Research Summary. In 2026, the landscape of human resources internships continues to evolve. Following rigorous analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present updated insights on human resources internship salaries across the United States:
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Washington has the highest human resources internship salary at $39,738
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South Carolina offers the lowest human resources internship salary at $24,358
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The national average salary for human resources interns is $32,702
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The national hourly wage for human resources interns stands at $15.72
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
Consistently, surveys across various demographics reveal that salary ranks as the top priority for job seekers, particularly for human resources interns. Understanding what you can expect to earn in your area can guide your career decisions.
While local conditions may vary slightly from state averages, these figures provide a valuable benchmark for anticipating your salary potential.
The state offering the best compensation for human resources interns remains Washington.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for human resources internship salaries:
Let’s explore how we arrived at these figures with a complete ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Human Resources Interns By State
| Rank | State | Average Human Resources Internship Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $39,738 | $31,000 | $50,000 |
| 2 | Oregon | $39,512 | $30,000 | $50,000 |
| 3 | New York | $39,271 | $28,000 | $53,000 |
| 4 | Alaska | $38,868 | $33,000 | $45,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $37,202 | $28,000 | $49,000 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $36,914 | $27,000 | $49,000 |
| 7 | California | $36,571 | $28,000 | $46,000 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $35,471 | $27,000 | $45,000 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $35,464 | $25,000 | $48,000 |
| 10 | Colorado | $35,365 | $27,000 | $45,000 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $35,319 | $27,000 | $45,000 |
| 12 | Utah | $34,983 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 13 | Virginia | $34,450 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $34,363 | $26,000 | $44,000 |
| 15 | Maine | $33,710 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 16 | Montana | $33,508 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 17 | Arizona | $33,462 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $33,429 | $25,000 | $43,000 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $33,345 | $24,000 | $45,000 |
| 20 | Delaware | $33,303 | $24,000 | $45,000 |
| 21 | Maryland | $32,969 | $24,000 | $44,000 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $32,815 | $25,000 | $41,000 |
| 23 | Michigan | $32,632 | $24,000 | $42,000 |
| 24 | Vermont | $32,436 | $25,000 | $41,000 |
| 25 | Idaho | $32,397 | $25,000 | $41,000 |
| 26 | Nevada | $32,086 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $30,936 | $23,000 | $40,000 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $30,817 | $23,000 | $41,000 |
| 29 | Texas | $30,117 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $29,876 | $22,000 | $38,000 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $29,784 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 32 | Illinois | $29,750 | $22,000 | $38,000 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $29,607 | $25,000 | $33,000 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $29,546 | $22,000 | $38,000 |
| 35 | Iowa | $29,354 | $22,000 | $37,000 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $29,329 | $22,000 | $38,000 |
| 37 | Kansas | $29,236 | $22,000 | $37,000 |
| 38 | Georgia | $28,554 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $28,429 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 40 | Alabama | $28,389 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 41 | Missouri | $28,226 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 42 | Indiana | $28,125 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $28,051 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $27,899 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $27,602 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 46 | Ohio | $26,995 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $26,842 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $26,382 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 49 | Florida | $25,933 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $24,358 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
Methodology: Human Resources Internship Salary By State
To comprehensively assess human resources internship compensation by state, Zippia aggregates data from various reputable sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and job postings. The data science team then calculates a weighted average of these inputs to determine the average pay for human resources interns in each state.
We utilized the average annual salary data derived from these estimates to rank each state according to their average salaries for human resources interns.
Human Resources Internship Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for human resources interns?
The highest-paid state for human resources interns is Washington with an average salary of $39,738 per year.
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What city pays human resources interns the most?
Lacey, WA pays human resources interns the most with an average salary of $39,931 per year.
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What is the worst state for human resources interns?
The worst state for human resources interns is South Carolina with an average salary of $24,358 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.
