Engineering Internship Salary By State: Highest-Paid Engineering Interns by State [2026]
Research Summary. In 2026, the Zippia data science team conducted comprehensive research to analyze engineering internship salaries across the United States. Here are the key findings:
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California continues to lead with the highest engineering internship salary of $57,753
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Montana remains at the bottom with the lowest engineering internship salary of $32,636
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The national average salary for engineering interns is now $41,918
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The national hourly pay for engineering interns is approximately $20.15
For more information on the specific methodology, click here.
Background
Salary remains the top priority for job seekers. Regardless of demographics, understanding how much engineering interns can expect to earn in their location is crucial.
While individual salaries can vary due to factors such as experience and specific job roles, the average salaries provide a reliable benchmark. These averages offer a useful perspective on what engineering interns can anticipate earning.
As we consider the states with the highest salaries for engineering interns, California stands out as the leader.
Here’s a brief overview of the top ten states for engineering internship salaries:
Highest-Paid Engineering Interns By State
| Rank | State | Average Engineering Internship Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $57,753 | $35,000 | $94,000 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $51,985 | $31,000 | $84,000 |
| 3 | Alaska | $51,509 | $29,000 | $90,000 |
| 4 | Arizona | $50,102 | $31,000 | $80,000 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $49,735 | $40,000 | $61,000 |
| 6 | Idaho | $49,654 | $28,000 | $87,000 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $48,939 | $29,000 | $80,000 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $48,603 | $29,000 | $80,000 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $48,168 | $28,000 | $82,000 |
| 10 | Oregon | $47,392 | $26,000 | $84,000 |
| 11 | Washington | $46,925 | $25,000 | $85,000 |
| 12 | Alabama | $46,728 | $28,000 | $77,000 |
| 13 | Ohio | $45,643 | $26,000 | $78,000 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $45,585 | $27,000 | $76,000 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $45,044 | $27,000 | $72,000 |
| 16 | Nevada | $44,609 | $26,000 | $74,000 |
| 17 | Florida | $44,591 | $27,000 | $71,000 |
| 18 | Illinois | $44,532 | $25,000 | $76,000 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $44,369 | $26,000 | $74,000 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $44,053 | $25,000 | $75,000 |
| 21 | Maryland | $43,481 | $25,000 | $74,000 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $43,401 | $25,000 | $74,000 |
| 23 | Vermont | $42,938 | $26,000 | $70,000 |
| 24 | New York | $42,592 | $24,000 | $72,000 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $42,257 | $25,000 | $69,000 |
| 26 | Colorado | $42,132 | $25,000 | $68,000 |
| 27 | Missouri | $41,609 | $24,000 | $69,000 |
| 28 | Iowa | $41,556 | $24,000 | $70,000 |
| 29 | Virginia | $41,478 | $24,000 | $70,000 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $40,995 | $24,000 | $67,000 |
| 31 | Kansas | $40,108 | $24,000 | $66,000 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $39,094 | $22,000 | $68,000 |
| 33 | Texas | $38,917 | $23,000 | $63,000 |
| 34 | Georgia | $38,796 | $23,000 | $64,000 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | $38,469 | $23,000 | $63,000 |
| 36 | Utah | $38,084 | $22,000 | $64,000 |
| 37 | Delaware | $37,671 | $21,000 | $64,000 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $37,077 | $21,000 | $63,000 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $36,964 | $21,000 | $62,000 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $36,736 | $22,000 | $61,000 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $36,444 | $21,000 | $61,000 |
| 42 | Michigan | $36,316 | $20,000 | $62,000 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $36,197 | $21,000 | $61,000 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $35,827 | $20,000 | $62,000 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $35,789 | $20,000 | $61,000 |
| 46 | Maine | $35,484 | $22,000 | $57,000 |
| 47 | Indiana | $34,749 | $20,000 | $59,000 |
| 48 | Rhode Island | $34,697 | $20,000 | $57,000 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $33,420 | $19,000 | $55,000 |
| 50 | Montana | $32,636 | $18,000 | $57,000 |
Methodology: Engineering Internship Salary By State
To analyze engineering internship compensation by state, Zippia aggregated extensive data from various reliable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data was complemented by real-time salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculated a weighted average based on these metrics to determine the average pay for engineering interns by state.
All states were ranked according to their average annual salary for engineering interns, with the highest salaries listed at the top.
Engineering Internship Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for engineering interns?
The highest-paid state for engineering interns is California, boasting an average salary of $57,753 annually.
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What city pays engineering interns the most?
Washington, DC, offers the highest pay for engineering interns, with an average salary of $60,496 per year.
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What is the worst state for engineering interns?
The lowest-paying state for engineering interns is Montana, with an average salary of $32,636 annually.
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.
