Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Government relations internship salary
Average government relations internship salary
$16.67
Understanding Government Relations Internships
A government relations internship serves as a critical entry point for individuals looking to engage in public policy and advocacy. Interns typically assist in research, communication, and outreach efforts, gaining practical experience while pursuing their educational goals. According to recent data, the average salary for a government relations intern is $34,678 per year, translating to about $17 per hour. This compensation can vary based on geographic location, industry, and the intern's experience level.
Salary by State
The salary for government relations interns varies significantly by state. For example, states like California and New York tend to offer higher wages due to the cost of living and the concentration of government-related activities. Interns in these regions can expect to earn upwards of $40,000 annually.
Potential Career Paths
Beyond immediate earnings, a government relations internship can lead to various career opportunities in public affairs, lobbying, and policy analysis. Completing such an internship not only bolsters your resume but also expands your professional network, paving the way for future employment in government or nonprofit sectors.
Let Zippia find your next government relations internship job
Let Zippia find your next government relations internship job
Where can a Government Relations Internship earn more?
Average government relations internship salary by state
The highest-paying states for government relations interns are Washington, Alaska, and Minnesota. The lowest average government relations internship salary states are Louisiana, New Mexico, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for government relations interns
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $40,014 | $19.24 |
| 2 | Alaska | $42,042 | $20.21 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $43,276 | $20.81 |
| 4 | Oregon | $41,196 | $19.81 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $38,886 | $18.70 |
| 6 | Idaho | $37,040 | $17.81 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $41,486 | $19.95 |
| 9 | Washington | $43,303 | $20.82 |
| 10 | Arkansas | $34,998 | $16.83 |
| 11 | Virginia | $40,540 | $19.49 |
| 12 | Michigan | $35,924 | $17.27 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $39,798 | $19.13 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $41,007 | $19.71 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $37,029 | $17.80 |
| 16 | Vermont | $34,220 | $16.45 |
| 17 | Delaware | $34,674 | $16.67 |
| 18 | New York | $39,013 | $18.76 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $32,516 | $15.63 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $35,680 | $17.15 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $33,375 | $16.05 |
| 22 | California | $39,620 | $19.05 |
| 23 | Maryland | $37,385 | $17.97 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $31,747 | $15.26 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $32,953 | $15.84 |
| 26 | Ohio | $34,118 | $16.40 |
| 27 | Nevada | $32,110 | $15.44 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $32,407 | $15.58 |
| 29 | Colorado | $33,818 | $16.26 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $32,901 | $15.82 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $32,868 | $15.80 |
| 32 | Utah | $31,050 | $14.93 |
| 33 | Arizona | $31,415 | $15.10 |
| 34 | Iowa | $30,718 | $14.77 |
| 35 | Montana | $29,832 | $14.34 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $30,622 | $14.72 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $29,315 | $14.09 |
| 38 | Maine | $28,849 | $13.87 |
| 39 | Illinois | $31,319 | $15.06 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $29,742 | $14.30 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $28,048 | $13.48 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $28,206 | $13.56 |
| 43 | Indiana | $29,002 | $13.94 |
| 44 | Kansas | $27,645 | $13.29 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $28,069 | $13.49 |
| 46 | Alabama | $27,779 | $13.36 |
| 47 | Missouri | $29,067 | $13.97 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $25,293 | $12.16 |
| 49 | Texas | $28,941 | $13.91 |
| 50 | Georgia | $28,927 | $13.91 |
| 51 | Florida | $26,947 | $12.96 |
Highest paying cities for government relations interns
The highest-paying cities for government relations interns are Washington, DC, San Bruno, CA, and Arlington, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $43,276 | $20.81 |
| 2 | San Bruno, CA | $42,166 | $20.27 |
| 3 | Arlington, VA | $41,837 | $20.11 |
| 4 | Albany, NY | $39,436 | $18.96 |
| 5 | Bismarck, ND | $39,228 | $18.86 |
| 6 | Columbia, MD | $37,349 | $17.96 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $35,910 | $17.26 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $33,853 | $16.28 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $31,540 | $15.16 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $31,500 | $15.14 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $31,017 | $14.91 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $28,973 | $13.93 |
| 13 | Fort Worth, TX | $28,964 | $13.93 |
| 14 | Indianapolis, IN | $28,737 | $13.82 |
Government relations internship salary details
A government relations internship's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $50,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a government relations internship's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $34,678 | $2,890 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying government relations internship jobs
The highest paying types of government relations interns are communications consultant, photography internship, and policy internship.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Media Coordinator | $47,471 | $3,956 | $22.82 | 35,285 |
| Account Coordinator | $39,973 | $3,331 | $19.22 | 93,480 |
| Communications Consultant | $91,455 | $7,621 | $43.97 | 29,942 |
| Communications Coordinator | $47,075 | $3,923 | $22.63 | 39,790 |
| Public Relations | $48,383 | $4,032 | $23.26 | 22,721 |
| Public Affairs Internship | $31,924 | $2,660 | $15.35 | 57,898 |
Top companies hiring government relations interns now:
Which companies pay government relations interns the most?
Government relations internship salaries at The Motley Fool and Santa Clara Valley Water District are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average government relations internship salary at companies like Visa and Guidehouse are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Motley Fool | $59,895 | $28.80 |
| 2 | Santa Clara Valley Water District | $54,734 | $26.31 |
| 3 | Visa | $53,034 | $25.50 |
| 4 | Guidehouse | $49,916 | $24.00 |
| 5 | BNSF Railway | $47,773 | $22.97 |
| 6 | Johnson Controls | $46,014 | $22.12 |
| 7 | AECOM | $45,873 | $22.05 |
| 8 | Genentech | $45,713 | $21.98 |
| 9 | Democracy Fund | $43,784 | $21.05 |
| 10 | American Enterprise Institute | $43,376 | $20.85 |
| 11 | Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc | $42,814 | $20.58 |
| 12 | Avanade | $41,895 | $20.14 |
| 13 | American Family Insurance | $37,387 | $17.97 |
| 14 | General Dynamics | $36,937 | $17.76 |
| 15 | Defenders of Wildlife | $36,323 | $17.46 |
| 16 | Bimbo Bakeries | $34,573 | $16.62 |
| 17 | West Coast Limousine | $32,751 | $15.75 |
| 18 | AGCO | $32,692 | $15.72 |
| 19 | Hitachi U.S.A. | $32,612 | $15.68 |
| 20 | ASPCA | $32,367 | $15.56 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Government Relations Internship salary by industry
The average government relations internship salary varies across industries:
- The average government relations internship salary in the media industry is $36,341, the highest of any industry.
- The average government relations internship salary in the finance industry is $36,207.
- Government relations interns in the retail industry earn an average salary of $28,152, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for government relations interns
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media | $36,341 | $17.47 |
| 2 | Non Profits | $36,207 | $17.41 |
| 3 | Professional | $35,948 | $17.28 |
| 4 | Health Care | $34,496 | $16.58 |
| 5 | Government | $33,788 | $16.24 |
| 6 | Hospitality | $32,665 | $15.70 |
| 7 | Construction | $32,475 | $15.61 |
| 8 | Retail | $28,152 | $13.53 |
High paying government relations internship jobs
Government relations internship salary trends
The average government relations internship salary has risen by $5,312 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average government relations internship earned $29,366 annually, but today, they earn $34,678 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for government relations interns over the last decade.
Compare government relations internship salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average government relations internship salary over time
Compare government relations internship salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Government relations internship salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $34,700 | $16.67 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $33,800 | $16.23 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $33,100 | $15.93 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $32,700 | $15.74 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $32,000 | $15.40 | +2.2% |
Recently added government relations internship salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TWE Global | Harvest Grower Relations Intern-Central Coast | Napa, CA | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| State of Kansas | Government Affairs Intern | Shawnee, KS | 06/27/2025 | $37,566 |
| NCJW | Government Relations & Advocacy Intern/Fellow | Washington, DC | 06/25/2025 | $37,462 |
| Hearst | Intern, Governance, Risk & Compliance | New York, NY | 06/19/2025 | $41,740 |
| Ctr Budget Policy | Fall 2025 Government Affairs Intern | Washington, DC | 06/16/2025 | $41,740 |
| Duckhorn Portfolio Inc. | Grower Relations Harvest Intern | Ione, CA | 06/16/2025 | $41,740 |
| Treasury Wine Estates | Harvest Grower Relations Intern | Napa, CA | 06/13/2025 | $41,740 |
| Port of Corpus Christi | Government Affairs Intern | Corpus Christi, TX | 06/11/2025 | $31,305 |
| Invariant | Government Relations Intern | Ione, WA | 06/01/2025 | $37,566 |
| Duckhorn Wine Company | Grower Relations Harvest Intern | Ione, CA | 05/28/2025 | $41,740 |
Government relations internship salary FAQs
Search for government relations internship jobs