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

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

206 reviews

4.0

Aug 31, 2018

Good opportunity, get out what you put in

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good chance to work on cool projects, project assignment form means might get stuck on boring or other projects which don’t provide practice of new skills.

Cons

Work atmosphere is extremely academic, to the extent that it feels very boring at times, human interaction is low at times.

4.0

Apr 27, 2018

Not a bad place to work

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent benefits, laid back environment.

Cons

Work style and personalities vary significantly by division. Not a lot of diversity, definitely favors white males.

Institute for Defense Analyses Response

IDA is committed to creating an environment where all staff members feel valued and respected. We are grateful for our staff members who come from different backgrounds and experiences. Their unique characteristics foster an environment of innovation and problem-solving. Diversity and inclusion are a critical elements in recruiting and retaining employees. We welcome your suggestions as to how we can improve this effort.

3.0

Mar 21, 2018

GJ

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Good job security. Your position isn't threatened because of a contract.

Cons

The organization is relatively flat which makes it difficult to advance.

Viewing 142 - 144 of 206 Reviews

Jobs at Institute for Defense Analyses

CCS - Security Officer (1st Shift)

Summer Associate SCAMP 2027-28 CCRP

Security Guard -- (SAN DIEGO, CA)

Senior Executive Assistant to EVP

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Good opportunity, get out what you put in

Not a bad place to work

GJ

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