Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Trainee salary
Average trainee salary
$39,185
Understanding Trainee Salaries
The average salary for a trainee is currently $39,185 per year, translating to approximately $19 per hour. However, salaries can vary significantly based on several factors, including geography, industry, and experience level. For instance, trainees in high-demand fields such as technology and healthcare may earn more than their counterparts in other sectors.
Where Trainees Earn the Most
In terms of geographic location, some states offer higher salaries for trainees. For example, states like California and New York often feature elevated pay scales due to the cost of living and demand for skilled workers. Exploring salary averages by state can provide valuable insights into potential earnings and job opportunities.
Industry Insights
Additionally, certain industries are known for offering competitive salaries. Fields like finance, information technology, and engineering frequently rank among the highest-paying sectors for trainee positions. Understanding these dynamics helps job seekers make informed choices regarding their career paths.
Let Zippia find your next trainee job
Let Zippia find your next trainee job
Where can a Trainee earn more?
Trainee salary estimates from across the web
Average trainee salary by state
The average trainee salary in Hawaii, Alaska, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average trainee salary states are West Virginia, Florida, and New Mexico.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for trainees
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $60,970 | $29.31 |
| 2 | Alaska | $60,919 | $29.29 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $42,735 | $20.55 |
| 4 | Montana | $41,985 | $20.19 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $43,466 | $20.90 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $39,375 | $18.93 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $39,471 | $18.98 |
| 8 | Ohio | $39,581 | $19.03 |
| 9 | Iowa | $40,293 | $19.37 |
| 10 | Alabama | $38,915 | $18.71 |
| 11 | Oregon | $43,768 | $21.04 |
| 12 | South Carolina | $37,741 | $18.14 |
| 13 | California | $44,846 | $21.56 |
| 14 | Illinois | $39,523 | $19.00 |
| 15 | Nevada | $40,979 | $19.70 |
| 16 | Washington | $42,400 | $20.38 |
| 17 | Arizona | $40,583 | $19.51 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $38,145 | $18.34 |
| 19 | New York | $40,597 | $19.52 |
| 20 | Michigan | $36,337 | $17.47 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $36,998 | $17.79 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $40,072 | $19.27 |
| 23 | Texas | $37,780 | $18.16 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $40,092 | $19.27 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $39,228 | $18.86 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $39,057 | $18.78 |
| 27 | Indiana | $34,849 | $16.75 |
| 28 | Vermont | $38,718 | $18.61 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $36,526 | $17.56 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $35,598 | $17.11 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $42,754 | $20.55 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $32,861 | $15.80 |
| 33 | Delaware | $38,035 | $18.29 |
| 34 | Utah | $36,889 | $17.74 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $32,902 | $15.82 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $32,274 | $15.52 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $32,989 | $15.86 |
| 38 | Kansas | $34,685 | $16.68 |
| 39 | Georgia | $35,146 | $16.90 |
| 40 | Idaho | $35,388 | $17.01 |
| 41 | Maine | $32,561 | $15.65 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $33,058 | $15.89 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $33,008 | $15.87 |
| 44 | Florida | $32,804 | $15.77 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $32,490 | $15.62 |
| 46 | Maryland | $34,243 | $16.46 |
| 47 | Missouri | $32,874 | $15.80 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $32,904 | $15.82 |
| 49 | Colorado | $35,042 | $16.85 |
| 50 | Virginia | $34,599 | $16.63 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $32,603 | $15.67 |
Highest paying cities for trainees
The highest-paying cities for trainees are Richmond, CA, Albany, OR, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, CA | $46,125 | $22.18 |
| 2 | Albany, OR | $43,908 | $21.11 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $42,747 | $20.55 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $42,719 | $20.54 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $42,526 | $20.45 |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $42,113 | $20.25 |
| 7 | Brentwood, NY | $40,709 | $19.57 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $40,627 | $19.53 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $40,183 | $19.32 |
| 10 | Worcester, MA | $40,176 | $19.32 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $39,638 | $19.06 |
| 12 | New Orleans, LA | $39,479 | $18.98 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $39,316 | $18.90 |
| 14 | El Paso, TX | $38,888 | $18.70 |
| 15 | Birmingham, AL | $38,847 | $18.68 |
| 16 | Charleston, SC | $37,706 | $18.13 |
| 17 | Allentown, PA | $37,139 | $17.86 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $36,870 | $17.73 |
| 19 | Madison, WI | $36,441 | $17.52 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $35,708 | $17.17 |
Trainees are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Trainee salary details
A trainee's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $55,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a trainee's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| Average | $39,185 | $3,265 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying trainee jobs
The highest paying types of trainees are lead technician, technical specialist, and technical support engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Help Desk Analyst | $37,318 | $3,110 | $17.94 | 87,591 |
| Support | $36,227 | $3,019 | $17.42 | 136,788 |
| Information Technology Technician | $49,031 | $4,086 | $23.57 | 118,881 |
| Information Technology Internship | $35,342 | $2,945 | $16.99 | 147,638 |
| Information Technology/Support Technician | $45,591 | $3,799 | $21.92 | 161,748 |
| Desktop Support Technician | $41,792 | $3,483 | $20.09 | 108,944 |
Top companies hiring trainees now:
Which companies pay trainees the most?
Trainee salaries at Clifford Chance and Commerce Bank are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average trainee salary at companies like Amphenol and Battelle are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clifford Chance | $61,954 | $29.79 |
| 2 | Commerce Bank | $61,354 | $29.50 |
| 3 | Amphenol | $60,396 | $29.04 |
| 4 | Battelle | $58,628 | $28.19 |
| 5 | IBM | $57,498 | $27.64 |
| 6 | UT Southwestern Medical Center | $57,481 | $27.64 |
| 7 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $56,721 | $27.27 |
| 8 | Allianz Life | $55,719 | $26.79 |
| 9 | Katerra | $55,459 | $26.66 |
| 10 | Mount Sinai Health System | $54,812 | $26.35 |
| 11 | University of Southern California | $54,637 | $26.27 |
| 12 | McLane | $54,454 | $26.18 |
| 13 | Howard University | $54,231 | $26.07 |
| 14 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $53,758 | $25.85 |
| 15 | Brigham and Women's Hospital | $53,301 | $25.63 |
| 16 | Huntsville Hospital | $53,255 | $25.60 |
| 17 | EMC Insurance | $53,222 | $25.59 |
| 18 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| 19 | Emory University | $51,813 | $24.91 |
| 20 | The Travelers Companies | $51,812 | $24.91 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Trainee salary by industry
The average trainee salary varies across industries:
- The average trainee salary in the finance industry is $41,186, the highest of any industry.
- The average trainee salary in the finance industry is $38,910.
- Trainees in the insurance industry earn an average salary of $36,129, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for trainees
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $41,186 | $19.80 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $38,910 | $18.71 |
| 3 | Technology | $36,207 | $17.41 |
| 4 | Insurance | $36,129 | $17.37 |
High paying trainee jobs
Trainee salary trends
The average trainee salary has risen by $7,150 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average trainee earned $32,035 annually, but today, they earn $39,185 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for trainees over the last decade.
Compare trainee salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average trainee salary over time
Compare trainee salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Trainee salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $39,200 | $18.84 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $37,900 | $18.22 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $37,000 | $17.81 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $36,600 | $17.60 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $36,000 | $17.30 | +2.4% |
Recently added trainee salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Insurance Group | Underwriting Trainee | Spokane, WA | 06/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| Glassamerica | Pre-Tdp Trainee | Moreno Valley, CA | 06/29/2025 | $35,479 |
| Weyerhaeuser : We'Re Hiring | Kiln Tender Trainee | Magnolia, MS | 06/29/2025 | $41,010 |
| Weyerhaeuser : We'Re Hiring | Production Trainee | Noble, LA | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Commerce Bancshares | Commercial Banking Expansion Market Trainee | Saint Louis, MO | 06/28/2025 | $60,210 |
| Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | Histotech/Grossing Trainee | Memphis, TN | 06/28/2025 | $45,914 |
| Boyd Group Services Inc. | Pre-Tdp Trainee | Moreno Valley, CA | 06/28/2025 | $35,479 |
| State of Minnesota | Trainee-Wghts & Meas Invest | Willmar, MN | 06/28/2025 | $57,399 |
| Canvas Health | Crisis Clinical Trainee | Fridley, MN | 06/28/2025 | $60,004 |
| Barnhart | Lifting and Transportation Trainee | Paramount, CA | 06/27/2025 | $45,914 |
Trainee salary FAQs
Search for trainee jobs