An internship is a period of work experience offered by an employer or organization for a limited period of time. Internships are typically undertaken by students and recent graduates looking to gain relevant skills and experience in a particular field. According to career-search website Zippa, there are 1.36 million people working in internships across America in more than 100 different industries. There are paid internships in all states, but the percentage of unpaid internships varies. (In terms of regular employment, these are America’s highest-paying companies.)
The concept of an unpaid intern is a controversial issue. The Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers to pay employees; the issue is whether interns are employees or not. FLSA guidelines list seven criteria to make the distinction.
According to the FLSA website, these guidelines are designed to “examine the ‘economic reality’ of the intern-employer relationship to determine which party is the ‘primary beneficiary’ of the relationship” In other words, to be legal, unpaid internships have to benefit the intern through gained education and experience; if the primary beneficiary is the employer, who hires an intern with the expectation of getting free labor, then the internship must be paid.
To compile a list of the states with the most unpaid interns, 24/7 Tempo reviewed a recent report by CashNetUSA, an online lender, which analyzed internship salary data from more than 100 industries across all 50 states. To calculate the percentage of unpaid internships in each state, CashNetUSA consulted Chegg Internships to determine the number of disclosed paid, unpaid, and co-op listings, then divided the number of unpaid listings by the sum of the total listings. (Co-op listings are those that grant school credit.) Internship data is as of August 2022.
Average hourly pay for paid internships in each state was sourced from the career-search website Zippia. Internships that were fully remote and for which the pay conditions were not specified were excluded. Data on household income, median gross rent, and bachelor’s degree attainment came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey.
Click here to see the states with the most unpaid interns.
States with low pay, low rent, and low household income offer fewer unpaid internships. States with the most unpaid internships usually have higher rent, hourly pay, and bachelor’s degree attainment. (These are the best-paying jobs you can get without a college degree.)
The Midwestern and Plains states offer the fewest number of unpaid internships, with the percentage in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, Ohio, and Minnesota being 5% or less.
Interns in Washington, California, and Connecticut all earn average hourly pay of $20 or more, but the percentage of unpaid internships at all three is 11.9% or higher. More than one-third of interns in Delaware are unpaid, the highest of any state.
50. Kansas
> Unpaid internships: 4.2%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $13.51 — 6th lowest
> Median gross rent: $904 — 14th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 35.4% — 19th highest
> Median household income: $64,124 — 18th lowest
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49. Nebraska
> Unpaid internships: 4.2%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $14.61 — 12th lowest
> Median gross rent: $912 — 17th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 34.4% — 25th highest
> Median household income: $66,817 — 24th highest
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48. Colorado
> Unpaid internships: 4.7%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $16.86 — 17th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,491 — 3rd highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 44.4% — 3rd highest
> Median household income: $82,254 — 9th highest
47. Nevada
> Unpaid internships: 5.0%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $18.89 — 4th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,311 — 11th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 27.6% — 7th lowest
> Median household income: $66,274 — 23rd lowest
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46. Ohio
> Unpaid internships: 5.0%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $15.78 — 22nd lowest
> Median gross rent: $870 — 10th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 30.7% — 15th lowest
> Median household income: $62,262 — 13th lowest
45. Minnesota
> Unpaid internships: 5.0%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $16.88 — 16th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,113 — 23rd highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 38.9% — 11th highest
> Median household income: $77,720 — 13th highest
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44. Wisconsin
> Unpaid internships: 5.6%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $17.12 — 13th highest
> Median gross rent: $921 — 18th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 32.5% — 22nd lowest
> Median household income: $67,125 — 22nd highest
43. Arkansas
> Unpaid internships: 5.7%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $13.79 — 7th lowest
> Median gross rent: $820 — 2nd lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 25.3% — 3rd lowest
> Median household income: $52,528 — 4th lowest
42. North Dakota
> Unpaid internships: 6.0%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $17.65 — 11th highest
> Median gross rent: $839 — 6th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 31.7% — 20th lowest
> Median household income: $66,519 — 25th lowest
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41. Iowa
> Unpaid internships: 6.1%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $14.00 — 9th lowest
> Median gross rent: $847 — 7th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 30.5% — 13th lowest
> Median household income: $65,600 — 21st lowest
40. Idaho
> Unpaid internships: 6.3%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $15.99 — 25th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,035 — 25th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 30.7% — 14th lowest
> Median household income: $66,474 — 24th lowest
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39. Montana
> Unpaid internships: 6.7%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $16.40 — 23rd highest
> Median gross rent: $883 — 12th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 34.8% — 22nd highest
> Median household income: $63,249 — 16th lowest
38. Kentucky
> Unpaid internships: 6.9%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $14.63 — 13th lowest
> Median gross rent: $830 — 3rd lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 27.0% — 5th lowest
> Median household income: $55,573 — 7th lowest
37. South Dakota
> Unpaid internships: 7.6%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $15.21 — 19th lowest
> Median gross rent: $830 — 4th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 31.7% — 17th lowest
> Median household income: $66,143 — 22nd lowest
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36. West Virginia
> Unpaid internships: 7.6%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $17.82 — 9th highest
> Median gross rent: $767 — the lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 24.1% — the lowest
> Median household income: $51,248 — 2nd lowest
35. South Carolina
> Unpaid internships: 7.6%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $12.44 — 5th lowest
> Median gross rent: $976 — 22nd lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 31.5% — 16th lowest
> Median household income: $59,318 — 9th lowest
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34. Utah
> Unpaid internships: 7.6%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $15.09 — 18th lowest
> Median gross rent: $1,208 — 17th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 36.8% — 13th highest
> Median household income: $79,449 — 11th highest
33. Alabama
> Unpaid internships: 7.8%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $12.39 — 4th lowest
> Median gross rent: $861 — 9th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 27.4% — 6th lowest
> Median household income: $53,913 — 5th lowest
32. Mississippi
> Unpaid internships: 7.8%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $15.01 — 17th lowest
> Median gross rent: $831 — 5th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 24.8% — 2nd lowest
> Median household income: $48,716 — the lowest
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31. Maryland
> Unpaid internships: 7.8%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $16.91 — 15th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,473 — 6th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 42.5% — 5th highest
> Median household income: $90,203 — the highest
30. Tennessee
> Unpaid internships: 8.3%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $14.26 — 10th lowest
> Median gross rent: $981 — 23rd lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 30.5% — 12th lowest
> Median household income: $59,695 — 10th lowest
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29. Vermont
> Unpaid internships: 8.3%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $17.75 — 10th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,115 — 22nd highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 44.4% — 2nd highest
> Median household income: $72,431 — 16th highest
28. Wyoming
> Unpaid internships: 9.1%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $11.92 — the lowest
> Median gross rent: $889 — 13th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 29.2% — 10th lowest
> Median household income: $65,204 — 20th lowest
27. New Hampshire
> Unpaid internships: 9.2%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $17.09 — 14th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,263 — 14th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 40.2% — 8th highest
> Median household income: $88,465 — 4th highest
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26. Texas
> Unpaid internships: 9.4%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $15.32 — 20th lowest
> Median gross rent: $1,167 — 19th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 33.1% — 24th lowest
> Median household income: $66,963 — 23rd highest
25. Alaska
> Unpaid internships: 9.8%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $16.80 — 18th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,259 — 15th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 32.8% — 23rd lowest
> Median household income: $77,845 — 12th highest
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24. Louisiana
> Unpaid internships: 9.9%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $12.12 — 3rd lowest
> Median gross rent: $924 — 19th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 26.4% — 4th lowest
> Median household income: $52,087 — 3rd lowest
23. Missouri
> Unpaid internships: 10.0%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $14.69 — 15th lowest
> Median gross rent: $882 — 11th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 31.7% — 19th lowest
> Median household income: $61,847 — 11th lowest
22. Maine
> Unpaid internships: 10.0%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $15.75 — 21st lowest
> Median gross rent: $945 — 20th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 36.0% — 17th highest
> Median household income: $64,767 — 19th lowest
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21. Arizona
> Unpaid internships: 10.0%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $16.68 — 21st highest
> Median gross rent: $1,253 — 16th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 32.4% — 21st lowest
> Median household income: $69,056 — 20th highest
20. Virginia
> Unpaid internships: 10.9%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $15.98 — 24th lowest
> Median gross rent: $1,331 — 10th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 41.8% — 7th highest
> Median household income: $80,963 — 10th highest
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19. Oklahoma
> Unpaid internships: 11.1%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $13.90 — 8th lowest
> Median gross rent: $855 — 8th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 27.9% — 8th lowest
> Median household income: $55,826 — 8th lowest
18. Michigan
> Unpaid internships: 11.2%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $16.36 — 24th highest
> Median gross rent: $969 — 21st lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 31.7% — 18th lowest
> Median household income: $63,498 — 17th lowest
17. Washington
> Unpaid internships: 11.9%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $20.92 — the highest
> Median gross rent: $1,484 — 5th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 39.0% — 10th highest
> Median household income: $84,247 — 7th highest
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16. Hawaii
> Unpaid internships: 12.1%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $17.46 — 12th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,774 — the highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 35.3% — 20th highest
> Median household income: $84,857 — 6th highest
15. Connecticut
> Unpaid internships: 13.8%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $20.39 — 3rd highest
> Median gross rent: $1,277 — 13th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 42.1% — 6th highest
> Median household income: $83,771 — 8th highest
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14. Rhode Island
> Unpaid internships: 13.8%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $15.85 — 23rd lowest
> Median gross rent: $1,142 — 21st highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 36.5% — 14th highest
> Median household income: $74,008 — 15th highest
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13. Indiana
> Unpaid internships: 14.9%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $14.46 — 11th lowest
> Median gross rent: $905 — 15th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 28.9% — 9th lowest
> Median household income: $62,743 — 14th lowest
12. Georgia
> Unpaid internships: 15.0%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $16.71 — 20th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,153 — 20th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 34.6% — 23rd highest
> Median household income: $66,559 — 25th highest
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11. Pennsylvania
> Unpaid internships: 15.7%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $16.75 — 19th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,036 — 25th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 34.5% — 24th highest
> Median household income: $68,957 — 21st highest
10. Massachusetts
> Unpaid internships: 15.9%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $18.15 — 8th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,487 — 4th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 46.6% — the highest
> Median household income: $89,645 — 2nd highest
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9. North Carolina
> Unpaid internships: 17.5%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $14.68 — 14th lowest
> Median gross rent: $1,026 — 24th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 34.9% — 21st highest
> Median household income: $61,972 — 12th lowest
8. Illinois
> Unpaid internships: 17.6%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $15.99 — 25th lowest
> Median gross rent: $1,106 — 24th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 37.1% — 12th highest
> Median household income: $72,205 — 17th highest
7. Florida
> Unpaid internships: 17.9%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $14.75 — 16th lowest
> Median gross rent: $1,348 — 9th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 33.2% — 25th lowest
> Median household income: $63,062 — 15th lowest
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6. New Jersey
> Unpaid internships: 25.7%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $16.42 — 22nd highest
> Median gross rent: $1,457 — 7th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 43.1% — 4th highest
> Median household income: $89,296 — 3rd highest
5. California
> Unpaid internships: 25.8%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $20.78 — 2nd highest
> Median gross rent: $1,750 — 2nd highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 36.2% — 16th highest
> Median household income: $84,907 — 5th highest
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4. New Mexico
> Unpaid internships: 26.7%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $12.03 — 2nd lowest
> Median gross rent: $906 — 16th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 30.1% — 11th lowest
> Median household income: $53,992 — 6th lowest
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3. Oregon
> Unpaid internships: 26.9%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $18.88 — 5th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,282 — 12th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 36.3% — 15th highest
> Median household income: $71,562 — 18th highest
2. New York
> Unpaid internships: 27.0%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $18.38 — 6th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,409 — 8th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 39.9% — 9th highest
> Median household income: $74,314 — 14th highest
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1. Delaware
> Unpaid internships: 33.5%
> Avg. hourly pay for paid internships: $18.31 — 7th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,208 — 18th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 35.6% — 18th highest
> Median household income: $71,091 — 19th highest
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