How many employees work at NRL?

Naval Research Laboratory has approximately 2,180 total employees worldwide as of March 2026, according to Revelio Labs workforce intelligence data. NRL’s total headcount has declined 6.3% from 2,326 employees in 2023 to 2,180 in 2026.

Data source: Revelio LabsCoverage: Global workforce, 2023–2026Published August 2026

Is NRL hiring right now?

No, NRL is not actively hiring. NRL had 0 active job postings in 2026, a 0.0% no change from 2025 — see job openings & hiring trends.

About NRL’s Workforce

Naval Research Laboratory is a Research and Development company that employs 2,180 people worldwide as of March 2026. It is the 7th-largest by headcount among its peers. Founded in 1923, the company is headquartered in Washington, Washington, D.C..

NRL's workforce has declined 6.3% from 2023 to 2026, down 2.3% year over year in 2026. It fell to a low of 2,180 in 2026 Q1 before recovering. Its workforce is concentrated most in North America (98.1%), followed by North Africa (0.5%) and Southern Europe (0.4%).

NRL's functional groups are Finance and Operations (55.1%), Engineering (28.2%), and Sales and Marketing (16.6%). The average salary is $117,790, ranging from a median of $121,000 in North America to $5,000 in South Asia.

NRL's hiring activity held steady in 2026. Overall employee sentiment is neutral but declining.

Sourced from Revelio Labs workforce data.

Headquarters
Washington, Washington, D.C.
Founded
1923
Industry
Research and Development
Employees
2,180
YoY
-2.3% (-78)

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NRL Annual Employee Count (2023-2026)

Interactive chart of NRL annual worldwide employee count from 2023 to 2026.
  • NRL had 2,180 employees in 2026, a 2.3% decline (-78) from 2025.
  • NRL had 2,189 employees in 2025, a 2.2% decline (-90) from 2024.
  • NRL had 2,279 employees in 2024, a 1.5% increase (+83) from 2023.
  • NRL had 2,196 employees in 2023, a 2.0% increase (+51) from 2022.

NRL's total workforce has declined from 2,326 employees in 2023 to 2,180 in 2026. NRL's headcount peaked at 2,387 in 2024.

Naval Research Laboratory quarterly employee count

YearQtrEmployeesYoY ChangeYoY %
2026Q12,180-78-2.3%
2025Q42,189-90-2.2%
2025Q32,228-74-1.9%
2025Q22,332-55-1.2%
2025Q12,258+66+1.2%
2024Q42,279+83+1.5%
2024Q32,302+94+2.1%
2024Q22,387+61+1.5%
2024Q12,192+54+2.5%
2023Q42,196+51+2.0%
2023Q32,208+30+2.1%
2023Q22,326+54+2.3%

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NRL Employee Count by Region (2026)

North America accounts for the largest share of NRL's global workforce with approximately 98% of total employees, followed by North Africa and Southern Europe.

NRL employees by region

RegionEmployees% of Total
North America2,12098.1%
North Africa100.5%
Southern Europe80.4%
South Asia60.3%
East Asia40.2%
Pacific Islands30.2%
South America30.1%
Sub-Saharan Africa20.1%
Central America and the Caribbean20.1%
Arab States20.1%

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NRL Employee Count by Department (2026)

NRL's employee groups are Finance and Operations (55.1%), Engineering (28.2%), and Sales and Marketing (16.6%).

NRL employees by department

DepartmentEmployees% of Total
Finance and Operations1,19655.1%
Engineering61228.2%
Sales and Marketing36116.6%

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NRL Employee Salary by Region (2026)

NRL's average employee salary is $117,790 globally. Employees in North America receive the highest compensation. Pay is lowest in South Asia, at a median of $5,000.

NRL median employee salary by region (USD)

RegionMedian Salary
North America$121,000
East Asia$64,000
Southern Europe$52,000
North Africa$7,000
South Asia$5,000

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NRL Job Openings and Hiring Trends (2023-2026)

Interactive chart of NRL annual active job postings from 2023 to 2026.
  • NRL had 0 active job postings in 2026, a 0% no change from 2025.
  • NRL had 0 active job postings in 2025, a 0% no change from 2024.
  • NRL had 0 active job postings in 2024, a 200.0% decline (-1) from 2023.
  • NRL had 1 active job postings in 2023, a 0% no change from 2022.
  • Hiring velocity in 2026: 0 new roles/month, up from 0 in 2025 and 1 in 2024.

NRL's hiring activity held steady in 2026.

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NRL Employee Sentiment (2026)

Revelio Labs tracks employee sentiment across NRL's workforce based on public professional data. Overall sentiment is neutral and has declined year over year in 2026.

Overall

NegativePositive

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Frequently Asked Questions About NRL

How fast is NRL growing?
In 2026, NRL's headcount shrank 2.3% to 2,180 employees, down from 2,258 in 2025.
See the full headcount history
Where are NRL employees located?
Most NRL employees are based in North America (98.1% of headcount), followed by North Africa and Southern Europe.
Explore where the workforce is based
What is the average salary at NRL?
The average employee salary at NRL is approximately $117.8k per year.
Analyze the salary distribution
How many new job postings does NRL open per year?
In Q1 2026, NRL opened 0 new job postings. In 2025, NRL opened 2 new job postings — about 0 per month.
Track hiring trends by role
When was NRL founded and where is it headquartered?
NRL was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Washington, Washington, D.C..
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