Best cities for a social work internship
The best cities for social work interns are Toledo, OH, Cleveland, OH, and Milwaukee, WI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for social work interns vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for social work interns in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a social work internship or considering a move, this list of the best cities for social work interns to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for social work interns. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a social work internship. While the absolute best city for social work interns is Toledo, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for social work interns in 2024.
If you're looking for a social work internship job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for social work interns in 2026
1. Toledo, OH
Social work internship jobs in ToledoTotal social work internship jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $38,566 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location quotient: 4.07 2. Cleveland, OH
Social work internship jobs in ClevelandTotal social work internship jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $38,759 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location quotient: 1.14 3. Milwaukee, WI
Social work internship jobs in MilwaukeeTotal social work internship jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $42,780 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Seattle, WA
Social work internship jobs in SeattleTotal social work internship jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $50,039 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location quotient: 0.43 5. Madison, WI
Social work internship jobs in MadisonTotal social work internship jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $42,649 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Anchorage, AK
Social work internship jobs in AnchorageTotal social work internship jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $65,469 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Reno, NV
Social work internship jobs in RenoTotal social work internship jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $44,068 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Portland, OR
Social work internship jobs in PortlandTotal social work internship jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $49,804 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Boston, MA
Social work internship jobs in BostonTotal social work internship jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $43,257 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location quotient: 0.51 10. Columbus, OH
Social work internship jobs in ColumbusTotal social work internship jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $35,775 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location quotient: 0.41
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Best cities for social work interns
- Toledo, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Milwaukee, WI
- Seattle, WA
- Madison, WI
- Anchorage, AK
- Reno, NV
- Portland, OR
- Boston, MA
- Columbus, OH
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Detailed list of the best cities for a social work internship
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toledo, OH | $38,566 | $27,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $38,759 | $27,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | $42,780 | $31,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $50,039 | $38,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 5 | Madison, WI | $42,649 | $31,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $65,469 | $58,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $44,068 | $32,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $49,804 | $37,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $43,257 | $31,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $35,775 | $25,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $42,927 | $32,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $46,505 | $33,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $45,365 | $31,000 | 681,170 | 5 |
| 14 | Saint Paul, MN | $42,888 | $32,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $42,064 | $30,000 | 2,704,958 | 2 |
| 16 | Henderson, NV | $40,079 | $28,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $38,774 | $26,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 18 | Omaha, NE | $37,598 | $27,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $40,251 | $29,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 20 | North Las Vegas, NV | $40,163 | $29,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $37,536 | $26,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 22 | Lincoln, NE | $37,099 | $27,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 23 | San Francisco, CA | $46,844 | $33,000 | 870,887 | 1 |
| 24 | Oakland, CA | $46,718 | $33,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $42,925 | $31,000 | 3,976,322 | 7 |
| 26 | Denver, CO | $38,685 | $28,000 | 693,060 | 7 |
| 27 | Detroit, MI | $36,199 | $26,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 28 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $49,801 | $43,000 | 351,792 | - |
| 29 | Fremont, CA | $46,463 | $33,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 30 | San Jose, CA | $46,297 | $33,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 31 | Stockton, CA | $46,243 | $33,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 32 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,856 | $26,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 33 | Cincinnati, OH | $34,652 | $24,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 34 | Aurora, CO | $38,623 | $28,000 | 361,710 | 1 |
| 35 | Wichita, KS | $36,002 | $26,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 36 | Bakersfield, CA | $43,699 | $31,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 37 | Buffalo, NY | $42,121 | $30,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 38 | Scottsdale, AZ | $35,782 | $25,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 39 | Tulsa, OK | $34,226 | $24,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 40 | Fresno, CA | $44,784 | $32,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 41 | Chandler, AZ | $35,778 | $25,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 42 | Gilbert, AZ | $35,746 | $25,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 43 | Oklahoma City, OK | $34,186 | $24,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 44 | Mesa, AZ | $35,735 | $25,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 45 | Glendale, AZ | $35,888 | $26,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 46 | Durham, NC | $33,014 | $23,000 | 263,016 | 3 |
| 47 | Tampa, FL | $34,830 | $25,000 | 377,165 | 5 |
| 48 | Tucson, AZ | $35,514 | $25,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 49 | Greensboro, NC | $32,951 | $23,000 | 287,027 | 1 |
| 50 | New York, NY | $39,967 | $27,000 | 8,537,673 | 10 |
Highest paying cities for social work interns
| Rank | City | Avg. social work internship salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo, ND | $53,237 |
| 2 | Richmond, CA | $46,853 |
| 3 | Bristol, CT | $46,380 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $45,365 |
| 5 | Waukegan, IL | $43,267 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $42,927 |
| 7 | Glen Cove, NY | $40,340 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $39,788 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $38,685 |
| 10 | Grand Rapids, MI | $36,720 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,856 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $35,775 |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | $35,482 |
| 14 | Jacksonville, FL | $34,959 |
| 15 | Salt Lake City, UT | $34,270 |
| 16 | High Point, NC | $32,884 |
| 17 | Charleston, WV | $32,265 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $31,249 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $30,570 |
| 20 | Jackson, MS | $29,949 |
Social work internship best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025