Best cities for a law internship
The best cities for law interns are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for law interns vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for law interns in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a law internship or considering a move, this list of the best cities for law interns to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for law interns. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a law internship. While the absolute best city for law interns is Washington, DC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for law interns in 2024.
If you're looking for a law internship job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for law interns in 2025
1. Washington, DC
Total law internship jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $84,589 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 0.97 2. New York, NY
Total law internship jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $73,108 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 0.57 3. Boston, MA
Total law internship jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $69,699 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 0.78 4. Philadelphia, PA
Total law internship jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $45,408 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 0.77 5. Brookhaven, NY
Total law internship jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $74,157 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Sacramento, CA
Total law internship jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $53,211 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 0.90 7. Islip, NY
Total law internship jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $73,873 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Chicago, IL
Total law internship jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $48,100 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 0.38 9. Oyster Bay, NY
Total law internship jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $73,689 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Hempstead, NY
Total law internship jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $73,387 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for law interns
- Washington, DC
- New York, NY
- Boston, MA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Brookhaven, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- Islip, NY
- Chicago, IL
- Oyster Bay, NY
- Hempstead, NY
- (3 law internship jobs)
- (10 law internship jobs)
- (3 law internship jobs)
- (2 law internship jobs)
- (0 law internship jobs)
- (1 law internship jobs)
- (0 law internship jobs)
- (2 law internship jobs)
- (0 law internship jobs)
- (0 law internship jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a law internship
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $84,589 | $47,000 | 681,170 | 3 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $73,108 | $41,000 | 8,537,673 | 10 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $69,699 | $39,000 | 673,184 | 3 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,408 | $25,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 5 | Brookhaven, NY | $74,157 | $41,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $53,211 | $32,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 7 | Islip, NY | $73,873 | $41,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $48,100 | $28,000 | 2,704,958 | 2 |
| 9 | Oyster Bay, NY | $73,689 | $41,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 10 | Hempstead, NY | $73,387 | $41,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $42,936 | $24,000 | 614,664 | 3 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $40,618 | $24,000 | 302,398 | 1 |
| 13 | Buffalo, NY | $68,249 | $38,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | $52,871 | $32,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 15 | Reno, NV | $48,873 | $29,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 16 | Seattle, WA | $50,310 | $31,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $42,042 | $24,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 18 | Kansas City, MO | $35,742 | $23,000 | 481,420 | 4 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $43,398 | $27,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 20 | North Las Vegas, NV | $43,301 | $27,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 21 | Toledo, OH | $40,364 | $23,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 22 | Henderson, NV | $42,978 | $27,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 23 | Pittsburgh, PA | $40,148 | $22,000 | 303,625 | 1 |
| 24 | Oakland, CA | $52,745 | $32,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 25 | Stockton, CA | $52,447 | $32,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 26 | Fremont, CA | $52,305 | $32,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 27 | Denver, CO | $38,476 | $25,000 | 693,060 | 5 |
| 28 | Nashville, TN | $32,576 | $21,000 | 660,388 | 1 |
| 29 | Detroit, MI | $40,032 | $23,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 30 | San Jose, CA | $51,961 | $31,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 31 | Columbus, OH | $37,626 | $22,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 32 | Los Angeles, CA | $44,623 | $28,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 33 | Fresno, CA | $50,177 | $30,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 34 | Jersey City, NJ | $46,451 | $26,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 35 | Newark, NJ | $46,403 | $26,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 36 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $44,243 | $36,000 | 351,792 | 1 |
| 37 | Long Beach, CA | $44,085 | $28,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 38 | Minneapolis, MN | $40,545 | $24,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 39 | Anaheim, CA | $44,048 | $28,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 40 | Riverside, CA | $43,941 | $28,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 41 | Bakersfield, CA | $47,753 | $29,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 42 | Santa Ana, CA | $43,900 | $28,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 43 | Cincinnati, OH | $33,336 | $20,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 44 | Irvine, CA | $43,776 | $28,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 45 | Saint Louis, MO | $36,208 | $23,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 46 | San Diego, CA | $42,765 | $28,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 47 | Virginia Beach, VA | $38,610 | $21,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 48 | Norfolk, VA | $38,354 | $21,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 49 | Chula Vista, CA | $42,634 | $28,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 50 | Memphis, TN | $31,492 | $21,000 | 652,717 | - |
Highest paying cities for law interns
| Rank | City | Avg. law internship salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $84,589 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $52,871 |
| 3 | Olympia, WA | $50,608 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,408 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $42,936 |
| 6 | Eden Prairie, MN | $40,232 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $38,476 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $35,742 |
| 9 | Bend, OR | $33,672 |
| 10 | Waukesha, WI | $29,577 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $26,118 |
| 12 | Alpharetta, GA | $24,365 |











