Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of research and development internship salaries by state as of 2026:
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Pennsylvania has the highest research and development internship salary of $46,596.
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North Carolina has the lowest research and development internship salary at $30,205.
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The national average salary for research and development interns is $38,489.
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The national hourly pay for research and development interns is $18.50.
You can read more about the specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains the most critical factor for job seekers, consistently ranking as the top priority for individuals across various demographics. Understanding how much research and development interns earn in your region is essential for making informed career decisions.
While many factors influence individual salaries, robust data on average salaries for research and development internships across the U.S. is available, broken down by state and seniority level. Acknowledging that city-specific figures may vary slightly from state averages, these data points offer a reliable framework for salary expectations.
As of 2026, Pennsylvania leads the way in offering the best salaries for research and development interns.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for research and development internship salaries:
Let’s explore how these figures were determined and present a comprehensive ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Research And Development Interns By State
| Rank | State | Average Research And Development Internship Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $46,596 | $37,000 | $57,000 |
| 2 | Maine | $45,330 | $38,000 | $52,000 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $44,216 | $37,000 | $52,000 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $42,489 | $35,000 | $50,000 |
| 5 | Virginia | $41,545 | $32,000 | $52,000 |
| 6 | Arizona | $41,333 | $33,000 | $51,000 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $40,957 | $33,000 | $49,000 |
| 8 | Oregon | $40,807 | $33,000 | $50,000 |
| 9 | Alaska | $40,573 | $36,000 | $45,000 |
| 10 | Vermont | $39,927 | $34,000 | $46,000 |
| 11 | Colorado | $39,835 | $32,000 | $48,000 |
| 12 | Nevada | $39,615 | $31,000 | $49,000 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $39,593 | $32,000 | $48,000 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $39,398 | $32,000 | $47,000 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $39,167 | $31,000 | $48,000 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $39,134 | $32,000 | $47,000 |
| 17 | Washington | $39,089 | $32,000 | $47,000 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $38,862 | $31,000 | $47,000 |
| 19 | Indiana | $38,607 | $31,000 | $47,000 |
| 20 | Idaho | $38,546 | $31,000 | $47,000 |
| 21 | Texas | $38,348 | $30,000 | $48,000 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $38,107 | $33,000 | $43,000 |
| 23 | Illinois | $37,978 | $30,000 | $46,000 |
| 24 | Missouri | $37,933 | $30,000 | $46,000 |
| 25 | Michigan | $37,133 | $30,000 | $45,000 |
| 26 | California | $36,511 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 27 | Montana | $36,456 | $30,000 | $43,000 |
| 28 | Ohio | $36,298 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 29 | Iowa | $36,085 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 30 | New York | $36,017 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 31 | Maryland | $35,940 | $28,000 | $45,000 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $35,913 | $29,000 | $43,000 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $35,666 | $29,000 | $43,000 |
| 34 | Kansas | $35,534 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $35,447 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 36 | Delaware | $35,332 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $35,317 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 38 | Utah | $35,037 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 39 | Georgia | $34,995 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $34,537 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $33,936 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $33,896 | $26,000 | $43,000 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $33,682 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $33,274 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $32,801 | $25,000 | $41,000 |
| 46 | Alabama | $32,458 | $25,000 | $41,000 |
| 47 | Florida | $31,996 | $24,000 | $41,000 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $30,745 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $30,540 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $30,205 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
Methodology: Research And Development Internship Salary By State
To analyze research and development 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). This data is supplemented with actual salaries listed in job postings. Our data science team calculates a weighted average of these inputs to derive the average pay for research and development interns by state.
We ranked every state based on the average annual salary data for research and development interns, with the state offering the highest salary taking the top position.
Research And Development Internship Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for research and development interns?
The highest-paid state for research and development interns is Pennsylvania, with an average salary of $46,596 per year.
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What city pays research and development interns the most?
Easton, PA pays research and development interns the most, with an average salary of $46,624 per year.
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What is the worst state for research and development interns?
The lowest-paying state for research and development interns is North Carolina, with an average salary of $30,205 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.
