Does Aspen Institute pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Aspen Institute employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.9 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Aspen Institute. This rating has improved by 13% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Aspen Institute?

99% of Aspen Institute employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Aspen Institute 4.2 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.7 for culture and values and 3.3 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Aspen Institute?

Intern (26) , Program Coordinator (18) , Program Associate (14) , Program Manager (12) , Director (9) , Associate (7) , Associate Director (5) , Internship (4) , Manager (4) , Executive Director (3) , Fellow (3) , Program Assistant (3) , Senior Associate (3) , Communications Manager (2) , Consultant (2)

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

"Great people and all" ((in 25 reviews)); "great colleagues" ((in 20 reviews)); "The Aspen Institute offers good benefits." ((in 11 reviews)); "Great culture and experiences!" ((in 9 reviews)); "Good work environment." ((in 8 reviews))

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

"Low pay, sometimes work could be time" ((in 8 reviews)); "The decentralized structure also means that in many programs there are limited opportunities to advance." ((in 6 reviews)); "Hours are long when events are on" ((in 5 reviews)); "Sometimes difficult upward mobility depending on the team" ((in 4 reviews)); "Some management is great, other departments have managers/directors that are not very communicative with their subordinates." ((in 4 reviews))

Aspen Institute Reviews

3.8

99% would recommend to a friend

(188 total reviews)

Walter Isaacson

99% approve of CEO

86% positive business outlook

Aspen Institute has an employee rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars, based on 188 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Aspen Institute employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Non-profit and NGO industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

188 reviews

3.0

18 June 2026

Strong benefits and flexibility, but weak leadership

Manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

Comprehensive benefits Flexible working hours

Cons

Organizational and leadership transitions sometimes led to shifting priorities and uncertainty.

3.0

18 Apr 2026

Good opportunities and great colleagues, but pay is low

Program coordinator

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

- good opportunities - great colleagues

Cons

- low pay - not the most transparent

4.0

11 Apr 2026

Good Place to Work

Senior program manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business outlook

Pros

Autonomy, good benefits, flexible work location depending on program

Cons

Each program is responsible for its own fundraising, which leaves employees at the whims of funders. The main Aspen charges each program 18% overhead. Many people in the Finance Department are extremely rude. Programs operate in silos, thus hindering opportunities for deep collaboration.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 188 Reviews

Jobs at Aspen Institute

Communications Associate

Washington, DC

·

USD 60K - USD 68K /yr

(Employer provided)

View job

Operations Associate (Part-Time)

Washington, DC

·

USD 35K - USD 45K /yr

USD 65K - USD 80K /yr

(Employer provided)

View job

Research Fellow—Public Philosophy

Washington, DC

·

USD 67K - USD 72K /yr

USD 50K - USD 69K /yr

(Glassdoor Est.)

View job

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Strong benefits and flexibility, but weak leadership

Good opportunities and great colleagues, but pay is low

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