How long does it take to become a Technical Internship?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a technical internship. That is the time it takes to learn specific technical 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 technical internship.

Do tech interns get paid?

Yes, tech interns typically get paid. While there are some unpaid technology internships, they are rarer in this field than in other fields. Tech interns are typically paid about $15 an hour. However, the bigger the company, the more a tech intern can get paid. Tech Interns can earn up to $10,000 a month, working for large companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook.

How do I succeed in a technical internship?

To succeed in a technical internship, take advantage of the networking and learning opportunities as they're presented to you. If you want your technical internship to lead to a job offer or help you build a strong resume, you will need to showcase and develop your skills.

How do you get a technical internship?

To get a technical internship, showcase your areas of technical skill, educational experience, and work experience. This is especially the case for technical internships as they tend to be very competitive, with many other qualified applicants vying for the position.

What technical skills are required for an internship?

The most important technical skill required to land a technology internship is knowledge of common hardware and software programs. A person seeking a technical internship should highlight their knowledge of various programs, computer languages, and information systems.

What is a technical internship and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Yenumula Reddy

A technical internship is a temporary work program designed to give students or recent graduates hands-on experience in a technical field. Technical internships can be found in software development, engineering, and IT. They typically last a few months and involve working alongside experienced professionals. Technical internships aim to provide practical skills and knowledge for individuals to advance their careers. Interns learn new technologies, develop problem-solving skills, and gain exposure to different aspects of the industry.

What's a day at work look like for a technical internship?

Yenumula Reddy

IEEE Senior Member, ACM Senior Member, IARIA Fellow, Grambling State University

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.

ScoreTechnical InternshipUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,417

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.7

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 15.15%

Black or African American 10.34%

Hispanic or Latino 15.16%

Unknown 5.31%

White 53.64%

Gender

female 41.06%

male 58.94%

Age - 41

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 - 41

Stress level

6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

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

Pros

Possible job offers after completion
Chance to work with experienced professionals
Potential for mentorship from senior employees
Opportunities for professional growth and development
Potential for academic credit or recognition

Cons

May be unpaid or low-paying
Long hours or demanding workload
Competitive application process
Unclear expectations or lack of structure in the internship program
Difficulty adapting to company culture or norms

Key steps to become a technical internship

Explore technical internship education requirements

Most common technical internship degrees

Bachelor's

50.1 %

Associate

28.2 %

Master's

6.6 %

Start to develop specific technical internship skills

Skills	Percentages
Python	9.96%
Java	9.61%
Patients	7.20%
C++	5.06%
Customer Service	5.04%

Complete relevant technical internship training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New technical interns learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a technical internship based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real technical internship resumes.

Gain additional technical internship certifications

Technical 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 technical internship certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for technical interns include Patient Care Technician and Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

More About Certifications

Research technical internship duties and responsibilities

Manage the migration to VOIP phone systems.
Used PL/SQL and UNIX shell script to automate daily reports as well as any production error alerts.
Manage the c-arm and o-arm in the operating room while maintaining the sterile field at all times.
Manage group-wide collaboration using SharePoint and enable cross-team communication base on unique team needs.

Apply for technical internship jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a technical internship job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams