What is a student internship and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become a Student Internship?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a student internship. That is the time it takes to learn specific student internship skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 5 to 7 years years to become a student internship.

Q: Do business interns get paid?

Yes, the majority of business interns get paid for the duration of their internship. Compensation often depends on the company and duties associated with the internship and can come in several forms.

Q: How do you get a student internship?

To get a student internship, you need to have good grades and a decent work or project portfolio. Most student internships begin their junior or senior year during a four-year bachelor's degree program or anytime during graduate studies (i.e., master's or doctorate degree).

Q: What does student intern mean?

A student intern means a professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work related to a student's field of study or career interest. An internship provides students with a unique opportunity to explore different fields and career paths while learning and developing new skills. It offers the employer the opportunity to bring new ideas and energy into the workplace, develop talent and potentially build a pipeline for future full-time employees.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A student internship allows students to gain practical experience and develop skills related to their field of study. Interns typically work for a set period, often during the summer or academic semester, and receive mentorship from experienced professionals. They may assist with projects, conduct research, or perform administrative tasks. A student internship aims to provide students with hands-on opportunities that complement their coursework and prepare them for future careers. Internships also allow for valuable networking and can lead to job offers.

ScoreStudent InternshipUS Average

Salary

2.4

Avg. Salary $31,256

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.5

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.38%

Asian 8.36%

Black or African American 10.35%

Hispanic or Latino 18.75%

Unknown 4.67%

White 56.50%

Gender

female 64.75%

male 35.25%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

4.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.4

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a student internship?

Pros

Opportunity to learn new skills
Resume booster
Earn college credit
Exposure to different work environments
Chance to explore career interests

Cons

Unpaid or low-paid internship
Limited job responsibilities
Unclear expectations from the employer
Lack of supervision or support from the employer
Competition for internships can be intense

Student internship career paths

Key steps to become a student internship

Explore student internship education requirements
Most common student internship degrees
Bachelor's
64.9 %
Associate
14.5 %
Master's
8.3 %
Start to develop specific student internship skills
Skills Percentages
Patients 22.48%
Student Intern 14.44%
Physical Therapy 6.59%
Patient Care 4.82%
PowerPoint 3.78%
Show more
Gain additional student internship certifications
Student internship certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific student internship certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for student interns include First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (NHA).

More About Certifications
Research student internship duties and responsibilities
- Lead weekly groups about DBT skills training, behavior chaining, and personal goal-setting.
- Spearhead companies launch into social media, including creating and managing firm's first twitter account.
- Help veterans and their families learn to manage symptoms of PTSD through education, self-awareness, and becoming aware of triggers.
- Help troubleshoot public computers according to directions and also manage database of library.
Prepare your student internship resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your student internship resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a student internship resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable student internship resume templates
Build a professional student internship resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your student internship resume.
Apply for student internship jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a student internship job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
2. Consult your professional network
3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
4. Watch out for job scams

Skills	Percentages
Patients	22.48%
Student Intern	14.44%
Physical Therapy	6.59%
Patient Care	4.82%
PowerPoint	3.78%

How did you land your first student internship job

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Average student internship salary

The average student internship salary in the United States is $31,256 per year or $15 per hour. Student internship salaries range between $21,000 and $44,000 per year.

Average student internship salary

$31,256 Yearly

$15.03 hourly

More student internship salary info

What am I worth?

How do student interns rate their job?

Student internship FAQs

How long does it take to become a Student Internship?

Do business interns get paid?

How do you get a student internship?

What does student intern mean?

Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.

Search for student internship jobs

Student internship jobs by state

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Student Internship

Updated January 8, 2025

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What is a student internship and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a student internship?

Student internship career paths

Key steps to become a student internship

Explore student internship education requirements

Most common student internship degrees

Start to develop specific student internship skills

Gain additional student internship certifications

Research student internship duties and responsibilities

Prepare your student internship resume

Choose from 10+ customizable student internship resume templates

Apply for student internship jobs

How did you land your first student internship job

Average student internship salary

How do student interns rate their job?

Student internship FAQs

How long does it take to become a Student Internship?

Do business interns get paid?

How do you get a student internship?

What does student intern mean?

Search for student internship jobs

Student internship jobs by state