Best cities for a software engineering internship
The best cities for software engineering interns are Raleigh, NC, Madison, WI, and Indianapolis, IN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software engineering interns vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software engineering interns in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software engineering internship or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software engineering interns to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software engineering interns. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software engineering internship. While the absolute best city for software engineering interns is Raleigh, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software engineering interns in 2024.
If you're looking for a software engineering internship job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software engineering interns in 2025
1. Raleigh, NC
Software engineering internship jobs in RaleighTotal software engineering internship jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $56,158 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 2.95 2. Madison, WI
Software engineering internship jobs in MadisonTotal software engineering internship jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $54,628 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 1.32 3. Indianapolis, IN
Software engineering internship jobs in IndianapolisTotal software engineering internship jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $54,525 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 1.10 4. San Francisco, CA
Software engineering internship jobs in San FranciscoTotal software engineering internship jobs: 76 Average annual salary: $68,883 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 1.83 5. Seattle, WA
Software engineering internship jobs in SeattleTotal software engineering internship jobs: 66 Average annual salary: $62,384 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 1.88 6. Pittsburgh, PA
Software engineering internship jobs in PittsburghTotal software engineering internship jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $56,635 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 0.87 7. Fremont, CA
Software engineering internship jobs in FremontTotal software engineering internship jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $68,415 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 1.43 8. Boston, MA
Software engineering internship jobs in BostonTotal software engineering internship jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $68,094 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 0.97 9. San Jose, CA
Software engineering internship jobs in San JoseTotal software engineering internship jobs: 37 Average annual salary: $68,329 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 1.26 10. Philadelphia, PA
Software engineering internship jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal software engineering internship jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $62,258 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 0.75
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Best cities for software engineering interns
- Raleigh, NC
- Madison, WI
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Fremont, CA
- Boston, MA
- San Jose, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- (32 software engineering internship jobs)
- (10 software engineering internship jobs)
- (18 software engineering internship jobs)
- (76 software engineering internship jobs)
- (66 software engineering internship jobs)
- (11 software engineering internship jobs)
- (12 software engineering internship jobs)
- (29 software engineering internship jobs)
- (37 software engineering internship jobs)
- (15 software engineering internship jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software engineering internship
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raleigh, NC | $56,158 | $33,000 | 458,880 | 32 |
| 2 | Madison, WI | $54,628 | $32,000 | 252,551 | 10 |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | $54,525 | $32,000 | 855,164 | 18 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $68,883 | $39,000 | 870,887 | 76 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $62,384 | $37,000 | 704,352 | 66 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $56,635 | $32,000 | 303,625 | 11 |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $68,415 | $39,000 | 233,136 | 12 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $68,094 | $40,000 | 673,184 | 29 |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | $68,329 | $39,000 | 1,025,350 | 37 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $62,258 | $34,000 | 1,567,872 | 15 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $53,048 | $32,000 | 472,522 | 45 |
| 12 | Gilbert, AZ | $51,926 | $31,000 | 237,133 | 3 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $67,336 | $39,000 | 495,234 | 8 |
| 14 | Greensboro, NC | $55,228 | $32,000 | 287,027 | 2 |
| 15 | Fort Wayne, IN | $55,591 | $32,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $49,102 | $29,000 | 947,890 | 48 |
| 17 | Portland, OR | $59,620 | $35,000 | 639,863 | 10 |
| 18 | Scottsdale, AZ | $52,072 | $31,000 | 246,645 | 4 |
| 19 | Lubbock, TX | $48,009 | $29,000 | 252,506 | 3 |
| 20 | Charlotte, NC | $53,800 | $32,000 | 842,051 | 11 |
| 21 | Durham, NC | $56,086 | $33,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 22 | Milwaukee, WI | $55,169 | $32,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 23 | Irvine, CA | $60,074 | $35,000 | 266,122 | 16 |
| 24 | Phoenix, AZ | $52,145 | $31,000 | 1,615,017 | 15 |
| 25 | New York, NY | $59,060 | $33,000 | 8,537,673 | 97 |
| 26 | San Antonio, TX | $49,410 | $29,000 | 1,492,510 | 7 |
| 27 | Reno, NV | $51,977 | $30,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 28 | Chandler, AZ | $51,964 | $31,000 | 247,477 | 2 |
| 29 | Saint Paul, MN | $51,231 | $30,000 | 302,398 | 6 |
| 30 | Winston-Salem, NC | $54,850 | $32,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 31 | Columbus, OH | $45,740 | $26,000 | 860,090 | 11 |
| 32 | Oakland, CA | $68,656 | $39,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 33 | Los Angeles, CA | $61,348 | $35,000 | 3,976,322 | 18 |
| 34 | Fort Worth, TX | $48,011 | $29,000 | 854,113 | 5 |
| 35 | Tucson, AZ | $51,597 | $30,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 36 | Stockton, CA | $67,565 | $39,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 37 | Colorado Springs, CO | $46,245 | $29,000 | 465,101 | 21 |
| 38 | Nashville, TN | $42,921 | $26,000 | 660,388 | 10 |
| 39 | Denver, CO | $46,137 | $29,000 | 693,060 | 51 |
| 40 | Fresno, CA | $65,914 | $38,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 41 | Brookhaven, NY | $59,912 | $34,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 42 | Glendale, AZ | $52,179 | $31,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 43 | Bakersfield, CA | $64,084 | $37,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 44 | Islip, NY | $59,713 | $34,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 45 | Oyster Bay, NY | $59,455 | $33,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 46 | San Diego, CA | $58,357 | $34,000 | 1,406,630 | 23 |
| 47 | Chicago, IL | $51,319 | $30,000 | 2,704,958 | 25 |
| 48 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,206 | $30,000 | 413,651 | 6 |
| 49 | Laredo, TX | $49,875 | $29,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 50 | Corpus Christi, TX | $49,866 | $29,000 | 325,733 | - |
Highest paying cities for software engineering interns
| Rank | City | Avg. software engineering internship salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $68,883 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $68,094 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | $63,138 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $62,384 |
| 5 | Providence, RI | $61,070 |
| 6 | Harrisburg, PA | $60,437 |
| 7 | Hillsboro, OR | $59,811 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $59,060 |
| 9 | Concord, NH | $58,023 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $57,452 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $56,158 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $54,628 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $54,525 |
| 14 | Columbus, GA | $53,125 |
| 15 | Carson City, NV | $52,428 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $52,145 |
| 17 | Annapolis, MD | $51,356 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $51,319 |
| 19 | Saint Paul, MN | $51,231 |
| 20 | Helena, MT | $49,630 |
Software engineering internship best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025