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 23 reviews)); "Great people who love what they do and the people they do it with." ((in 16 reviews)); "I've got smart colleagues to work with." ((in 15 reviews)); "good work / life balance" ((in 11 reviews)); "Good job security." ((in 6 reviews))

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

"Pay is low." ((in 8 reviews)); "Poor management" ((in 7 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

Skip to content Skip to footer

Notifications

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

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

206 reviews

4.0

Mar 12, 2016

Overall good experience

Research staff member

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good people; company adds 11% of your salary into a retirement account; academic(ish) environment; interesting work related to defense; opportunities to learn new skills through classes, seminars, etc.

Cons

lots of "local" and non-local travel; staff members spread a bit too thin - trying to cover too many things to support the sponsor; work does not stay at the office

5.0

Dec 9, 2015

A great place for the research-minded individual

Research staff member

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Smart colleagues and interesting problems in the defense, intelligence, and national security space. Management is very supportive of staff and there are lots of opportunities to chart your own path forward.

Cons

Lots of people stay at IDA a long time, limiting the influx of fresh ideas and ways of doing things. There isn't a good path of upward mobility if you come in early/mid-career.

3.0

May 11, 2015

A stolid organization

Research staff member

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Job security, high impact on DoD. You can take your vacation without feeling guilty.

Cons

Does nothing to reward high performers, as pay-rasies are largely seniority-based. In hot fields (e.g., IT) salaries are only competitive for late-career folks.

Viewing 88 - 90 of 206 Reviews

Jobs at Institute for Defense Analyses

Systems Administrator Il

Summer Research Opportunity - Center for Computing Sciences (CCS) SCAMP

Summer Associate SCAMP 2027-28 CCRP

HR Business Partner - Alexandria, VA

Institute for Defense Analyses reviews FAQs

Reviews Institute for Defense Analyses reviews

Institute for Defense Analyses

Institute for Defense Analyses reviews

Ratings by category

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Overall good experience

A great place for the research-minded individual

A stolid organization

Jobs at Institute for Defense Analyses

Institute for Defense Analyses reviews FAQs

Want the inside scoop on your own company?

Bowls

Followed companies

Job searches

Institute for Defense Analyses reviews FAQs

Jobs at Institute for Defense Analyses