Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of interns that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of interns:
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General Internship is the highest-paid type of internship with an average salary of $61,485 and an average hourly rate of $29.56.
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The second highest-paying type of internship is product manager internship, with an average salary of $49,420.
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The average internship salary is $35,254 per year, and the average hourly pay is $16.95.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as an internship, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of interns are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of interns:
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General Internship
Average Salary: $61,485
A general intern is responsible for supporting the business operations by performing administrative and clerical duties under the supervision of a direct manager or tenured staff. Interns shadow employees from different teams to have a good grasp of the services and processes offered by the company, understanding each group’s functions, and analyzing how the business works for the clients. They also attend and write meeting reports, assist with organizing programs and events, and conduct data processing procedures.
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Product Manager Internship
Average Salary: $49,420
When it comes to a product manager internship, an intern’s responsibility is to develop business insights by performing support tasks under the supervision of a manager or a more experienced colleague. Typically, their duties revolve around performing research and analysis on markets and consumers, liaising with clients to understand business processes, responding to inquiries and concerns from customers, and reaching out to clients to offer products and services through calls and correspondence. Furthermore, as an intern, it is essential to report to managers if there are any problems and adhere to the company’s policies and regulations.
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Internship Coordinator
Average Salary: $42,446
Internship coordinators typically work in an organization’s human resource (HR) department and act as the internship program director. They are responsible for developing and implementing an internship program. Once established, they are responsible for overseeing site supervisors and assigning interns to different departments. They are also responsible for hiring students and advertising internship opportunities. An internship coordinator should possess a few skills to accomplish their duties, including interpersonal and communication skills, a bachelor’s degree, and experience in other jobs.
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Office Worker
Average Salary: $41,003
An office worker is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support the daily operations of the business. Office workers assist in receiving calls to respond to the clients’ inquiries and concerns, as well as welcoming visitors, verifying their appointments, and leading them to the appropriate personnel and department for their business needs. They also do data processing, sorting mail, and filing documents for easy retrieval and reference, especially during meetings and company activities.
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Center Coordinator
Average Salary: $40,825
The duties of a center coordinator depend on one’s industry or place of employment. It will typically revolve around organizing and managing a particular department, different events, activities, or even campaigns, ensuring to implement the company’s mission, vision, and goals. Moreover, as a center coordinator, it is essential to understand the needs of the project and its employees, delegate tasks, liaise with clients and vendors, and prepare progress reports and presentations. One must also develop schedules and strategies to carry out different activities, manage the budget, and provide needed assistance to staff.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various internship that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Interns
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for interns.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Internship Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid internship job?
The highest-paid internship job is a general internship. General Interns earn an average salary of $61,485, which is $ 29.56 hourly.
A general intern is responsible for supporting the business operations by performing administrative and clerical duties under the supervision of a direct manager or tenured staff. Interns shadow employees from different teams to have a good grasp of the services and processes offered by the company, understanding each group’s functions, and analyzing how the business works for the clients. They also attend and write meeting reports, assist with organizing programs and events, and conduct data processing procedures.
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What is a good salary for an internship?
A good salary for an internship is $35,254 or more. The average internship salary is $35,254, so those making at least $35,254 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average internship salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as an internship, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $35,254 average, as this includes all interns of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Internship jobs pay well?
No, internship jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some internship jobs pay better than others, but the average internship salary of $35,254 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many internship jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of interns earning $0 a year on average.
Interns’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as an internship. Do your research on the going rate for an internship in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do interns get paid the most?
Interns get paid the most in Alaska. In Alaska, interns earn an average annual salary of $44,084 and an average hourly wage of $21.19.
Following AK, the states with the highest-paid interns are Connecticut, North Dakota, and Rhode Island, with average annual salaries of $42,560, $39,028, and $39,577 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid internship salaries are:
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San Francisco, CA – $43,161
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Seattle, WA – $42,657
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Washington, DC – $39,684
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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.
