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Best states for a recruiting internship
Quoted expert
Tonya Courtois
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Recruiting internship opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for recruiting interns, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for recruiting interns.In fact, our research shows that Hawaii is the best state for recruiting interns in America. The best city in America for recruiting interns with the highest pay is Seattle, WA.
The median salary for recruiting interns in Hawaii is $53,761. Compare that to the median salary in Florida of $30,102, which ranked worst for recruiting interns, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Hawaii is the best state, and Longview is the city with the highest pay for recruiting interns.
10 best states for recruiting interns in 2026
1. Hawaii
Total recruiting internship jobs: 139 Average annual salary: $53,761 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.94
2. Washington
Total recruiting internship jobs: 792 Average annual salary: $54,860 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
3. Alaska
Total recruiting internship jobs: 142 Average annual salary: $47,363 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.98
4. North Dakota
Total recruiting internship jobs: 156 Average annual salary: $42,183 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.96
5. Oregon
Total recruiting internship jobs: 483 Average annual salary: $47,379 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
6. California
Total recruiting internship jobs: 2,497 Average annual salary: $50,458 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1
7. Colorado
Total recruiting internship jobs: 483 Average annual salary: $48,095 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
8. Rhode Island
Total recruiting internship jobs: 191 Average annual salary: $38,207 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.83
9. Minnesota
Total recruiting internship jobs: 519 Average annual salary: $45,365 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
10. South Dakota
Total recruiting internship jobs: 170 Average annual salary: $36,557 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.85
Recruiting internship jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a recruiting internship
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a recruiting internship
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $53,761 | $43,000 | 1,427,538 | 139 |
| 2 | Washington | $54,860 | $39,000 | 7,405,743 | 792 |
| 3 | Alaska | $47,363 | $41,000 | 739,795 | 142 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $42,183 | $32,000 | 755,393 | 156 |
| 5 | Oregon | $47,379 | $33,000 | 4,142,776 | 483 |
| 6 | California | $50,458 | $34,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,497 |
| 7 | Colorado | $48,095 | $35,000 | 5,607,154 | 483 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $38,207 | $27,000 | 1,059,639 | 191 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $45,365 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 519 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $36,557 | $27,000 | 869,666 | 170 |
| 11 | Illinois | $42,713 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 951 |
| 12 | Nevada | $38,417 | $26,000 | 2,998,039 | 198 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $43,500 | $31,000 | 693,972 | 175 |
| 14 | Utah | $36,186 | $26,000 | 3,101,833 | 336 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $36,515 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 193 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $34,740 | $25,000 | 579,315 | 159 |
| 17 | Maryland | $40,970 | $29,000 | 6,052,177 | 573 |
| 18 | Idaho | $34,964 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 309 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $37,018 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 746 |
| 20 | Missouri | $39,173 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 374 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $37,173 | $27,000 | 5,795,483 | 437 |
| 22 | Vermont | $35,357 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 198 |
| 23 | Maine | $34,691 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 241 |
| 24 | Alabama | $36,480 | $26,000 | 4,874,747 | 305 |
| 25 | Ohio | $36,222 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 539 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $36,139 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 843 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $33,964 | $25,000 | 1,920,076 | 287 |
| 28 | Michigan | $34,466 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 797 |
| 29 | Georgia | $36,044 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 703 |
| 30 | Iowa | $34,070 | $25,000 | 3,145,711 | 366 |
| 31 | Delaware | $33,831 | $24,000 | 961,939 | 246 |
| 32 | Texas | $35,903 | $25,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,296 |
| 33 | Virginia | $36,259 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 628 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $32,542 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 289 |
| 35 | New York | $35,505 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,176 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $34,525 | $24,000 | 3,588,184 | 397 |
| 37 | Arizona | $35,090 | $24,000 | 7,016,270 | 457 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $32,626 | $23,000 | 1,342,795 | 253 |
| 39 | Massachusetts | $34,507 | $24,000 | 6,859,819 | 935 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $31,915 | $23,000 | 2,984,100 | 243 |
| 41 | Montana | $31,911 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 198 |
| 42 | Kansas | $32,525 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 294 |
| 43 | New Jersey | $33,859 | $23,000 | 9,005,644 | 751 |
| 44 | Indiana | $32,830 | $24,000 | 6,666,818 | 410 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $30,437 | $22,000 | 1,815,857 | 162 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $30,651 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 351 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $31,061 | $22,000 | 6,715,984 | 412 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $31,116 | $23,000 | 3,930,864 | 226 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $30,677 | $22,000 | 4,684,333 | 250 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $31,445 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 250 |
| 51 | Florida | $30,102 | $21,000 | 20,984,400 | 968 |
Highest paying states for recruiting interns
| Rank | State | Avg. Recruiting Internship Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $53,761 |
| 2 | Washington | $54,860 |
| 3 | Alaska | $47,363 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $42,183 |
| 5 | Oregon | $47,379 |
| 6 | California | $50,458 |
| 7 | Colorado | $48,095 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $38,207 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $45,365 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $36,557 |
| 11 | Illinois | $42,713 |
| 12 | Nevada | $38,417 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $43,500 |
| 14 | Utah | $36,186 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $36,515 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $34,740 |
| 17 | Maryland | $40,970 |
| 18 | Idaho | $34,964 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $37,018 |
| 20 | Missouri | $39,173 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $37,173 |
| 22 | Vermont | $35,357 |
| 23 | Maine | $34,691 |
| 24 | Alabama | $36,480 |
| 25 | Ohio | $36,222 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $36,139 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $33,964 |
| 28 | Michigan | $34,466 |
| 29 | Georgia | $36,044 |
| 30 | Iowa | $34,070 |
| 31 | Delaware | $33,831 |
| 32 | Texas | $35,903 |
| 33 | Virginia | $36,259 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $32,542 |
| 35 | New York | $35,505 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $34,525 |
| 37 | Arizona | $35,090 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $32,626 |
| 39 | Massachusetts | $34,507 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $31,915 |
| 41 | Montana | $31,911 |
| 42 | Kansas | $32,525 |
| 43 | New Jersey | $33,859 |
| 44 | Indiana | $32,830 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $30,437 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $30,651 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $31,061 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $31,116 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $30,677 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $31,445 |
| 51 | Florida | $30,102 |
Expert opinions on the best states for recruiting interns
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for recruiting internships to find work opportunities?
Tonya Courtois
Recruiting Manager, Emmaus Homes
Our industry provides support staff to adults who have developmental disabilities. Our entry-level employees are called Direct Support Professionals (DSPS). We, like many others in our industry, are experiencing a significant staffing crisis. This crisis has gained national attention. To close the gap we continue to encourage our state legislatures to standardize rates and pay rates that will allow us to outpace minimum wage and be competitive with other high-volume employers. My recommendation to students and recent graduates is to research mission-driven, caregiving roles in their area, specifically those for individuals with disabilities. Learn about disabilities and understand the need. Reach out to a couple of different organizations in your area and connect with them to learn more about their mission. Find a good fit and pick up some part-time hours while finishing school. At Emmaus we are very intentional in creating career paths for individuals who have a mission heart and want to do work that matters. It's not just a job but a defined career path!
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Updated January 8, 2025