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Best states for an internship
Quoted expert
Michael Munger
- Rank 1 - 10
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- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and office and administrative careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to internship jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for interns.Our research shows that Alaska is the best state in the country for interns.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for interns.We found that the South is best for interns, and the Northeast is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for internship jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.
10 best states for interns in 2025
1. Alaska
Total internship jobs: 494 Average annual salary: $44,084 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 2.29
2. Connecticut
Total internship jobs: 1,340 Average annual salary: $42,560 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.57
3. North Dakota
Total internship jobs: 512 Average annual salary: $39,028 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 2.13
4. Rhode Island
Total internship jobs: 613 Average annual salary: $39,577 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 1.96
5. Wyoming
Total internship jobs: 521 Average annual salary: $37,686 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 3.37
6. Vermont
Total internship jobs: 661 Average annual salary: $37,631 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 3.34
7. Nevada
Total internship jobs: 530 Average annual salary: $39,649 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
8. New Hampshire
Total internship jobs: 750 Average annual salary: $37,368 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.66
9. Washington
Total internship jobs: 1,685 Average annual salary: $42,583 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
10. Oregon
Total internship jobs: 1,257 Average annual salary: $38,556 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
Internship jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an internship
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an internship
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $44,084 | $37,000 | 739,795 | 494 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $42,560 | $29,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,340 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $39,028 | $30,000 | 755,393 | 512 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $39,577 | $27,000 | 1,059,639 | 613 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $37,686 | $28,000 | 579,315 | 521 |
| 6 | Vermont | $37,631 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 661 |
| 7 | Nevada | $39,649 | $28,000 | 2,998,039 | 530 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $37,368 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 750 |
| 9 | Washington | $42,583 | $32,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,685 |
| 10 | Oregon | $38,556 | $28,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,257 |
| 11 | Colorado | $39,080 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,586 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $39,441 | $27,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,501 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $36,925 | $27,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,536 |
| 14 | Montana | $35,784 | $27,000 | 1,050,493 | 595 |
| 15 | California | $41,870 | $29,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,139 |
| 16 | Maine | $34,598 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 847 |
| 17 | Michigan | $34,919 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,648 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $39,701 | $27,000 | 693,972 | 513 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $36,739 | $28,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,563 |
| 20 | Idaho | $34,250 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 1,007 |
| 21 | New York | $38,599 | $26,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,111 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $33,719 | $25,000 | 1,920,076 | 844 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $35,873 | $24,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,370 |
| 24 | Arizona | $35,855 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,472 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $35,038 | $26,000 | 1,427,538 | 463 |
| 26 | Iowa | $32,963 | $24,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,220 |
| 27 | Maryland | $35,534 | $24,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,816 |
| 28 | Ohio | $34,273 | $24,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,653 |
| 29 | Illinois | $34,839 | $25,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,919 |
| 30 | Georgia | $34,939 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,992 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $35,397 | $24,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,774 |
| 32 | Utah | $32,927 | $24,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,072 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $31,204 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 589 |
| 34 | Delaware | $31,773 | $21,000 | 961,939 | 786 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $32,001 | $23,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,107 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $31,500 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 975 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $30,721 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 591 |
| 38 | Virginia | $34,636 | $24,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,083 |
| 39 | Indiana | $32,486 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,465 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $31,914 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,222 |
| 41 | Texas | $33,570 | $23,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,796 |
| 42 | Missouri | $33,182 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,161 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $31,190 | $23,000 | 3,930,864 | 844 |
| 44 | Kansas | $30,656 | $22,000 | 2,913,123 | 962 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $29,297 | $21,000 | 2,984,100 | 791 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $32,101 | $22,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,948 |
| 47 | Florida | $31,385 | $21,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,018 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $27,349 | $19,000 | 2,088,070 | 616 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $27,142 | $19,000 | 4,684,333 | 837 |
| 50 | Alabama | $27,864 | $20,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,038 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $28,391 | $20,000 | 5,024,369 | 850 |
Highest paying states for interns
| Rank | State | Avg. Internship Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $44,084 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $42,560 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $39,028 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $39,577 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $37,686 |
| 6 | Vermont | $37,631 |
| 7 | Nevada | $39,649 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $37,368 |
| 9 | Washington | $42,583 |
| 10 | Oregon | $38,556 |
| 11 | Colorado | $39,080 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $39,441 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $36,925 |
| 14 | Montana | $35,784 |
| 15 | California | $41,870 |
| 16 | Maine | $34,598 |
| 17 | Michigan | $34,919 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $39,701 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $36,739 |
| 20 | Idaho | $34,250 |
| 21 | New York | $38,599 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $33,719 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $35,873 |
| 24 | Arizona | $35,855 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $35,038 |
| 26 | Iowa | $32,963 |
| 27 | Maryland | $35,534 |
| 28 | Ohio | $34,273 |
| 29 | Illinois | $34,839 |
| 30 | Georgia | $34,939 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $35,397 |
| 32 | Utah | $32,927 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $31,204 |
| 34 | Delaware | $31,773 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $32,001 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $31,500 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $30,721 |
| 38 | Virginia | $34,636 |
| 39 | Indiana | $32,486 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $31,914 |
| 41 | Texas | $33,570 |
| 42 | Missouri | $33,182 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $31,190 |
| 44 | Kansas | $30,656 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $29,297 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $32,101 |
| 47 | Florida | $31,385 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $27,349 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $27,142 |
| 50 | Alabama | $27,864 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $28,391 |
Expert opinions on the best states for interns
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for internships to find work opportunities?
Michael Munger
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Director, PPE Program, Duke University
The best "place" to work is one with a very fast and reliable internet connection. This means that many rural areas, on top of their previous economic difficulties, are now even further behind because of lack of broadband.
Internship best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025