Best cities for a graduate internship
The best cities for graduate interns are Milwaukee, WI, Virginia Beach, VA, and Indianapolis, IN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for graduate interns vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for graduate interns in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a graduate internship or considering a move, this list of the best cities for graduate interns to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for graduate interns. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a graduate internship. While the absolute best city for graduate interns is Milwaukee, WI, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for graduate interns in 2024.
If you're looking for a graduate internship job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for graduate interns in 2026
1. Milwaukee, WI
Graduate internship jobs in MilwaukeeTotal graduate internship jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $60,813 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 2.07 2. Virginia Beach, VA
Graduate internship jobs in Virginia BeachTotal graduate internship jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $64,630 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 6.97 3. Indianapolis, IN
Graduate internship jobs in IndianapolisTotal graduate internship jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $60,225 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 1.04 4. Boston, MA
Graduate internship jobs in BostonTotal graduate internship jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $69,464 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 0.90 5. Madison, WI
Graduate internship jobs in MadisonTotal graduate internship jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $60,096 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 0.96 6. Albuquerque, NM
Graduate internship jobs in AlbuquerqueTotal graduate internship jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $60,493 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 3.49 7. Corpus Christi, TX
Graduate internship jobs in Corpus ChristiTotal graduate internship jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $56,259 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 5.10 8. Oakland, CA
Graduate internship jobs in OaklandTotal graduate internship jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $65,258 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location quotient: 6.09 9. Philadelphia, PA
Graduate internship jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal graduate internship jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $58,861 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 0.72 10. Fort Wayne, IN
Graduate internship jobs in Fort WayneTotal graduate internship jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $61,789 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for graduate interns
- Milwaukee, WI
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Boston, MA
- Madison, WI
- Albuquerque, NM
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Oakland, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Fort Wayne, IN
Detailed list of the best cities for a graduate internship
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,813 | $34,000 | 595,047 | 7 |
| 2 | Virginia Beach, VA | $64,630 | $34,000 | 452,602 | 8 |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | $60,225 | $34,000 | 855,164 | 7 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $69,464 | $34,000 | 673,184 | 11 |
| 5 | Madison, WI | $60,096 | $34,000 | 252,551 | 3 |
| 6 | Albuquerque, NM | $60,493 | $36,000 | 559,277 | 8 |
| 7 | Corpus Christi, TX | $56,259 | $34,000 | 325,733 | 2 |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $65,258 | $37,000 | 420,005 | 10 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,861 | $30,000 | 1,567,872 | 6 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne, IN | $61,789 | $34,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 11 | Fresno, CA | $64,196 | $37,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $63,974 | $35,000 | 704,352 | 15 |
| 13 | Portland, OR | $60,490 | $34,000 | 639,863 | 5 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $57,725 | $34,000 | 947,890 | 6 |
| 15 | Baltimore, MD | $67,442 | $35,000 | 614,664 | 6 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $57,096 | $30,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 17 | Sacramento, CA | $65,589 | $37,000 | 495,234 | 4 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $60,463 | $34,000 | 2,704,958 | 9 |
| 19 | Fort Worth, TX | $58,203 | $34,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $57,327 | $34,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 21 | Columbus, OH | $54,830 | $30,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 22 | North Las Vegas, NV | $46,221 | $27,000 | 238,702 | 2 |
| 23 | Arlington, TX | $58,167 | $34,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 24 | Irving, TX | $58,157 | $34,000 | 238,289 | 1 |
| 25 | Winston-Salem, NC | $48,063 | $27,000 | 242,203 | 2 |
| 26 | Bakersfield, CA | $63,107 | $37,000 | 376,380 | 1 |
| 27 | Raleigh, NC | $48,674 | $27,000 | 458,880 | 7 |
| 28 | Dallas, TX | $58,130 | $34,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 29 | Plano, TX | $58,130 | $34,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 30 | Durham, NC | $48,727 | $27,000 | 263,016 | 4 |
| 31 | Garland, TX | $58,115 | $34,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 32 | New York, NY | $64,385 | $32,000 | 8,537,673 | 55 |
| 33 | Toledo, OH | $55,453 | $30,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 34 | Pittsburgh, PA | $56,416 | $30,000 | 303,625 | 1 |
| 35 | Norfolk, VA | $64,579 | $34,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 36 | Chesapeake, VA | $64,345 | $34,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 37 | Houston, TX | $57,304 | $34,000 | 2,303,482 | 3 |
| 38 | Glendale, AZ | $45,505 | $27,000 | 245,895 | 3 |
| 39 | Lubbock, TX | $58,901 | $35,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 40 | Mesa, AZ | $45,406 | $27,000 | 484,587 | 5 |
| 41 | Anchorage, AK | $63,669 | $36,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 42 | El Paso, TX | $58,834 | $35,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 43 | Las Vegas, NV | $46,266 | $27,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 44 | Los Angeles, CA | $62,214 | $37,000 | 3,976,322 | 12 |
| 45 | Newark, NJ | $55,537 | $28,000 | 281,764 | 8 |
| 46 | San Francisco, CA | $65,302 | $37,000 | 870,887 | 7 |
| 47 | Buffalo, NY | $62,786 | $32,000 | 256,902 | 1 |
| 48 | Phoenix, AZ | $45,510 | $27,000 | 1,615,017 | 17 |
| 49 | Memphis, TN | $47,316 | $28,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 50 | Cincinnati, OH | $53,089 | $30,000 | 298,800 | - |
Highest paying cities for graduate interns
| Rank | City | Avg. graduate internship salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $69,464 |
| 2 | Towson, MD | $67,561 |
| 3 | Folsom, CA | $65,549 |
| 4 | Virginia Beach, VA | $64,630 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $64,385 |
| 6 | Federal Way, WA | $63,984 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,813 |
| 8 | Hillsboro, OR | $60,715 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $60,493 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $60,463 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $60,225 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,861 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $57,725 |
| 14 | Jersey City, NJ | $55,544 |
| 15 | Washington, DC | $52,299 |
| 16 | Flint, MI | $52,081 |
| 17 | Durham, NC | $48,727 |
| 18 | Las Vegas, NV | $46,266 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $46,187 |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $46,065 |
Graduate internship best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025