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The typical salary for a student employee stands at approximately $24,086 annually, translating to about $12 per hour. Salaries can fluctuate based on various factors, including geographic location, experience, and specific job roles. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for students seeking to maximize their earnings while balancing education and work commitments.
Salary potential varies significantly by state. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher wages due to their cost of living and demand for student workers. Additionally, cities with a high concentration of universities and colleges typically provide more opportunities, which can lead to competitive pay rates.
Some of the highest paying positions for student employees include roles in tech support, research assistance, and tutoring. These jobs not only offer better pay but also valuable experience that can enhance your resume.
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The average student employee salary in Colorado, Alaska, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average student employee salary states are South Carolina, Louisiana, and South Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $27,143 | $13.05 |
| 2 | New York | $27,896 | $13.41 |
| 3 | Vermont | $26,439 | $12.71 |
| 4 | Alaska | $29,330 | $14.10 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $24,761 | $11.90 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $25,053 | $12.04 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $28,643 | $13.77 |
| 8 | Colorado | $29,585 | $14.22 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| 10 | Illinois | $26,354 | $12.67 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $24,033 | $11.55 |
| 12 | Washington | $26,705 | $12.84 |
| 13 | Nevada | $25,746 | $12.38 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $25,529 | $12.27 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $24,140 | $11.61 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $26,395 | $12.69 |
| 17 | Indiana | $23,724 | $11.41 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $26,766 | $12.87 |
| 19 | Oregon | $24,110 | $11.59 |
| 20 | Ohio | $24,295 | $11.68 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $26,481 | $12.73 |
| 22 | Iowa | $22,749 | $10.94 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $22,932 | $11.03 |
| 24 | Maine | $25,048 | $12.04 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $25,411 | $12.22 |
| 26 | Arizona | $23,236 | $11.17 |
| 27 | Delaware | $22,852 | $10.99 |
| 28 | Missouri | $22,610 | $10.87 |
| 29 | Montana | $23,223 | $11.16 |
| 30 | Michigan | $23,747 | $11.42 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $21,376 | $10.28 |
| 32 | Utah | $22,990 | $11.05 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $22,481 | $10.81 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $23,799 | $11.44 |
| 35 | Virginia | $23,751 | $11.42 |
| 36 | Maryland | $24,609 | $11.83 |
| 37 | California | $24,194 | $11.63 |
| 38 | Florida | $22,920 | $11.02 |
| 39 | Georgia | $22,890 | $11.00 |
| 40 | Texas | $22,193 | $10.67 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $20,892 | $10.04 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $20,573 | $9.89 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $22,429 | $10.78 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $21,596 | $10.38 |
| 45 | Idaho | $21,559 | $10.36 |
| 46 | Alabama | $19,236 | $9.25 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $19,524 | $9.39 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $20,166 | $9.70 |
| 49 | Kansas | $18,093 | $8.70 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $17,141 | $8.24 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $20,080 | $9.65 |
The highest-paying cities for student employees are Denver, CO, Fairbanks, AK, and Buffalo, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver, CO | $29,598 | $14.23 |
| 2 | Fairbanks, AK | $29,223 | $14.05 |
| 3 | Buffalo, NY | $27,670 | $13.30 |
| 4 | Bridgewater, MA | $26,426 | $12.70 |
| 5 | Des Plaines, IL | $26,397 | $12.69 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $24,449 | $11.75 |
| 7 | Salem, OR | $24,160 | $11.62 |
| 8 | Lansing, MI | $23,753 | $11.42 |
| 9 | Virginia Beach, VA | $23,744 | $11.42 |
| 10 | Gary, IN | $23,741 | $11.41 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $22,971 | $11.04 |
| 12 | Hollywood, FL | $22,926 | $11.02 |
| 13 | Lancaster, PA | $22,863 | $10.99 |
| 14 | Springfield, MO | $22,587 | $10.86 |
| 15 | Harlingen, TX | $22,213 | $10.68 |
| 16 | Richmond, KY | $20,878 | $10.04 |
| 17 | Edmond, OK | $20,625 | $9.92 |
| 18 | Columbia, SC | $20,177 | $9.70 |
| 19 | Bayamn, PR | $18,621 | $8.95 |
| 20 | Albuquerque, NM | $17,178 | $8.26 |
A student employee's salary ranges from $17,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $32,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 75th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| Average | $24,086 | $2,007 | $12 |
| 25th Percentile | $20,000 | $1,667 | $10 |
| 10th Percentile | $17,000 | $1,417 | $8 |
The highest paying types of student employees are office administrator, internship, and operations clerk.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk Typist | $31,746 | $2,646 | $15.26 | 102,211 |
| Clerk | $31,163 | $2,597 | $14.98 | 80,311 |
| Operations Clerk | $33,746 | $2,812 | $16.22 | 158,449 |
| Clerical Aide | $29,426 | $2,452 | $14.15 | 59,698 |
| Office Aide | $29,255 | $2,438 | $14.07 | 76,712 |
| Office Administrator | $37,423 | $3,119 | $17.99 | 118,096 |
Top companies hiring student employees now:
Student employee salaries at University of California, Berkeley and United States Steel are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average student employee salary at companies like Banfield Pet Hospital and Winston Industries are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | $35,423 | $17.03 |
| 2 | United States Steel | $31,579 | $15.18 |
| 3 | Banfield Pet Hospital | $29,096 | $13.99 |
| 4 | Winston Industries | $28,384 | $13.65 |
| 5 | Salem-Keizer Public Schools | $28,110 | $13.51 |
| 6 | Tenet Healthcare | $28,062 | $13.49 |
| 7 | Covenant College | $27,826 | $13.38 |
| 8 | Bridgewater State University | $27,574 | $13.26 |
| 9 | Bedford Public Schools | $27,218 | $13.09 |
| 10 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $26,203 | $12.60 |
| 11 | Lancaster General Health | $25,836 | $12.42 |
| 12 | Church Of Jesus Christ Inc | $25,584 | $12.30 |
| 13 | Regent University College Of Science And Technology | $24,695 | $11.87 |
| 14 | Waukesha County Technical College | $24,549 | $11.80 |
| 15 | University of Michigan | $24,444 | $11.75 |
| 16 | Terra State Community College | $24,400 | $11.73 |
| 17 | University of Georgia Small Business Development Center | $24,394 | $11.73 |
| 18 | Appalachian Regional Healthcare | $24,106 | $11.59 |
| 19 | Missouri State University | $24,091 | $11.58 |
| 20 | PSEA | $24,029 | $11.55 |
The average student employee salary has risen by $5,549 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average student employee earned $18,537 annually, but today, they earn $24,086 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for student employees over the last decade.
Compare student employee salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare student employee salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $24,100 | $11.58 | +3.7% |
| 2025 | $23,200 | $11.16 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $22,300 | $10.73 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | $21,500 | $10.32 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $20,800 | $10.02 | +3.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Student Employee | Little Rock, AR | 06/30/2025 | $31,305 |
| Ou Health | Student Facilities Maintenance Union Employee (Fall) | Norman, OK | 06/29/2025 | $19,305 |
| Lewis & Clark College | SR. Chemistry Department Student Employee '25 | Portland, OR | 06/28/2025 | $38,192 |
| Barton County Community College | Student Employee-Chemistry Lab | Lane, KS | 06/28/2025 | $18,783 |
| Jjc | Student Employee, Choir Librarian | Joliet, IL | 06/28/2025 | $31,305 |
| Sam Houston State University | Student Employee-Residence Life-Housing Ambassador | Huntsville, TX | 06/27/2025 | $18,783 |
| Salem-Keizer School District | Student Employment School Year | Salem, OR | 06/26/2025 | $30,679 |
| Joliet Junior College, Il | Student Employee, Athletics | Joliet, IL | 06/26/2025 | $31,305 |
| Oregon Public Schools | Student Employment School Year | Salem, OR | 06/26/2025 | $30,679 |
| Franklin Campus | Summer I Session On Campus Student Employee | Franklin Campus | Franklin, LA | 06/25/2025 | $20,870 |
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