Research Summary. In an extensive analysis conducted by the Zippia data science team, we compiled the latest data on student internship salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Alaska continues to lead with the highest student internship salary at $46,851
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South Carolina ranks lowest with a student internship salary of $23,304
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The national average salary for student interns is $31,256
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On average, student interns earn $15.03 per hour
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a pivotal factor for job seekers across all demographics. For many, the question is: how much do student interns earn in my area?
While individual salaries can vary, we provide solid data on average student internship salaries by state, categorized by seniority level. Even though local averages may differ, these figures offer a reliable gauge of what you might expect to earn.
Alaska retains its standing as the state with the highest average salary for student interns.
Here’s a brief overview of the top ten states for student internship salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into the data and present a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Student Interns By State
| Rank | State | Average Student Internship Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $46,851 | $37,000 | $58,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $40,309 | $27,000 | $59,000 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $40,178 | $26,000 | $60,000 |
| 4 | Washington | $38,592 | $26,000 | $55,000 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $38,235 | $25,000 | $57,000 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $37,879 | $32,000 | $43,000 |
| 7 | Maine | $36,586 | $25,000 | $52,000 |
| 8 | Vermont | $35,687 | $24,000 | $51,000 |
| 9 | California | $35,649 | $23,000 | $54,000 |
| 10 | Montana | $35,583 | $24,000 | $51,000 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $35,382 | $23,000 | $53,000 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $34,640 | $23,000 | $50,000 |
| 13 | Maryland | $34,318 | $22,000 | $51,000 |
| 14 | Oregon | $34,231 | $23,000 | $50,000 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $33,533 | $23,000 | $48,000 |
| 16 | New York | $33,177 | $21,000 | $50,000 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $32,805 | $23,000 | $46,000 |
| 18 | Arizona | $32,018 | $21,000 | $48,000 |
| 19 | Delaware | $31,006 | $20,000 | $46,000 |
| 20 | Colorado | $30,712 | $20,000 | $45,000 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $30,529 | $20,000 | $45,000 |
| 22 | Michigan | $30,514 | $20,000 | $45,000 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $30,393 | $20,000 | $44,000 |
| 24 | Nevada | $30,353 | $19,000 | $46,000 |
| 25 | Illinois | $30,274 | $20,000 | $44,000 |
| 26 | Georgia | $30,103 | $20,000 | $44,000 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $30,062 | $20,000 | $43,000 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $30,002 | $20,000 | $44,000 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $29,378 | $19,000 | $44,000 |
| 30 | Virginia | $28,560 | $19,000 | $42,000 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $28,556 | $18,000 | $43,000 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $28,426 | $19,000 | $42,000 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $27,701 | $19,000 | $40,000 |
| 34 | Idaho | $27,587 | $18,000 | $40,000 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $27,540 | $18,000 | $40,000 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $26,592 | $17,000 | $39,000 |
| 37 | Utah | $26,452 | $17,000 | $39,000 |
| 38 | Iowa | $26,200 | $17,000 | $38,000 |
| 39 | Florida | $26,162 | $17,000 | $38,000 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $26,094 | $17,000 | $38,000 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $25,903 | $17,000 | $38,000 |
| 42 | Alabama | $25,873 | $17,000 | $38,000 |
| 43 | Ohio | $25,817 | $17,000 | $38,000 |
| 44 | Texas | $25,626 | $17,000 | $38,000 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $25,087 | $16,000 | $37,000 |
| 46 | Indiana | $24,998 | $16,000 | $37,000 |
| 47 | Missouri | $24,860 | $16,000 | $36,000 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $24,828 | $16,000 | $36,000 |
| 49 | Kansas | $24,066 | $16,000 | $35,000 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $23,304 | $15,000 | $34,000 |
Methodology: Student Internship Salary By State
To accurately assess student internship compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reliable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. In addition, we incorporate real-time salary data from job listings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average to determine the average pay for student interns by state.
We organized the average annual salary data to rank each state based on the highest average salaries for student interns.
Student Internship Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for student interns?
The highest-paid state for student interns is Alaska with an average salary of $46,851 per year.
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What city pays student interns the most?
Boston, MA pays student interns the most with an average salary of $40,314 per year.
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What is the worst state for student interns?
The state with the lowest average salary for student interns is South Carolina, averaging $23,304 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.
