Best cities for an architectural internship
The best cities for architectural interns are Chicago, IL, Boston, MA, and New York, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for architectural interns vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for architectural interns in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an architectural internship or considering a move, this list of the best cities for architectural interns to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for architectural interns. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an architectural internship. While the absolute best city for architectural interns is Chicago, IL, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for architectural interns in 2024.
If you're looking for an architectural internship job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for architectural interns in 2026
1. Chicago, IL
Total architectural internship jobs: 78 Average annual salary: $58,518 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 27.54 2. Boston, MA
Total architectural internship jobs: 91 Average annual salary: $60,603 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 10.37 3. New York, NY
Total architectural internship jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $60,958 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 19.26 4. Lexington, KY
Total architectural internship jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $54,582 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location quotient: 11.79 5. Tucson, AZ
Total architectural internship jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $58,001 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 6.49 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total architectural internship jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $55,756 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 8.94 7. Tulsa, OK
Total architectural internship jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $50,961 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 12.76 8. Madison, WI
Total architectural internship jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $56,239 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location quotient: 8.09 9. Kansas City, MO
Total architectural internship jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $53,643 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 22.29 10. Oklahoma City, OK
Total architectural internship jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $51,051 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 11.57
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Best cities for architectural interns
- Chicago, IL
- Boston, MA
- New York, NY
- Lexington, KY
- Tucson, AZ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Tulsa, OK
- Madison, WI
- Kansas City, MO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- (78 architectural internship jobs)
- (91 architectural internship jobs)
- (5 architectural internship jobs)
- (9 architectural internship jobs)
- (9 architectural internship jobs)
- (53 architectural internship jobs)
- (15 architectural internship jobs)
- (18 architectural internship jobs)
- (58 architectural internship jobs)
- (29 architectural internship jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an architectural internship
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $58,518 | $45,000 | 2,704,958 | 78 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $60,603 | $45,000 | 673,184 | 91 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $60,958 | $45,000 | 8,537,673 | 5 |
| 4 | Lexington, KY | $54,582 | $42,000 | 318,449 | 9 |
| 5 | Tucson, AZ | $58,001 | $45,000 | 530,706 | 9 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $55,756 | $41,000 | 1,567,872 | 53 |
| 7 | Tulsa, OK | $50,961 | $40,000 | 403,090 | 15 |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $56,239 | $43,000 | 252,551 | 18 |
| 9 | Kansas City, MO | $53,643 | $42,000 | 481,420 | 58 |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | $51,051 | $40,000 | 638,367 | 29 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $58,570 | $45,000 | 1,615,017 | 19 |
| 12 | Wichita, KS | $52,973 | $41,000 | 389,902 | 9 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | $53,492 | $40,000 | 303,625 | 19 |
| 14 | Dallas, TX | $51,128 | $40,000 | 1,317,929 | 242 |
| 15 | Henderson, NV | $52,341 | $40,000 | 292,969 | 3 |
| 16 | Scottsdale, AZ | $58,551 | $45,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 17 | Lubbock, TX | $51,869 | $40,000 | 252,506 | 4 |
| 18 | Glendale, AZ | $58,580 | $45,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 19 | Cincinnati, OH | $49,555 | $38,000 | 298,800 | 14 |
| 20 | Nashville, TN | $49,508 | $38,000 | 660,388 | 14 |
| 21 | Chandler, AZ | $58,463 | $45,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 22 | Mesa, AZ | $58,463 | $45,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 23 | Saint Louis, MO | $53,415 | $41,000 | 311,404 | 32 |
| 24 | Oakland, CA | $58,987 | $45,000 | 420,005 | 26 |
| 25 | Gilbert, AZ | $58,447 | $45,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 26 | Portland, OR | $56,271 | $44,000 | 639,863 | 48 |
| 27 | Baltimore, MD | $60,770 | $45,000 | 614,664 | 39 |
| 28 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,395 | $40,000 | 632,912 | 16 |
| 29 | Cleveland, OH | $52,225 | $39,000 | 385,809 | 8 |
| 30 | Seattle, WA | $57,872 | $46,000 | 704,352 | 119 |
| 31 | Atlanta, GA | $49,816 | $38,000 | 472,522 | 179 |
| 32 | San Francisco, CA | $59,017 | $45,000 | 870,887 | 150 |
| 33 | Columbus, OH | $50,528 | $38,000 | 860,090 | 10 |
| 34 | Albuquerque, NM | $50,311 | $39,000 | 559,277 | 28 |
| 35 | Los Angeles, CA | $58,059 | $45,000 | 3,976,322 | 198 |
| 36 | Milwaukee, WI | $56,711 | $44,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 37 | San Antonio, TX | $51,760 | $40,000 | 1,492,510 | 23 |
| 38 | Memphis, TN | $49,404 | $38,000 | 652,717 | 5 |
| 39 | Arlington, TX | $51,177 | $40,000 | 392,772 | 5 |
| 40 | Houston, TX | $51,203 | $39,000 | 2,303,482 | 150 |
| 41 | Winston-Salem, NC | $50,494 | $38,000 | 242,203 | 4 |
| 42 | Fort Worth, TX | $51,207 | $40,000 | 854,113 | 14 |
| 43 | Washington, DC | $63,106 | $47,000 | 681,170 | 135 |
| 44 | Newark, NJ | $63,375 | $47,000 | 281,764 | 3 |
| 45 | Louisville, KY | $54,470 | $42,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 46 | Raleigh, NC | $50,841 | $38,000 | 458,880 | 15 |
| 47 | Brookhaven, NY | $61,296 | $45,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 48 | Durham, NC | $50,852 | $38,000 | 263,016 | 9 |
| 49 | Islip, NY | $61,200 | $45,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 50 | Oyster Bay, NY | $61,123 | $45,000 | 293,214 | - |
Highest paying cities for architectural interns
| Rank | City | Avg. architectural internship salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $63,106 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $60,958 |
| 3 | Towson, MD | $60,860 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $60,603 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $59,017 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $58,570 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $58,518 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,872 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $56,271 |
| 10 | Madison, WI | $56,239 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $55,756 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $54,821 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $53,643 |
| 14 | Salt Lake City, UT | $53,427 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,395 |
| 16 | San Antonio, TX | $51,760 |
| 17 | Oklahoma City, OK | $51,051 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $50,841 |
| 19 | Norfolk, VA | $50,800 |
| 20 | Coral Gables, FL | $50,750 |
Architectural internship best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025