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Job outlook for systems engineering interns in the United States
Systems engineering internship job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected systems engineering internship job growth rate is 21% from 2018-2028.
About 284,100 new jobs for systems engineering interns are projected over the next decade.
Systems engineering internship salaries have increased 9% for systems engineering interns in the last 5 years.
There are over 4,932 systems engineering interns currently employed in the United States.
There are 161,551 active systems engineering internship job openings in the US.
The average systems engineering internship salary is $39,003.
Are systems engineering internship jobs in demand?
Systems engineering internship job and salary trends over time
Systems engineering internship jobs over time
Systems engineering internship job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,932 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 5,604 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 5,958 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 14,887 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 14,659 | 0.00% |
Average systems engineering internship salary over time
Systems engineering internship salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,003 | $18.75 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $37,718 | $18.13 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $36,864 | $17.72 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $36,059 | $17.34 | +0.7% |
| 2021 | $35,811 | $17.22 | +1.2% |
Systems engineering internship jobs by state
Most common states for systems engineering interns
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 598 | 86% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 347 | 36% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 250 | 34% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,820 | 33% |
| 5 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 191 | 33% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 239 | 32% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 199 | 32% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,201 | 30% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,707 | 30% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,991 | 29% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 395 | 29% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 293 | 28% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,648 | 27% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,105 | 27% |
| 15 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 229 | 26% |
| 16 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 432 | 25% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 844 | 24% |
| 18 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 702 | 23% |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 439 | 23% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 239 | 23% |
Most common cities for systems engineering interns
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville | 9 | 33% | $36,800 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 3 | 8% | $42,402 |
| 3 | Littleton | 3 | 6% | $35,985 |
| 4 | Boulder | 5 | 5% | $36,101 |
| 5 | Somerville | 3 | 4% | $40,290 |
| 6 | Huntsville | 6 | 3% | $34,509 |
| 7 | Lansing | 4 | 3% | $39,708 |
| 8 | Carlsbad | 3 | 3% | $46,357 |
| 9 | Sunnyvale | 3 | 2% | $49,373 |
| 10 | Indianapolis | 5 | 1% | $34,277 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs | 3 | 1% | $35,823 |
| 12 | Des Moines | 3 | 1% | $37,837 |
| 13 | San Diego | 5 | 0% | $46,352 |
| 14 | Austin | 3 | 0% | $37,480 |
| 15 | Phoenix | 3 | 0% | $37,065 |
| 16 | San Francisco | 3 | 0% | $49,758 |
| 17 | San Jose | 3 | 0% | $49,162 |
Systems Engineering Internship job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of systems engineering internship experts
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Grambling State University
Gannon University
University of North Carolina Greensboro
University of Oregon
Mount Saint Mary College
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Cleveland State University
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
High Point University
University at Albany - SUNY
Indiana University Northwest
Virginia Military Institute
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Arizona State University
Utah Valley University
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
SUNY College at New Paltz
East Tennessee State University
Hope College
Wilkes University
What Systems Engineering Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mark Whalen P.E.: Many system engineers enjoy working across all technologies at a higher organizational level, and interacting with all types of technologists to manage and implement complex technical systems.
Many system engineers can feel challenged by their lack of depth of understanding of particular technologies compared to technical specialists.
Yenumula Reddy
IEEE Senior Member, ACM Senior Member, IARIA FellowGrambling State University
College of Arts and Sciences
What soft skills should all Systems Engineering Interns possess?
Yenumula Reddy: Mini and large project implementation and work on group projects is very important. Presenting the results in the workshops, annual meetings will help to improve the students' confidence and meet other educators and share their experiences. Certification helps to get the good starting jobs.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Systems Engineering Internship job market given the pandemic?
Yenumula Reddy: The biggest trend - students do not have enough hands-on, means they get but not enough.. F2F training helps a lot. During the COVID, F2F is very difficult even though we try to provide facilities. Internships became limited and work from home and students have limited experience with industry and work with mentors and other group students in the projects as they do F2F. Sharing their information with other students is limited during COVID.
What's a day at work look like for a Systems Engineering Internship?
Yenumula Reddy: It is entirely new world and lot of enthusiasm and many new faces. Try to adjust and socialize and try to have new friends. But, for a student had internship first day work may not much difference.
My students share their experience and I saw this difference between the student had internship and the one entered without.
But it is an unforgettable day.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Systems Engineering Interns?
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.: YES. You will see more remote work for computing graduates. Consequently, the need for more remote teamwork experience with tools and projects will become more desirable.
What's a day at work look like for a Systems Engineering Internship?
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.: This will be largely dependent on the company and industry. Many computing divisions are going to be slow to pulling people back to the office, but the balance of costs and benefits will get looked at more closely. Will the fully remote new employee model stick? I might be on the hopeful side here, but I hope not. The struggle being a new employee is that you need to absorb the culture of the new company; corporate and team culture matters, and is much harder to develop remotely.
What will help Systems Engineering Interns increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.: In computing, this will still remain similar to what it has been: Competency development, e.g., both 'soft skills' of working well to make technology work well, and the 'hard skills' related to specific technology needs. The latter are always changing.
Apoorva Patipati Ramesh
Lecturer & Director - Graduate ProgramsUniversity of North Carolina Greensboro
Department of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Systems Engineering Internship job market given the pandemic?
Apoorva Patipati Ramesh: - Shift towards jobs in the IT industry.
- More IT professionals coming back to attain higher education.
- Organizations more comfortable with hiring interns.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Systems Engineering Interns?
Apoorva Patipati Ramesh: For students, courses and certificates that provide hands-on experience in skills like Tableau, Python, R, etc. can have a very positive impact on job prospects. Some of our academic graduate certificates also align very closely with industry certifications such as CISSP, CompTIA Network+ etc. These are highly valuable assets to have.
How have salaries changed over time for Systems Engineering Interns?
Apoorva Patipati Ramesh: Per 2020 data, STEM occupations - the ones our students typically land after completing the MS degree - have a median annual wage that is more than double that of the non-STEM jobs. This gap has been and is only widening with time. A graduate from an MS program is typically being offered anywhere between $60,000 and $120,000 in wages depending on the years of work experience they possess.
Hayden Harker
Senior Instructor, Head Undergraduate AdvisorUniversity of Oregon
Department of Mathematics
What soft skills should all Systems Engineering Interns possess?
Hayden Harker: For math majors, there are many jobs that specifically use mathematical techniques learned in a specific course and you don't prove theorems in jobs. However, these students need to be flexible and willing to solve many different problems even if they don't necessarily feel like a math calculation. Solid problem solving skills and logical thought process are some of the greatest assets for math majors.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Systems Engineering Internship job market given the pandemic?
Hayden Harker: Students should consider remote jobs if not going to graduate school. I suspect many businesses will keep some positions as remote ones.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Systems Engineering Interns?
Robin Rosenberg: Certifications/Licenses/Courses--For anyone who is interested in a career in mental health treatment, graduate school and licensure in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Mental Health Counseling is essential. For other professional careers at the Bachelor's level, courses or certification in care management is extremely helpful as that becomes more of the norm in the field of healthcare in general. Health insurance is changing, and one of the trends to keep costs down is to shift from a fee for service to a flat rate per patient. To make that financially feasible for the healthcare providers, there will be much more of an emphasis on prevention and wellness. Care managers will help to coordinate care and keep costs down by encouraging prevention, wellness, adherence to treatment for chronic medical conditions.
How have salaries changed over time for Systems Engineering Interns?
Robin Rosenberg: In social sciences, the salaries have gone up marginally. This is not a field for people who want to make a fortune, but it is a great field for people who want to make a living while helping other people with the most challenging aspects of life.
Sathish Kumar Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Computer ScienceCleveland State University
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Systems Engineering Interns?
Sathish Kumar Ph.D.: I think the coronavirus pandemic has only accelerated the technology trends such as digital payment, tele health, ecommerce, telework, elearning, AI/Robotics etc., All these accelerations of the technology trends only increase the demand for the graduates especially for the graduates majoring in computer science, and information systems/technology.
I believe the concept of remote work and remote meetings is going to stay and has changed how one would be working and the new graduated or the junior professional should try to adapt or build the skills to be successful in the new work environment.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Systems Engineering Interns?
Sathish Kumar Ph.D.: I can speak of from computer science/ information systems/information technology perspective, which are my areas of expertise. Due to the steady growth in cloud computing and remote workcertifications/licenses/courses related to cloud technology will have great impact as well as the certifications/licenses/courses in the Machine Learning/Data Science and Cybersecurity due to the growth in that space.
Dr. Patrick Madsen
Executive DirectorUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte
University Career Center
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Systems Engineering Interns?
Dr. Patrick Madsen: At this time, it is hard to know if there will be an "enduring impact" on graduates but I can say that there has been a big difference between what we saw during the "Great Recession" versus our current situation. With our current situation, I have noticed employers really making a good effort to continue their internship programs in a remote environment, create new online training opportunities for students, and new partnerships in the development of NEW internships for students. Our career center has really stepped up to the plate to show students the multitude of ways they can continue to build skills and "resume capital" aside from just traditional internships during this time and providing them the skills to "recession proof" their careers in the future.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Systems Engineering Interns?
Dr. Michael Oudshoorn: I suspect that for Computer Science graduates that this is likely - in a positive sense. During the pandemic many businesses opted to have employees work from home for an extended period of time. Many of these organizations have found that productivity did not fall and they save costs. If no one goes into the office then you save money on cleaning, office supplies, utilities, and maybe even rent. I suspect that some employers will opt to continue having employees work from home after the pandemic is over and hence continue to save money. This creates an opportunity to develop software products to support these businesses either through the development of enhanced video conference and collaboration tools, or through industry specific tools to help increase productivity when one has remote workers. Also if you have staff working from home, then those staff members could literally be anywhere in the world, so this opens the door for graduates to work for an employee irrespective of where they might physically be located.
There was a large, and growing, demand for computing professionals before the pandemic www.bls.gov, and that need has not gone away! In fact, the demand for computing professionals such as Information security analysts is expected to grow by 31% in the next 10 years. There continues to be unfiled demand for computing professionals and the number of vacancies continues to grow paloaltoonline.com .
What will help Systems Engineering Interns increase their earning potential?
Dr. Michael Oudshoorn: Earning potential is attached to 2 things: technical expertise and life skills. The technical skills are essential in order to do the job, but to be truly successful and move up the corporate ladder you need to demonstrate skills such as clear and concise communication, honest and ethical behavior, interpersonal skills, and leadership. Being a good team member and contributing in interdisciplinary teams are skills that cannot be underestimated.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Systems Engineering Interns?
Charalampos Chelmis: The interest in skilled computer scientists and engineers is still high, so well versed job seekers don't have much to worry about. Machine learning and data science related experience, software development skills and the ability to quickly adapt to new environments/technologies are be critical.
How have salaries changed over time for Systems Engineering Interns?
Charalampos Chelmis: Computer scientists and engineers have seen a steady growth in salaries up to the years before the pandemic. Although I don't anticipate this trend to slow down, entry-level positions and positions whose profiles include a significant portion of remote activities may incur reduced salary as compared to on site positions.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Systems Engineering Internship job market given the pandemic?
Charalampos Chelmis: The pandemic seems to have changed the long-term planning and thinking of technologically advanced companies, so I wouldn't be surprised if many of the "big" employers start offering permanent remote positions. At the same time, other companies may still value regular face to face interactions. I expect such companies to keep hiring for "traditional" jobs, but perhaps they will chose to postpone the start date of new employees or ask them to start out as a contractors in order to balance out pandemic-related uncertainties. Similarly, given that in-person interviews and job fairs are being replaced by remote recruiting, job hunters need to both improve their online presence as well as master their communication skills to make a positive impression to prospective employers in a limited time phone or video interview.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Systems Engineering Internship job market given the pandemic?
Jie Wang Ph.D.: The jobs in the computer field seems not as much affected by the pandemic as other fields. Some jobs, such as software development, database and web site management, can be done remotely from home. I do not anticipate a significant reduction in number of computer-related jobs in the coming few years.
Some jobs requires a Master's degree or higher. More and more employees are looking for people with work experience. For a fresh graduate, besides taking college classes, working with real and challenging projects and building a strong portfolio can become an alternative to work experience. Nowadays, a new normal is one has to be a life learner.
Youna Jung Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorVirginia Military Institute
Computer and Information Sciences
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Systems Engineering Interns?
Youna Jung Ph.D.: Yes, the pandemic seriously impacts the job market. As employers have frozen hiring or scaled back their businesses because of pandemic impacts, job insecurity has increased especially in entry-level or mid-level positions. Usually, our CIS graduates have received job offers before graduation but only sixty percent of students were able to secure their jobs before graduation last year and others had to spend few more months to find a job.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Systems Engineering Interns?
Youna Jung Ph.D.: I would say Software Engineering and Cybersecurity. Regardless which area you will work on, understanding of software systems including software design, development process, and system validation is essential. At the same time, cybersecurity is becoming more and more critical to all organizations, governments and individuals. When working in computer science/engineering fields, we always consider cybersecurity measures in order to ensure that sensitive data is secured and privacy is not breached.
Peter Schubert Ph.D.
ProfessorIndiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
What will help Systems Engineering Interns increase their earning potential?
Peter Schubert Ph.D.: Electrical and Computer Engineering is already attracting well-paying jobs. In my opinion, with the advent of distance collaboration and on-line meetings, the world is closer than ever before. This means there is greater and easier access to talent. So, the more important consideration, in my opinion, is to pursue post-graduate education, such as a Masters of Science, or a doctor of philosophy (of science, or Ph.D.). Investing in yourself is always a good choice. For those students able to do so, pursuing advanced degrees will generally mean higher starting salary, faster advancement, and longer career relevance.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Systems Engineering Interns?
Peter Schubert Ph.D.: New graduates who experienced pandemic lock-down during their senior year are impacted by the challenges of working in laboratories and working in teams. While some students still get these experiences, some teams that have been working for me operated at effectiveness levels not the same as prior to the pandemic. Because these capstone or senior design courses help shape teamwork, cooperation, and hands-on practical know-how, there is the possibility that upcoming graduates will need more supportive environments in their work life to gain these important skills.
What's a day at work look like for a Systems Engineering Internship?
Peter Schubert Ph.D.: Engineering is a team sport. Meeting face-to-face by Zoom or teams is not a complete substitute for working shoulder-to-shoulder with colleagues. The different configuration of on-line collaboration means more individual work, less socialization, and therefore the esprit de corps may not be as strong. Working with colleagues around the world has always been a part of engineering, and people are now more skilled at this. By not working within a cubicle farm or open concept collaboration center, without conversations at the water cooler, and over beers after work, means that interpersonal connections may not be as strong. I think people will miss this, and want to return to it, once restrictions are lifted.
How have salaries changed over time for Systems Engineering Interns?
Jim Helm Ph.D.: Salaries have continued to rise. There are more open positions in cybersecurity than there are qualified individuals available to fill the position.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Systems Engineering Internship job market given the pandemic?
Jim Helm Ph.D.: Within Information Technology, we will see more of a transition to working remotely. Many companies have found productivity has increased by employees who work remotely. Of course this is not possible for all IT disciplines, but there are many cybersecurity and networking functions which can be done remotely.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Systems Engineering Interns?
Jim Helm Ph.D.: For IT, the CCNA (Cisco) certifications, CISM (Security), CompTIA (Network), CCIE (Internetwork), AWS Certified (Cloud). There are also several advanced certifications
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Systems Engineering Interns?
Dr. Sayeed Sajal: Certifications/licenses/courses that can boost the skills to support the key areas which I mentioned above, will have the biggest impact on the job prospects during the COVID19 pandemic.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Systems Engineering Internship job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Sayeed Sajal: During the pandemic, the biggest trends are online activities. It can be e-commerce, online teaching, remote learning, any works that the professionals can work from home. Health-related jobs and research are also getting more attention.
What technical skills for a Systems Engineering Internship stand out to employers?
Stuart Bernstein Ph.D.: I have found that employers want their new hires to have at least a working knowledge of, and familiarity with, all of the technical skills, such as estimating, scheduling, surveying and document control. More importantly, though, they are looking for people with interpersonal, teamwork, and leadership skills. They want people who will fit well with the personality of company, who will be able to work well with others, who can solve problems on their own and with the help of others, and who can communicate well with people from all different walks of life, and professions, including owners.
Kevin Shanley Ph.D.
Associate Professor & ChairSUNY College at New Paltz
Division of Engineering Programs
What technical skills for a Systems Engineering Internship stand out to employers?
Kevin Shanley Ph.D.: Critical thinking and problem solving are still the big draws. Obviously, employers are looking for flexible team players now more than ever.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Systems Engineering Interns?
Kevin Shanley Ph.D.: Yes, I think the effects will stay with all of us for quite some time.
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty CoordinatorEast Tennessee State University
Surveying and Mapping
What's a good job out of college for Systems Engineering Interns?
Jared Wilson: Within the field of land surveying and related employment opportunities, work is available. However, in my experience, work may not be in the exact location a person wishes to live. So, a move may be necessary, or potentially traveling to where the work is located. Should a graduate, or person for that matter, want to work, work is available.
Ned Nielsen
Professor of Engineering DesignHope College
Engineering Department
What experience really stands out on Systems Engineering Internship resumes?
Ned Nielsen: Employers are looking for engineering graduates who have had an internship and who have some type of international experience. Since not many engineering graduates have international experience, those who do are highly sought after.
What technical skills for a Systems Engineering Internship stand out to employers?
Robert Taylor: Employers that I talk to want engineering students to have a firm base of applied physics and sufficient mathematics understanding so they can design items, improve items and the like. I see engineers as "creators" of a sort, and creation covers inventing, improving, fixing, and even teaching and communicating technical issues with others. Software skill also are extremely important. The most important thing that most skill that the engineering managers that I converse with report that the most successful engineers have "system" understanding...how a design is to work, what it must interface with, and how it might fit in an overarching system. Finally, all engineering employers I talk to what our engineers to be able to ask AND ANSWER the following question: does what I have done "make sense?"
What's a day at work look like for a Systems Engineering Internship?
Robert Taylor: For the recent graduate, the day at work will be a continuation of C-19 protocol. That will not change until we obtain "herd immunity" for C-19. That said, however, we all still get the normal flu and its mutations and we get the common cold, also a coronavirus. The good news is that the C-19 exercise has re-taught us the necessity for germ prevention...staying at home when we are sick, using better protocols for cleaning of hands & surfaces, and "social distancing." I do also think that the recent graduate will be prepared for his new "days at work" based on the discussions I have had with last year's graduates and their employers. One must remember, we are preparing students for the academic and practical needs of engineering students!