Institute for Defense Analyses Response

Thank you for your feedback. We’re disappointed to hear that you encountered some difficulty regarding the reporting structure in your position. We understand the importance of the employee experience here at IDA, and please know this review is being shared with leadership. IDA encourages and supports all staff to pursue career-developing resources and programs. Our benefits include a number of educational assistance programs such as the IDA Scholar Program and tuition reimbursement. Additionally, each division has funds set aside for staff to pursue certifications, attend conferences, or take advantage of other job-related skills enrichment. For any current employees, please know that your Director is available to help remove any roadblocks you may encounter – we encourage you to bring any concerns to them so they can be addressed in a timely manner.

5.0

Apr 25, 2024

Good place

Personnel security specialist

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great place to work, great company, great benefits

Cons

Lots of boomers, can be a bit outdated with certain things.

Viewing 43 - 45 of 206 Reviews

Jobs at Institute for Defense Analyses

Security Guard -- (SAN DIEGO, CA)

CCS - Security Officer (1st Shift)

Summer Associate SCAMP 2027-28 CCRP

Security Guard (Part-Time/On-Call -- SAN DIEGO, CA)

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