Question 1

Is NIH a good company to work for?

Accepted Answer

NIH has an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5, based on over 2,843 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has decreased by 3% over the last 12 months. 80% of employees would recommend working at NIH to a friend and 60% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about NIH have been left by employees working as Postdoctoral Researcher, Intern and Summer Intern.

Question 2

Does NIH pay their employees well?

Accepted Answer

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, NIH employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.9 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at NIH. This rating has decreased by 2% over the last 12 months.

Question 3

How satisfied are employees working at NIH?

Accepted Answer

80% of NIH employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews. Employees also rated NIH 4.1 out of 5 for work life balance, 4.2 for culture and values and 3.9 for career opportunities.

Question 4

What are the top reviewed jobs at NIH?

Accepted Answer

Postdoctoral Fellow (298), Research Fellow (124), Postbaccalaureate IRTA (103), Staff Scientist (63), Postdoctoral Research Fellow (40), Intern (38), Research Assistant (38), Summer Intern (29), Post-Baccalaureate Fellow (27), Scientist (25), Research Scientist (23), Biologist (22), Program Analyst (21), Post Doctoral Fellow (20), Visiting Fellow (20)

Question 5

What are the pros of working at NIH according to real employee reviews?

Accepted Answer

"The people are great and having a role in biomedical research is rewarding" ((in 136 reviews)); "Benefits are great and as expected" ((in 124 reviews)); "good work/life balance and super friendly teammates" ((in 81 reviews)); "Great lab and colleagues." ((in 59 reviews)); "Great opportunity to be mentored and grow as a scientist" ((in 51 reviews))

Question 6

What are the cons of working at NIH according to real employee reviews?

Accepted Answer

"Low salaries and lack of benefit." ((in 73 reviews)); "Very little recourse for bad management." ((in 28 reviews)); "Corrupt leadership, erosion of standards" ((in 13 reviews)); "Lots of bureaucracy and red tape to navigate" ((in 12 reviews)); "Certain managers (and this is a systematic problem government wide) that focus on promotion based on "time in grade" rather than job performance." ((in 9 reviews))

Question 7

What are employees saying about NIH layoffs in 2026?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

What are the top reviewed NIH locations?

Accepted Answer

Bethesda, Rockville, Washington, Baltimore, Frederick, Durham, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Research Triangle Park, New York, North Bethesda, Phoenix, Raleigh, Boston, Herndon, Maryland Heights, Houston, Columbia, Bowie, Cambridge, Shady Grove, Little Falls, New Brunswick, Wayne, Princeton, Chicago, Kewanee, Annandale, Clifton, Reston

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Excellent research environment, but limited opportunities

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just a great experience at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

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