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 as an FFRDC." ((in 24 reviews)); "I've got smart colleagues to work with." ((in 18 reviews)); "Great people who love what they do and the people they do it with." ((in 18 reviews)); "good work / life balance" ((in 12 reviews)); "Job security seems excellent." ((in 7 reviews))

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

"Pay is low." ((in 10 reviews)); "Poor management" ((in 9 reviews)); "Cons are pay scales are not transparent and upward mobility is mainly driven by educational degree." ((in 5 reviews)); "Weak on sick leave, part of PTO, which is 24 days total." ((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

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Reviews by job title

206 reviews

1.0

May 6, 2023

Unless you are related to management.....STAY AWAY!

Security officer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

I have employment The kindness and understanding the other employees have to use because they know physical security management.

Cons

Fraud, unprofessional supervisors, unethical management and senior management, pay is inadequate, senior management are not knowledgeable. We have witnessed the same personnel who are in management and supervisor positions now get promoted for knowingly falsify documents. We have witness general counsel ignore those findings. Every last person got promoted and that is unethical.

Institute for Defense Analyses Response

Thank you for your feedback. We are aware of similar complaints that have been made on this subject – please know that these concerns have been thoroughly investigated, and the findings have been reviewed at the highest levels of the organization. While we are not in a position to share the details of actions taken as a result, including disciplinary actions, we can assure you that IDA has addressed these concerns. Should you have information about issues that have not been raised in prior investigations, or new issues that have come to light, we encourage you to share your concerns. You can reach out by contacting HR, Office of the General Counsel, filing a Code of Conduct complaint, or by speaking with any member of the senior management or executive team at IDA.

5.0

Nov 17, 2022

IDA is a great place to work!

Research staff member

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

You get to work with a group of smart, dedicated people on interesting and important problems in national security

Cons

IDA has a reasonably flat organizational structure, so there are very few opportunities for advancement in job title. But there are plenty of ways to distinguish yourself and advance professionally.

4.0

Nov 13, 2022

Dedicated Staff Supporting and Contributing to an Important Mission…

Security

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Dedicated Staff Supporting and Contributing to an Important Mission…Yet not important enough to ensure that it’s security personnel at ALL levels meet requisite qualifications, credentials, leadership and ethical standards. LOYALITY is to an Institution and it’s mission NOT to an INDIVIDUAL

Cons

Missed opportunities to correct discrepancies in selection process of qualified security personnel with requisite credentials to perform unaccompanied in common restricted access areas. Networking notwithstanding - poor business practices, resulting in reduced morale as there is little to no oversight of hiring managers facilitating the hire of friends in supervisory and non supervisory positions who fail to meet key requirements. Such practices create redundancies in staffing schedules and expense to “babysit” new and existing personnel who have no eligibility.

Viewing 58 - 60 of 206 Reviews

Jobs at Institute for Defense Analyses

Deputy Director, Talent Management and Workplace Culture

HR Business Partner - Alexandria, VA

Cyber Security Analyst I

CCS - Security Officer (1st Shift)

Research Analyst - Live Fire Test & Evaluation

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Unless you are related to management.....STAY AWAY!

IDA is a great place to work!

Dedicated Staff Supporting and Contributing to an Important Mission…

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