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Best states for an architectural internship
Quoted expert
Clyde Eiríkur Hull
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for architectural interns? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for architectural internship jobs.Although there are abundant architectural internship jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Rhode Island is the best state in the country for architectural internship jobs.
Rhode Island is the best state for jobs for architectural interns, and Mississippi is the worst. The most common pay in Rhode Island is $60,162, while the median pay in Mississippi is $44,901.Rhode Island is the best state, and Burlington is the city with the highest pay for architectural interns.
10 best states for architectural interns in 2026
1. Rhode Island
Total architectural internship jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $60,162 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
2. North Dakota
Total architectural internship jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $58,578 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
3. Arizona
Total architectural internship jobs: 160 Average annual salary: $58,435 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
4. New Jersey
Total architectural internship jobs: 171 Average annual salary: $63,226 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
5. Vermont
Total architectural internship jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $65,137 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
6. Massachusetts
Total architectural internship jobs: 224 Average annual salary: $60,541 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
7. Illinois
Total architectural internship jobs: 261 Average annual salary: $58,372 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
8. District of Columbia
Total architectural internship jobs: 104 Average annual salary: $63,115 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 2.89
9. Washington
Total architectural internship jobs: 179 Average annual salary: $57,756 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
10. Wisconsin
Total architectural internship jobs: 101 Average annual salary: $56,726 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
Architectural internship jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an architectural internship
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an architectural internship
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $60,162 | $45,000 | 1,059,639 | 29 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $58,578 | $47,000 | 755,393 | 23 |
| 3 | Arizona | $58,435 | $45,000 | 7,016,270 | 160 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $63,226 | $47,000 | 9,005,644 | 171 |
| 5 | Vermont | $65,137 | $49,000 | 623,657 | 11 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $60,541 | $45,000 | 6,859,819 | 224 |
| 7 | Illinois | $58,372 | $45,000 | 12,802,023 | 261 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $63,115 | $47,000 | 693,972 | 104 |
| 9 | Washington | $57,756 | $46,000 | 7,405,743 | 179 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $56,726 | $44,000 | 5,795,483 | 101 |
| 11 | Oregon | $56,236 | $44,000 | 4,142,776 | 142 |
| 12 | Maryland | $60,434 | $45,000 | 6,052,177 | 146 |
| 13 | New York | $60,934 | $45,000 | 19,849,399 | 217 |
| 14 | California | $58,262 | $45,000 | 39,536,653 | 899 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $55,407 | $41,000 | 12,805,537 | 242 |
| 16 | Utah | $53,423 | $42,000 | 3,101,833 | 84 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $56,517 | $42,000 | 3,588,184 | 77 |
| 18 | Montana | $55,547 | $44,000 | 1,050,493 | 18 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $56,977 | $43,000 | 1,342,795 | 14 |
| 20 | Colorado | $54,796 | $43,000 | 5,607,154 | 157 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $56,165 | $42,000 | 1,815,857 | 6 |
| 22 | Missouri | $53,496 | $42,000 | 6,113,532 | 104 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $54,501 | $42,000 | 4,454,189 | 42 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $53,837 | $42,000 | 869,666 | 8 |
| 25 | Texas | $51,503 | $40,000 | 28,304,596 | 519 |
| 26 | Kansas | $52,872 | $41,000 | 2,913,123 | 38 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $58,196 | $50,000 | 1,427,538 | 14 |
| 28 | Nevada | $52,505 | $40,000 | 2,998,039 | 32 |
| 29 | Ohio | $51,032 | $39,000 | 11,658,609 | 157 |
| 30 | Georgia | $49,682 | $38,000 | 10,429,379 | 332 |
| 31 | Virginia | $50,887 | $38,000 | 8,470,020 | 280 |
| 32 | Delaware | $53,131 | $40,000 | 961,939 | 16 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $50,471 | $38,000 | 10,273,419 | 177 |
| 34 | Maine | $51,484 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 13 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $50,093 | $39,000 | 5,576,606 | 140 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $50,972 | $40,000 | 3,930,864 | 26 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $49,470 | $38,000 | 6,715,984 | 76 |
| 38 | Florida | $50,261 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 325 |
| 39 | Michigan | $49,385 | $37,000 | 9,962,311 | 141 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $49,544 | $39,000 | 579,315 | 8 |
| 41 | Alaska | $49,120 | $43,000 | 739,795 | 16 |
| 42 | Iowa | $49,238 | $38,000 | 3,145,711 | 47 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $48,561 | $38,000 | 3,004,279 | 29 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $50,195 | $39,000 | 2,088,070 | 19 |
| 45 | Idaho | $48,240 | $38,000 | 1,716,943 | 28 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $48,929 | $37,000 | 5,024,369 | 55 |
| 47 | Alabama | $47,986 | $37,000 | 4,874,747 | 43 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $46,039 | $36,000 | 1,920,076 | 39 |
| 49 | Indiana | $45,798 | $35,000 | 6,666,818 | 100 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $46,179 | $35,000 | 4,684,333 | 21 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $44,901 | $35,000 | 2,984,100 | 10 |
Highest paying states for architectural interns
| Rank | State | Avg. Architectural Internship Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $60,162 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $58,578 |
| 3 | Arizona | $58,435 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $63,226 |
| 5 | Vermont | $65,137 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $60,541 |
| 7 | Illinois | $58,372 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $63,115 |
| 9 | Washington | $57,756 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $56,726 |
| 11 | Oregon | $56,236 |
| 12 | Maryland | $60,434 |
| 13 | New York | $60,934 |
| 14 | California | $58,262 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $55,407 |
| 16 | Utah | $53,423 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $56,517 |
| 18 | Montana | $55,547 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $56,977 |
| 20 | Colorado | $54,796 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $56,165 |
| 22 | Missouri | $53,496 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $54,501 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $53,837 |
| 25 | Texas | $51,503 |
| 26 | Kansas | $52,872 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $58,196 |
| 28 | Nevada | $52,505 |
| 29 | Ohio | $51,032 |
| 30 | Georgia | $49,682 |
| 31 | Virginia | $50,887 |
| 32 | Delaware | $53,131 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $50,471 |
| 34 | Maine | $51,484 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $50,093 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $50,972 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $49,470 |
| 38 | Florida | $50,261 |
| 39 | Michigan | $49,385 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $49,544 |
| 41 | Alaska | $49,120 |
| 42 | Iowa | $49,238 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $48,561 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $50,195 |
| 45 | Idaho | $48,240 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $48,929 |
| 47 | Alabama | $47,986 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $46,039 |
| 49 | Indiana | $45,798 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $46,179 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $44,901 |
Expert opinions on the best states for architectural interns
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for architectural internships to find work opportunities?
Clyde Eiríkur Hull
Professor of Strategic Management, Rochester Institute of Technology
I'm told that the best cities for architects are Atlanta, Chicago, and West Palm Beach (see archinect.com), but look for the construction booms. Given trends, I'd suggest that sustainable architecture, in particular, is due to take off in a major way.
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Updated January 8, 2025