How to hire an information technology internship

How to hire an information technology internship, step by step

Here's a step-by-step information technology internship hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an information technology internship job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new information technology internship
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an information technology internship do?

Post an information technology internship job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an information technology internship, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An information technology internship's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, information technology interns from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of information technology interns and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Information Technology Internship	Description	Hourly rate
   Information Technology Internship	Computer support specialists provide help and advice to people and organizations using computer software or equipment. Some, called computer network support specialists, support information technology (IT) employees within their organization... Show more	$12-22
   Student Technician	A student technician is responsible for assisting the school personnel and faculty on utilizing class technologies and other learning equipment. Student technicians accept school requests for setting-up audio-visual equipment during school events, class presentations, and related technical support services... Show more	$7-24
   Computer Science Internship	A computer science intern is responsible for supporting the technology team of an organization in designing computer systems, modifying networks, and resolving technical issues. Computer science interns observe the technical processes of tenured staff, shadow operations daily, and recommend strategies to improve efficiency and productivity according to business requirements and functions... Show more	$13-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Java
   • Customer Service
   • Python
   • Troubleshoot
   • C++
   • Data Entry
   • Technical Support
   • Phone Calls
   • JavaScript
   • Work Ethic
   • SQL Server
   • Data Analysis
   • HTML
   • Linux

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage internal company email software Linux programming to include making and changing file directories, installing programs via terminal command prompt.
   • Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.
   • Diagnose and resolve network issues; verify IP addresses for network connectivity.
   • Contact hundreds of employees to assist with computer replacements using VMWare.
   • Used VMware to expand virtual servers in addition to providing backup snapshots.
   • Distribute and install new desktop hardware/software, switches, and printers throughout classrooms.

   More information technology internship duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the information technology internship job description is a good way to get more applicants. An information technology internship salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an information technology internship in Mississippi may be lower than in Hawaii, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level information technology internship. Additionally, an information technology internship with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average information technology internship salary

   $35,342yearly

   $16.99 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level information technology internship salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average information technology internship salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$42,729	$21
   2	Missouri	$37,696	$18
   3	Texas	$36,908	$18
   4	District of Columbia	$36,535	$18
   5	Illinois	$36,170	$17
   6	New York	$36,135	$17
   7	Georgia	$35,947	$17
   8	Minnesota	$35,924	$17
   9	Colorado	$35,569	$17
   10	Alabama	$35,463	$17
   11	Florida	$35,263	$17
   12	Wisconsin	$35,117	$17
   13	Massachusetts	$35,100	$17
   14	Maryland	$34,823	$17
   15	Ohio	$33,883	$16
   16	Nebraska	$33,749	$16
   17	Washington	$33,589	$16
   18	Arizona	$33,526	$16
   19	Pennsylvania	$33,273	$16
   20	North Carolina	$33,223	$16

   Average information technology internship salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	AlixPartners	$59,684	$28.69	2
   2	Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research	$55,579	$26.72	2
   3	Amphenol	$53,240	$25.60	4
   4	HKS Architects Inc.	$50,740	$24.39	12
   5	Regis College	$49,900	$23.99	2
   6	University of California-Berkeley	$49,076	$23.59	1
   7	Danaher	$48,708	$23.42	21
   8	EnergyUnited	$47,708	$22.94
   9	Allianz Life	$47,477	$22.83	1
   10	Oracle	$47,277	$22.73	3,489
   11	Milliman	$46,873	$22.54	3
   12	Central Lakes College	$44,918	$21.60
   13	Long Island Plastic Surgical Group	$44,320	$21.31
   14	SMMA	$44,015	$21.16
   15	USAA	$43,945	$21.13	3
   16	Newpark	$43,927	$21.12
   17	Sidley Austin	$43,731	$21.02	10
   18	Mayo Clinic	$43,466	$20.90	51
   19	Patten Cat	$42,839	$20.60
   20	SWFcontract	$42,606	$20.48	5

4. Writing an information technology internship job description

   A job description for an information technology internship role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an information technology internship job description:

   Information technology internship job description example

   The future is what you make it.
   
   When you join Honeywell, you become a member of our global team of thinkers, innovators, dreamers and doers who make the things that make the future. That means changing the way we fly, fueling jets in an eco-friendly way, keeping buildings smart and safe and even making it possible to breathe on Mars.
   
   Honeywell is actively changing how the world works through innovation across aerospace and defense, building technologies, safety and productivity solutions, and performance materials. Our 110,000 employees enjoy access to dynamic career opportunities across different fields and industries in almost 1,000 locations around the world. Check out Honeywell.com/future to learn how we're making the future, from quantum computing to flying taxis.
   
   Are you ready to help us make the future?
   
   In the role of IT Business Systems Analyst Intern, in our Future IT Leaders program you will be fully integrated into day-to-day operations of a team focused on the area of IT that aligns with your knowledge, skills, interests, goals, and overall career objectives. You will be working assignments with real business impact, learning how to leverage contemporary technologies to attain business results, gaining relevant work experience, interacting with multiple IT stakeholders including IT leadership, and building your knowledge of how to be successful in Honeywell's complex work environment. Additionally, you will join our community of diverse, early-career, IT professionals and former interns who will share their experiences, offer guidance, and provide mentorship throughout the summer.
   
   Position Overview:
   
   + Meet with decision makers, system owners, and end-users to define business requirements
   
   + Conduct research on software products and solutions to make quality IT recommendations
   
   + Participate in design sessions, prototyping solutions for enhancing IT business processes
   
   Locations available across the US including: Charlotte, NC; Houston, TX; Phoenix, AZ, Atlanta, GA, Tempe, AZ.
   
   YOU MUST HAVE:
   
   + Pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Management Information Systems, Business Analytics, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Data Science/ Analytics, Statistics User Experience Design, or a similar field of study from an accredited college or university
   
   + Applicants for employment for this position must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States and with Honeywell. (i.e., H1-B visa, F-1 visa (OPT), TN visa or any other non-immigrant status)
   
   + Must attain a Bachelor's or Master's degree between December 2023 and August 2024
   
   WE VALUE:
   
   + Passion for using, developing, analyzing, and learning about new technologies
   
   + Foundational business acumen and desire to improve your business knowledge
   
   HONEYWELLURNAM
   
   Honeywell is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, religion, or veteran status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right information technology internship for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your information technology internship job on Zippia to find and recruit information technology internship candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit information technology interns, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview information technology internship candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new information technology internship

   Once you've found the information technology internship candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new information technology internship. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an information technology internship?