Is NASA a good company to work for?

NASA has an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5, based on over 3,248 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months. 86% of employees would recommend working at NASA to a friend and 61% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about NASA have been left by employees working as Software Engineer(Internship) , Pathways Intern and Astrophysicist .

Does NASA pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, NASA employees rate their compensation and benefits as 4.0 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at NASA. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at NASA?

86% of NASA employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated NASA 4.4 out of 5 for work life balance, 4.4 for culture and values and 4.3 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at NASA?

Intern (291) , Aerospace Engineer (125) , Engineer (101) , Astronaut (95) , Internship (77) , Software Engineer (58) , Systems Engineer (38) , Software Engineer(Internship) (37) , Mechanical Engineer (35) , Engineering Intern (31) , Research Scientist (24) , Summer Intern (23) , Contract Specialist (22) , Astrophysicist (21) , Pathways Intern (21)

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

"Great people and learning experiences" ((in 277 reviews)); "Work life balance is great when you don’t go through management and let HR inform them of any accommodations" ((in 95 reviews)); "This makes it easy to win the best place to work in federal government awards year after year." ((in 82 reviews)); "Good work environment and people" ((in 65 reviews)); "The work that we do also provides great benefit to life here on Earth." ((in 65 reviews))

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

"Low pay and bureaucracy to deal with" ((in 153 reviews)); "Government salaries are low and therefore it's hard to subsist in CA without a higher salary." ((in 54 reviews)); "there are no cons, very good management" ((in 31 reviews)); "Long hours and lots of talking about sending people into space." ((in 29 reviews)); "Some non performers and very poor managers." ((in 13 reviews))

What are employees saying about NASA layoffs in 2026?

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

What are the top reviewed NASA locations?

Houston , Mountain View , Washington , Hampton , Huntsville , Greenbelt , Moffett Field , Kennedy Space Center , New York , Cleveland , Cape Canaveral , Los Angeles , Edwards AFB , Pasadena , Merritt Island , San Francisco , Goddard , Stennis Space Center , Edwards , Orlando , San Jose , Wallops Island , Las Cruces , Texas City , Norfolk , Fairmont , Denver , Chicago , Virginia Beach , Austin

NASA reviews

4.4

86% would recommend to a friend

(1,797 total reviews)

Charles F. Bolden, Jr.

83% approve of CEO

61% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

4.4

Culture & values

4.4

Work/Life balance

4.3

Diversity & inclusion

4.3

Career opportunities

4.2

Senior management

4.0

Compensation and benefits

NASA has an employee rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, based on 1,797 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The NASA employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Government & Public Administration industry (3.7 stars).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

2K reviews

5.0

Feb 21, 2025

Inspiring Work, Great Team, and Cutting-Edge Technology

Software developer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Working at NASA Goddard is a dream for any software developer passionate about space exploration. The projects are meaningful, contributing to groundbreaking scientific discoveries. The work-life balance is excellent, with flexible schedules and remote work options. The collaborative environment fosters innovation, and you get to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the field. The benefits, including retirement plans and healthcare, are outstanding.

Cons

Like any government organization, bureaucratic processes can slow down projects. Funding cycles can impact job stability, especially for contractors. The salary, while competitive for government work, may not match private-sector tech companies. Some legacy systems require maintenance, which can be less exciting. Security protocols, while necessary, can add extra layers of complexity to development work.

4.0

Feb 20, 2025

Great Place To Work

It specialist

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Hardworking professionals who are very dedicated to accomplishing the mission. Leadership that fight for their employees. Very rewarding when part of impactful projects and missions.

Cons

Due to limited resources job requirements can be vast, especially in IT, making career development / specialization difficult.

3.0

Feb 20, 2025

Tasks/Duties

Budget analyst

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The best part is the holidays and Flex Fridays that come with working a 9/80 schedule. The work operates on a routine monthly basis, but is doable once you get into the business rhythm. The people that you work with are cool, and they are just going through the same thing as you so you can definitely form some type of bond with them. The customers I support are great people as well, and they always are willing to assist you with what you need so that you are able to help them in return.

Cons

I was hired under the impression that I would be hired as a junior analyst that would support a manager and a supervisor and assist with their tasks/duties. However, I quickly found out that I was in charge of an entire branch in a division. Coming straight from college, it was definitely a challenge transitioning into their setting, and learning how they operate. I was completely caught unaware of the fact that now I was fully supporting numerous project managers at a single time, and they all have their own projects and issues that arise. The turnover rate for my position as well is high and because of the amount of work that goes on, people do not stay for long. That work is then reshuffled around the office again, and now in less than a year, I am doing more than I would like.

Viewing 493 - 495 of 1,797 Reviews

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