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 (56) , Systems Engineer (38) , Software Engineer(Internship) (37) , Mechanical Engineer (35) , Engineering Intern (31) , Research Scientist (24) , Summer Intern (23) , Contract Specialist (22) , Astrophysicist (21) , Senior Software Engineer (21)

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

"Great people and learning experiences" ((in 275 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 81 reviews)); "benefits are good and useful" ((in 66 reviews)); "Good work environment and people" ((in 60 reviews))

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

"low pay and old buildings" ((in 151 reviews)); "Government salaries are low and therefore it's hard to subsist in CA without a higher salary." ((in 60 reviews)); "there are no cons, very good management" ((in 31 reviews)); "Long hours and lots of talking about sending people into space." ((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.

Skip to content Skip to footer

Notifications

NASA

NASA reviews

4.4

86% would recommend to a friend

(1,790 total reviews)

Charles F. Bolden, Jr.

83% approve of CEO

60% 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

4.1

Compensation and benefits

NASA has an employee rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, based on 1,790 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).

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 26, 2025

Nasa

Financial advisor

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Everything was good i would do it again

Cons

None. I was happy to work there

5.0

Feb 24, 2025

9 year old astronaut Kaito Alvaraz

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Love working for NASA, plan to return to space when ready

Cons

Have not been to space in a long while

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.

Viewing 196 - 198 of 1,790 Reviews

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

US Army

4.1★Compensation & Benefits

US Air Force

4.2★Compensation & Benefits

UNDP

3.7★Compensation & Benefits

US Navy

4.0★Compensation & Benefits

Jobs at NASA

Facility Specialist (Part-time)

Security Specialist (Direct Hire)

NASA reviews FAQs

Related searches: NASA jobs | NASA salaries | NASA benefits | NASA interviews | NASA conversations

Reviews NASA reviews

NASA

NASA reviews

Ratings by category

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Nasa

9 year old astronaut Kaito Alvaraz

Inspiring Work, Great Team, and Cutting-Edge Technology

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

Jobs at NASA

NASA reviews FAQs

Want the inside scoop on your own company?

Bowls

Followed companies

Job searches

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

NASA reviews FAQs

Jobs at NASA