Internship Salary By State: Highest-Paid Interns by State [2026]
Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the following insights on internship salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Alaska maintains the highest internship salary at $44,084.
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Louisiana offers the lowest internship salary at $27,142.
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The national average internship salary is $35,254.
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The national hourly wage for interns stands at $16.95.
For further details, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
Surveys consistently show that salary is the most critical factor in job decisions for most individuals, especially when considering internships. Understanding what interns earn in various states can be pivotal for prospective candidates.
While actual salaries may vary by city, state averages provide a useful framework for what you might expect to earn during your internship. Currently, Alaska leads the way in intern compensation.
Below is a snapshot of the top ten states for internship salaries in 2026:
Let’s explore how these figures were determined and see the complete ranking of states.
Highest-Paid Interns By State
| Rank | State | Average Internship Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $44,084 | $37,000 | $52,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $42,583 | $32,000 | $55,000 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $42,560 | $29,000 | $62,000 |
| 4 | California | $41,870 | $29,000 | $59,000 |
| 5 | Nevada | $39,649 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $39,577 | $27,000 | $57,000 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $39,441 | $27,000 | $56,000 |
| 8 | Colorado | $39,080 | $29,000 | $52,000 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $39,028 | $30,000 | $50,000 |
| 10 | New York | $38,599 | $26,000 | $57,000 |
| 11 | Oregon | $38,556 | $28,000 | $51,000 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $37,686 | $28,000 | $49,000 |
| 13 | Vermont | $37,631 | $28,000 | $50,000 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $37,368 | $26,000 | $51,000 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $36,925 | $27,000 | $49,000 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $36,739 | $28,000 | $48,000 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $35,873 | $24,000 | $52,000 |
| 18 | Arizona | $35,855 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| 19 | Montana | $35,784 | $27,000 | $46,000 |
| 20 | Maryland | $35,534 | $24,000 | $51,000 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $35,397 | $24,000 | $52,000 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $35,038 | $26,000 | $46,000 |
| 23 | Georgia | $34,939 | $25,000 | $48,000 |
| 24 | Michigan | $34,919 | $25,000 | $48,000 |
| 25 | Illinois | $34,839 | $25,000 | $47,000 |
| 26 | Virginia | $34,636 | $24,000 | $49,000 |
| 27 | Maine | $34,598 | $26,000 | $45,000 |
| 28 | Ohio | $34,273 | $24,000 | $47,000 |
| 29 | Idaho | $34,250 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $33,719 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| 31 | Texas | $33,570 | $23,000 | $47,000 |
| 32 | Missouri | $33,182 | $24,000 | $44,000 |
| 33 | Iowa | $32,963 | $24,000 | $43,000 |
| 34 | Utah | $32,927 | $24,000 | $43,000 |
| 35 | Indiana | $32,486 | $23,000 | $44,000 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $32,101 | $22,000 | $44,000 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $32,001 | $23,000 | $44,000 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $31,914 | $23,000 | $43,000 |
| 39 | Delaware | $31,773 | $21,000 | $46,000 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $31,500 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 41 | Florida | $31,385 | $21,000 | $45,000 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $31,204 | $23,000 | $41,000 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $31,190 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $30,721 | $21,000 | $43,000 |
| 45 | Kansas | $30,656 | $22,000 | $41,000 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $29,297 | $21,000 | $40,000 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $28,391 | $20,000 | $39,000 |
| 48 | Alabama | $27,864 | $20,000 | $38,000 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $27,349 | $19,000 | $37,000 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $27,142 | $19,000 | $38,000 |
Methodology: Internship Salary By State
To analyze internship salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM, supplemented with actual salaries listed in job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average based on these inputs, ranking states by their average intern salaries.
Internship Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for interns?
The highest-paid state for interns is Alaska, with an average salary of $44,084 per year.
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What city pays interns the most?
San Francisco, CA offers the highest average intern salary at $43,161 per year.
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What is the worst state for interns?
The lowest-paying state for interns is Louisiana, with an average salary of $27,142 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
