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Best states for a research internship
Quoted expert
David Woodward
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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for research interns? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for research internship jobs.Although there are abundant research internship jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the Midwest. New Jersey is the best state in the country for research internship jobs.
In order to get you the best states for research interns, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a research internship, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for research interns in 2025
1. New Jersey
Total research internship jobs: 1,403 Average annual salary: $58,529 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
2. Massachusetts
Total research internship jobs: 2,347 Average annual salary: $50,322 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.8
3. Delaware
Total research internship jobs: 268 Average annual salary: $48,614 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
4. Washington
Total research internship jobs: 1,135 Average annual salary: $55,734 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
5. California
Total research internship jobs: 5,381 Average annual salary: $53,525 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
6. Maine
Total research internship jobs: 280 Average annual salary: $44,911 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.49
7. Rhode Island
Total research internship jobs: 290 Average annual salary: $45,218 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.68
8. Alaska
Total research internship jobs: 145 Average annual salary: $47,793 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
9. Vermont
Total research internship jobs: 236 Average annual salary: $43,399 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 2.16
10. New York
Total research internship jobs: 1,781 Average annual salary: $50,519 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
Research internship jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a research internship
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a research internship
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $58,529 | $36,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,403 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $50,322 | $32,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,347 |
| 3 | Delaware | $48,614 | $30,000 | 961,939 | 268 |
| 4 | Washington | $55,734 | $36,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,135 |
| 5 | California | $53,525 | $33,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,381 |
| 6 | Maine | $44,911 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 280 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $45,218 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 290 |
| 8 | Alaska | $47,793 | $33,000 | 739,795 | 145 |
| 9 | Vermont | $43,399 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 236 |
| 10 | New York | $50,519 | $31,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,781 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $46,388 | $29,000 | 3,588,184 | 517 |
| 12 | Texas | $49,418 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,250 |
| 13 | Oregon | $43,501 | $28,000 | 4,142,776 | 862 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $43,143 | $27,000 | 1,342,795 | 333 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $42,207 | $26,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,969 |
| 16 | Illinois | $45,715 | $29,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,572 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $42,709 | $27,000 | 1,815,857 | 226 |
| 18 | Virginia | $47,031 | $29,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,132 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $45,668 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 242 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $40,208 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 952 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $40,843 | $26,000 | 5,795,483 | 634 |
| 22 | Arizona | $40,984 | $26,000 | 7,016,270 | 702 |
| 23 | Michigan | $36,996 | $23,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,198 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $39,360 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 157 |
| 25 | Colorado | $40,296 | $27,000 | 5,607,154 | 821 |
| 26 | Idaho | $35,316 | $23,000 | 1,716,943 | 321 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $38,192 | $25,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,178 |
| 28 | Maryland | $41,626 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 899 |
| 29 | Iowa | $36,447 | $24,000 | 3,145,711 | 451 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $33,087 | $22,000 | 869,666 | 224 |
| 31 | Ohio | $36,975 | $23,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,083 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $34,997 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 313 |
| 33 | Nevada | $37,150 | $23,000 | 2,998,039 | 219 |
| 34 | Missouri | $35,563 | $23,000 | 6,113,532 | 703 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $34,261 | $23,000 | 3,930,864 | 350 |
| 36 | Utah | $33,440 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 484 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $33,362 | $22,000 | 6,715,984 | 761 |
| 38 | Florida | $35,747 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,721 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $34,354 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 403 |
| 40 | Georgia | $35,440 | $23,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,075 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $31,953 | $20,000 | 2,088,070 | 324 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $24,108 | $16,000 | 579,315 | 165 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $29,727 | $20,000 | 1,920,076 | 385 |
| 44 | Montana | $29,118 | $19,000 | 1,050,493 | 222 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $28,981 | $19,000 | 755,393 | 167 |
| 46 | Indiana | $32,560 | $21,000 | 6,666,818 | 695 |
| 47 | Kansas | $31,388 | $21,000 | 2,913,123 | 353 |
| 48 | Alabama | $32,630 | $21,000 | 4,874,747 | 339 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $29,203 | $19,000 | 2,984,100 | 276 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $31,582 | $21,000 | 5,024,369 | 340 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $30,711 | $20,000 | 4,684,333 | 304 |
Highest paying states for research interns
| Rank | State | Avg. Research Internship Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $58,529 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $50,322 |
| 3 | Delaware | $48,614 |
| 4 | Washington | $55,734 |
| 5 | California | $53,525 |
| 6 | Maine | $44,911 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $45,218 |
| 8 | Alaska | $47,793 |
| 9 | Vermont | $43,399 |
| 10 | New York | $50,519 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $46,388 |
| 12 | Texas | $49,418 |
| 13 | Oregon | $43,501 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $43,143 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $42,207 |
| 16 | Illinois | $45,715 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $42,709 |
| 18 | Virginia | $47,031 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $45,668 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $40,208 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $40,843 |
| 22 | Arizona | $40,984 |
| 23 | Michigan | $36,996 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $39,360 |
| 25 | Colorado | $40,296 |
| 26 | Idaho | $35,316 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $38,192 |
| 28 | Maryland | $41,626 |
| 29 | Iowa | $36,447 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $33,087 |
| 31 | Ohio | $36,975 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $34,997 |
| 33 | Nevada | $37,150 |
| 34 | Missouri | $35,563 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $34,261 |
| 36 | Utah | $33,440 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $33,362 |
| 38 | Florida | $35,747 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $34,354 |
| 40 | Georgia | $35,440 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $31,953 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $24,108 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $29,727 |
| 44 | Montana | $29,118 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $28,981 |
| 46 | Indiana | $32,560 |
| 47 | Kansas | $31,388 |
| 48 | Alabama | $32,630 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $29,203 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $31,582 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $30,711 |
Expert opinions on the best states for research interns
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for research internships to find work opportunities?
David Woodward
Director, Museum Studies Program, University of Minnesota Duluth
While the traditional path to employment in History has been through education licensure (secondary education) or through graduate degrees to become university faculty, most historians and heritage professionals are employed outside of academia. Prior to COVID 19, the field of public History was expanding. Public History covers museums, historic site management, historic preservation and compliance, and heritage interpretation. Many of our graduates over the past couple of years have found positions with local and regional museums and historical societies; others have found employment in historic preservation.
The preservation industry revolves around certain local, state, and federal laws that protect heritage and historic sites. The most comprehensive of these is the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. There are also state and local ordinances that also address historic preservation. Federal, state, and local governments, along with private developers, often enlist historians and public History professionals to help comply with these regulations. Most large infrastructure projects (roads, mines, pipelines, energy development) have a historic preservation component.
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Updated January 8, 2025