Does NASA pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, NASA employees rate their compensation and benefits as 4.1 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 (290) , 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 284 reviews)); "Work life balance is great when you don’t go through management and let HR inform them of any accommodations" ((in 98 reviews)); "This makes it easy to win the best place to work in federal government awards year after year." ((in 82 reviews)); "Great Benefits and retirement plan" ((in 71 reviews)); "Good work environment and people" ((in 66 reviews))

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

"low pay and old buildings" ((in 146 reviews)); "Government salaries are low and therefore it's hard to subsist in CA without a higher salary." ((in 57 reviews)); "Long hours and lots of talking about sending people into space." ((in 32 reviews)); "no management pretty much do what u want" ((in 30 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.

NASA reviews

4.4

86% would recommend to a friend

(1,794 total reviews)

Charles F. Bolden, Jr.

83% approve of CEO

60% positive business outlook

Company ratings over time

Ratings trend for the last 6 months (1,794 reviews)

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

NASA has an employee rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, based on 1,794 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 Gobierno y administración pública industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews

2.0

Jul 15, 2009

We all wish NASA lived up to what it could be. There are pockets of quality, but overall a bloated government entity

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Cool work, with one of a kind opportunities to be part of space exploration. Lots of education reimbursement benefits. Good work-life balance.

Cons

Slow and bureaucratic, with many "lifers" unwilling to work. Innovation and youthful enthusiasm are blunted at every turn. Reliance on congressional funding cycles makes work choppy and disjointed. No connection to final product and no PROFIT MOTIVATION.

1.0

Jun 12, 2008

If you want to be heard, work somewhere else

Engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Working for NASA has always been a dream.

Cons

Latest round of management has been here for a couple of years, and has brought in their friends. No one with any experience in house is considered for promotion. Second in command is from an outside company and has been hiring all his previous managers into high salaried positions - without competition.

4.0

Jun 25, 2026

Collaborative culture, but unfriendly administration policies

Ast technical management

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Collaborative work environment. Innovative technologies.

Cons

Current administration’s unfriendly policies towards federal employees

Viewing 328 - 330 of 1,794 Reviews

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NASA

NASA reviews

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Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

We all wish NASA lived up to what it could be. There are pockets of quality, but overall a bloated government entity

If you want to be heard, work somewhere else

Collaborative culture, but unfriendly administration policies

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