Best cities for a student internship
The best cities for student interns are Anchorage, AK, Glendale, AZ, and Tucson, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for student interns vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for student interns in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a student internship or considering a move, this list of the best cities for student interns to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for student interns. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a student internship. While the absolute best city for student interns is Anchorage, AK, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for student interns in 2024.
If you're looking for a student internship job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for student interns in 2025
1. Anchorage, AK
Student internship jobs in AnchorageTotal student internship jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $46,958 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 3.78 2. Glendale, AZ
Student internship jobs in GlendaleTotal student internship jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $32,122 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location quotient: 2.08 3. Tucson, AZ
Student internship jobs in TucsonTotal student internship jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $31,711 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location quotient: 2.03 4. Reno, NV
Student internship jobs in RenoTotal student internship jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $31,121 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location quotient: 1.78 5. Portland, OR
Student internship jobs in PortlandTotal student internship jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $34,322 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location quotient: 0.84 6. Boston, MA
Student internship jobs in BostonTotal student internship jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $40,314 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location quotient: 0.83 7. Minneapolis, MN
Student internship jobs in MinneapolisTotal student internship jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $33,491 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location quotient: 0.56 8. Detroit, MI
Student internship jobs in DetroitTotal student internship jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $30,561 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 0.72 9. Fresno, CA
Student internship jobs in FresnoTotal student internship jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $36,072 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 1.71 10. Memphis, TN
Student internship jobs in MemphisTotal student internship jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $30,291 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 0.58
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Best cities for student interns
- Anchorage, AK
- Glendale, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
- Reno, NV
- Portland, OR
- Boston, MA
- Minneapolis, MN
- Detroit, MI
- Fresno, CA
- Memphis, TN
Detailed list of the best cities for a student internship
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $46,958 | $37,000 | 298,192 | 10 |
| 2 | Glendale, AZ | $32,122 | $21,000 | 245,895 | 3 |
| 3 | Tucson, AZ | $31,711 | $21,000 | 530,706 | 12 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $31,121 | $20,000 | 245,255 | 7 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $34,322 | $23,000 | 639,863 | 15 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $40,314 | $26,000 | 673,184 | 31 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $33,491 | $23,000 | 413,651 | 11 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $30,561 | $20,000 | 672,795 | 8 |
| 9 | Fresno, CA | $36,072 | $23,000 | 522,053 | 5 |
| 10 | Memphis, TN | $30,291 | $20,000 | 652,717 | 6 |
| 11 | Oakland, CA | $36,967 | $23,000 | 420,005 | 5 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $30,228 | $19,000 | 632,912 | 17 |
| 13 | Seattle, WA | $39,060 | $26,000 | 704,352 | 18 |
| 14 | Saint Paul, MN | $33,499 | $23,000 | 302,398 | 3 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $32,095 | $21,000 | 1,615,017 | 12 |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $36,452 | $23,000 | 495,234 | 8 |
| 17 | Scottsdale, AZ | $32,027 | $21,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 18 | Toledo, OH | $26,535 | $17,000 | 278,508 | 3 |
| 19 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $37,908 | $32,000 | 351,792 | 11 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $30,479 | $20,000 | 2,704,958 | 52 |
| 21 | Lexington, KY | $28,559 | $19,000 | 318,449 | 2 |
| 22 | Aurora, CO | $30,741 | $20,000 | 361,710 | 15 |
| 23 | Lincoln, NE | $27,467 | $18,000 | 280,364 | 10 |
| 24 | San Francisco, CA | $37,055 | $23,000 | 870,887 | 13 |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $35,362 | $23,000 | 3,976,322 | 22 |
| 26 | Nashville, TN | $30,388 | $20,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 27 | Denver, CO | $30,759 | $20,000 | 693,060 | 64 |
| 28 | Madison, WI | $29,637 | $20,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 29 | Columbus, OH | $25,241 | $16,000 | 860,090 | 34 |
| 30 | Louisville, KY | $28,438 | $19,000 | 597,337 | 3 |
| 31 | Milwaukee, WI | $30,027 | $20,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 32 | Durham, NC | $26,148 | $17,000 | 263,016 | 10 |
| 33 | Atlanta, GA | $30,059 | $20,000 | 472,522 | 16 |
| 34 | Jersey City, NJ | $38,453 | $25,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 35 | Cleveland, OH | $27,057 | $18,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 36 | Newark, NJ | $38,426 | $25,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 37 | Washington, DC | $34,730 | $23,000 | 681,170 | 30 |
| 38 | Chandler, AZ | $32,024 | $21,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 39 | Philadelphia, PA | $28,722 | $18,000 | 1,567,872 | 7 |
| 40 | Gilbert, AZ | $31,998 | $21,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 41 | Mesa, AZ | $31,990 | $21,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 42 | Fremont, CA | $36,874 | $23,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 43 | San Jose, CA | $36,845 | $23,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 44 | Garland, TX | $25,050 | $16,000 | 234,943 | 4 |
| 45 | Stockton, CA | $36,544 | $23,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 46 | Indianapolis, IN | $24,791 | $16,000 | 855,164 | 20 |
| 47 | Henderson, NV | $30,182 | $19,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 48 | North Las Vegas, NV | $30,149 | $19,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 49 | Bakersfield, CA | $35,796 | $23,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 50 | Colorado Springs, CO | $30,592 | $20,000 | 465,101 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for student interns
| Rank | City | Avg. student internship salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $40,314 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $39,060 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $37,055 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $35,070 |
| 5 | Bozeman, MT | $34,882 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $34,730 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $34,322 |
| 8 | Newburgh, NY | $33,625 |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | $31,711 |
| 10 | Port Huron, MI | $31,273 |
| 11 | Wausau, WI | $31,158 |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $31,121 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $30,759 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $30,479 |
| 15 | Columbus, GA | $29,965 |
| 16 | Richmond, VA | $28,421 |
| 17 | Sioux Falls, SD | $27,567 |
| 18 | Pittsburgh, PA | $27,302 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $26,404 |
| 20 | Gainesville, FL | $26,343 |
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Updated January 8, 2025