Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified the current details of communications internship salary by state for the United States in 2026:
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New Jersey has the highest communications internship salary of $44,923
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Louisiana has the lowest communications internship salary of $24,801
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The national average salary for communications interns is $33,458
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The national hourly pay for communications interns is $16.09
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a top priority for job seekers across demographics, and understanding how much communications interns earn in your region is crucial. Recent trends indicate that compensation is increasingly influenced by factors such as industry demand, remote work opportunities, and the overall economic landscape.
While your city may differ from state averages, these figures provide a helpful benchmark for what you might expect to earn as a communications intern.
New Jersey continues to lead the way with the highest internship salaries, reflecting its high cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
Here’s an updated snapshot of the top ten states for communications internship salaries in 2026:
Let’s take a look at how we got here with a complete ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Communications Interns By State
| Rank | State | Average Communications Internship Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $44,923 | $29,000 | $67,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $43,746 | $32,000 | $58,000 |
| 3 | Alaska | $42,541 | $36,000 | $49,000 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $42,384 | $28,000 | $62,000 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $39,566 | $27,000 | $57,000 |
| 6 | New York | $39,315 | $26,000 | $59,000 |
| 7 | California | $39,203 | $27,000 | $56,000 |
| 8 | Maryland | $39,107 | $26,000 | $58,000 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $38,976 | $27,000 | $55,000 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $38,153 | $32,000 | $44,000 |
| 11 | Delaware | $38,100 | $25,000 | $57,000 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $37,101 | $28,000 | $47,000 |
| 13 | Virginia | $37,086 | $25,000 | $53,000 |
| 14 | Nevada | $36,961 | $26,000 | $52,000 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $36,765 | $26,000 | $51,000 |
| 16 | Oregon | $36,760 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $36,138 | $27,000 | $47,000 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $35,732 | $23,000 | $53,000 |
| 19 | Colorado | $35,270 | $26,000 | $47,000 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $34,440 | $25,000 | $46,000 |
| 21 | Idaho | $34,289 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $33,907 | $24,000 | $46,000 |
| 23 | Ohio | $33,500 | $23,000 | $47,000 |
| 24 | Vermont | $33,444 | $24,000 | $45,000 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $32,910 | $23,000 | $47,000 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $32,824 | $23,000 | $45,000 |
| 27 | Illinois | $32,367 | $23,000 | $43,000 |
| 28 | Utah | $32,040 | $23,000 | $43,000 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $31,780 | $23,000 | $43,000 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $31,649 | $23,000 | $43,000 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $30,828 | $23,000 | $41,000 |
| 32 | Texas | $30,506 | $22,000 | $42,000 |
| 33 | Michigan | $30,136 | $21,000 | $42,000 |
| 34 | Georgia | $30,107 | $22,000 | $40,000 |
| 35 | Arizona | $30,042 | $21,000 | $41,000 |
| 36 | Maine | $29,623 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $29,396 | $21,000 | $39,000 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $29,392 | $21,000 | $39,000 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $29,213 | $22,000 | $38,000 |
| 40 | Montana | $29,168 | $22,000 | $37,000 |
| 41 | Iowa | $28,583 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $28,579 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 43 | Florida | $28,292 | $20,000 | $38,000 |
| 44 | Indiana | $27,891 | $20,000 | $38,000 |
| 45 | Missouri | $27,256 | $20,000 | $36,000 |
| 46 | Alabama | $26,162 | $19,000 | $35,000 |
| 47 | Kansas | $25,582 | $19,000 | $34,000 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $25,098 | $18,000 | $33,000 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $24,838 | $18,000 | $33,000 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $24,801 | $17,000 | $34,000 |
Methodology: Communications Internship Salary By State
To better understand communications internship pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We supplement this data with actual listed salaries from job postings and calculate a weighted average to derive average pay for communications interns by state.
Using this approach, we ranked every state based on average annual salary data for communications interns, with the highest-paying state taking the top spot.
Communications Internship Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for communications interns?
The highest-paid state for communications interns is New Jersey with an average salary of $44,923 per year.
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What city pays communications interns the most?
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ pays communications interns the most with an average salary of $44,948 per year.
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What is the worst state for communications interns?
The worst state for communications interns is Louisiana with an average salary of $24,801 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.
