A majority of employers end up offering full-time jobs to their interns, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. In fact, about 70% of interns land a job with their employer after their internship. Major companies including General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Goldman Sachs, IBM, NBCUniversal, and all of the Big Four accounting firms are known to hire a large percentage of their staff directly from their pool of interns.
Depending on the target industry, an internship could be a crucial step in landing a job, especially for those fresh out of college. However, the financial viability of interning can be a gamble, as internships tend to vary wildly in their pay rates – with many offering little or no compensation. (Here are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree.)
To compile a list of the states with the best paid internships, 24/7 Tempo reviewed a recently released report by CashNetUSA, an online lender, which analyzed internship salary data of 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.
Tech internships often pay higher wages than other industries, with an average rate of $19.77 per hour; and interns in states with large tech industries like Washington and California tend to make much higher wages. Connecticut, which is a center of aerospace manufacturing, software development, and finance, also offers internships with great compensation.
Click here to see the states where interns can make the most money
After tech, the finance industry offers the second highest-paying internships, with an average hourly rate of $18.10. However, finance is also the industry with the highest percentage of unpaid internships, with 30% offering no compensation.
The states with the highest percentage of unpaid internships – Delaware, New York, Oregon, New Jersey, and California – tend to have higher rents as well as higher bachelor’s degree attainment. On the other hand, states with the lowest paying internships, including Wyoming, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Alabama tend to also have lower rents, lower household incomes, and lower bachelor’s attainment. (These are 18 states where Americans make the least money.)
50. Wyoming
> Avg. hourly pay: $11.92
> Unpaid internships: 9.1% — 23rd lowest
> Median household income: $65,204 — 20th lowest
> Median gross rent: $889 — 13th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 29.2% — 10th lowest
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49. New Mexico
> Avg. hourly pay: $12.03
> Unpaid internships: 26.7% — 4th highest
> Median household income: $53,992 — 6th lowest
> Median gross rent: $906 — 16th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 30.1% — 11th lowest
48. Louisiana
> Avg. hourly pay: $12.12
> Unpaid internships: 9.9% — 24th highest
> Median household income: $52,087 — 3rd lowest
> Median gross rent: $924 — 19th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 26.4% — 4th lowest
47. Alabama
> Avg. hourly pay: $12.39
> Unpaid internships: 7.8% — 18th lowest
> Median household income: $53,913 — 5th lowest
> Median gross rent: $861 — 9th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 27.4% — 6th lowest
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46. South Carolina
> Avg. hourly pay: $12.44
> Unpaid internships: 7.6% — 16th lowest
> Median household income: $59,318 — 9th lowest
> Median gross rent: $976 — 22nd lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 31.5% — 16th lowest
45. Kansas
> Avg. hourly pay: $13.51
> Unpaid internships: 4.2% — the lowest
> Median household income: $64,124 — 18th lowest
> Median gross rent: $904 — 14th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 35.4% — 19th highest
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44. Arkansas
> Avg. hourly pay: $13.79
> Unpaid internships: 5.7% — 8th lowest
> Median household income: $52,528 — 4th lowest
> Median gross rent: $820 — 2nd lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 25.3% — 3rd lowest
43. Oklahoma
> Avg. hourly pay: $13.90
> Unpaid internships: 11.1% — 19th highest
> Median household income: $55,826 — 8th lowest
> Median gross rent: $855 — 8th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 27.9% — 8th lowest
42. Iowa
> Avg. hourly pay: $14.00
> Unpaid internships: 6.1% — 10th lowest
> Median household income: $65,600 — 21st lowest
> Median gross rent: $847 — 7th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 30.5% — 13th lowest
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41. Tennessee
> Avg. hourly pay: $14.26
> Unpaid internships: 8.3% — 21st lowest
> Median household income: $59,695 — 10th lowest
> Median gross rent: $981 — 23rd lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 30.5% — 12th lowest
40. Indiana
> Avg. hourly pay: $14.46
> Unpaid internships: 14.9% — 13th highest
> Median household income: $62,743 — 14th lowest
> Median gross rent: $905 — 15th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 28.9% — 9th lowest
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39. Nebraska
> Avg. hourly pay: $14.61
> Unpaid internships: 4.2% — 2nd lowest
> Median household income: $66,817 — 24th highest
> Median gross rent: $912 — 17th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 34.4% — 25th highest
38. Kentucky
> Avg. hourly pay: $14.63
> Unpaid internships: 6.9% — 13th lowest
> Median household income: $55,573 — 7th lowest
> Median gross rent: $830 — 3rd lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 27.0% — 5th lowest
37. North Carolina
> Avg. hourly pay: $14.68
> Unpaid internships: 17.5% — 9th highest
> Median household income: $61,972 — 12th lowest
> Median gross rent: $1,026 — 24th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 34.9% — 21st highest
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36. Missouri
> Avg. hourly pay: $14.69
> Unpaid internships: 10.0% — 23rd highest
> Median household income: $61,847 — 11th lowest
> Median gross rent: $882 — 11th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 31.7% — 19th lowest
35. Florida
> Avg. hourly pay: $14.75
> Unpaid internships: 17.9% — 7th highest
> Median household income: $63,062 — 15th lowest
> Median gross rent: $1,348 — 9th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 33.2% — 25th lowest
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34. Mississippi
> Avg. hourly pay: $15.01
> Unpaid internships: 7.8% — 19th lowest
> Median household income: $48,716 — the lowest
> Median gross rent: $831 — 5th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 24.8% — 2nd lowest
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33. Utah
> Avg. hourly pay: $15.09
> Unpaid internships: 7.6% — 17th lowest
> Median household income: $79,449 — 11th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,208 — 17th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 36.8% — 13th highest
32. South Dakota
> Avg. hourly pay: $15.21
> Unpaid internships: 7.6% — 14th lowest
> Median household income: $66,143 — 22nd lowest
> Median gross rent: $830 — 4th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 31.7% — 17th lowest
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31. Texas
> Avg. hourly pay: $15.32
> Unpaid internships: 9.4% — 25th lowest
> Median household income: $66,963 — 23rd highest
> Median gross rent: $1,167 — 19th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 33.1% — 24th lowest
30. Maine
> Avg. hourly pay: $15.75
> Unpaid internships: 10.0% — 22nd highest
> Median household income: $64,767 — 19th lowest
> Median gross rent: $945 — 20th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 36.0% — 17th highest
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29. Ohio
> Avg. hourly pay: $15.78
> Unpaid internships: 5.0% — 5th lowest
> Median household income: $62,262 — 13th lowest
> Median gross rent: $870 — 10th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 30.7% — 15th lowest
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28. Rhode Island
> Avg. hourly pay: $15.85
> Unpaid internships: 13.8% — 14th highest
> Median household income: $74,008 — 15th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,142 — 21st highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 36.5% — 14th highest
27. Virginia
> Avg. hourly pay: $15.98
> Unpaid internships: 10.9% — 20th highest
> Median household income: $80,963 — 10th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,331 — 10th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 41.8% — 7th highest
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26. Illinois
> Avg. hourly pay: $15.99
> Unpaid internships: 17.6% — 8th highest
> Median household income: $72,205 — 17th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,106 — 24th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 37.1% — 12th highest
25. Idaho
> Avg. hourly pay: $15.99
> Unpaid internships: 6.3% — 11th lowest
> Median household income: $66,474 — 24th lowest
> Median gross rent: $1,035 — 25th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 30.7% — 14th lowest
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24. Michigan
> Avg. hourly pay: $16.36
> Unpaid internships: 11.2% — 18th highest
> Median household income: $63,498 — 17th lowest
> Median gross rent: $969 — 21st lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 31.7% — 18th lowest
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23. Montana
> Avg. hourly pay: $16.40
> Unpaid internships: 6.7% — 12th lowest
> Median household income: $63,249 — 16th lowest
> Median gross rent: $883 — 12th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 34.8% — 22nd highest
22. New Jersey
> Avg. hourly pay: $16.42
> Unpaid internships: 25.7% — 6th highest
> Median household income: $89,296 — 3rd highest
> Median gross rent: $1,457 — 7th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 43.1% — 4th highest
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21. Arizona
> Avg. hourly pay: $16.68
> Unpaid internships: 10.0% — 21st highest
> Median household income: $69,056 — 20th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,253 — 16th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 32.4% — 21st lowest
20. Georgia
> Avg. hourly pay: $16.71
> Unpaid internships: 15.0% — 12th highest
> Median household income: $66,559 — 25th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,153 — 20th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 34.6% — 23rd highest
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19. Pennsylvania
> Avg. hourly pay: $16.75
> Unpaid internships: 15.7% — 11th highest
> Median household income: $68,957 — 21st highest
> Median gross rent: $1,036 — 25th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 34.5% — 24th highest
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18. Alaska
> Avg. hourly pay: $16.80
> Unpaid internships: 9.8% — 25th highest
> Median household income: $77,845 — 12th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,259 — 15th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 32.8% — 23rd lowest
17. Colorado
> Avg. hourly pay: $16.86
> Unpaid internships: 4.7% — 3rd lowest
> Median household income: $82,254 — 9th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,491 — 3rd highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 44.4% — 3rd highest
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16. Minnesota
> Avg. hourly pay: $16.88
> Unpaid internships: 5.0% — 6th lowest
> Median household income: $77,720 — 13th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,113 — 23rd highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 38.9% — 11th highest
15. Maryland
> Avg. hourly pay: $16.91
> Unpaid internships: 7.8% — 20th lowest
> Median household income: $90,203 — the highest
> Median gross rent: $1,473 — 6th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 42.5% — 5th highest
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14. New Hampshire
> Avg. hourly pay: $17.09
> Unpaid internships: 9.2% — 24th lowest
> Median household income: $88,465 — 4th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,263 — 14th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 40.2% — 8th highest
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13. Wisconsin
> Avg. hourly pay: $17.12
> Unpaid internships: 5.6% — 7th lowest
> Median household income: $67,125 — 22nd highest
> Median gross rent: $921 — 18th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 32.5% — 22nd lowest
12. Hawaii
> Avg. hourly pay: $17.46
> Unpaid internships: 12.1% — 16th highest
> Median household income: $84,857 — 6th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,774 — the highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 35.3% — 20th highest
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11. North Dakota
> Avg. hourly pay: $17.65
> Unpaid internships: 6.0% — 9th lowest
> Median household income: $66,519 — 25th lowest
> Median gross rent: $839 — 6th lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 31.7% — 20th lowest
10. Vermont
> Avg. hourly pay: $17.75
> Unpaid internships: 8.3% — 22nd lowest
> Median household income: $72,431 — 16th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,115 — 22nd highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 44.4% — 2nd highest
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9. West Virginia
> Avg. hourly pay: $17.82
> Unpaid internships: 7.6% — 15th lowest
> Median household income: $51,248 — 2nd lowest
> Median gross rent: $767 — the lowest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 24.1% — the lowest
8. Massachusetts
> Avg. hourly pay: $18.15
> Unpaid internships: 15.9% — 10th highest
> Median household income: $89,645 — 2nd highest
> Median gross rent: $1,487 — 4th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 46.6% — the highest
7. Delaware
> Avg. hourly pay: $18.31
> Unpaid internships: 33.5% — the highest
> Median household income: $71,091 — 19th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,208 — 18th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 35.6% — 18th highest
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6. New York
> Avg. hourly pay: $18.38
> Unpaid internships: 27.0% — 2nd highest
> Median household income: $74,314 — 14th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,409 — 8th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 39.9% — 9th highest
5. Oregon
> Avg. hourly pay: $18.88
> Unpaid internships: 26.9% — 3rd highest
> Median household income: $71,562 — 18th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,282 — 12th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 36.3% — 15th highest
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4. Nevada
> Avg. hourly pay: $18.89
> Unpaid internships: 5.0% — 4th lowest
> Median household income: $66,274 — 23rd lowest
> Median gross rent: $1,311 — 11th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 27.6% — 7th lowest
3. Connecticut
> Avg. hourly pay: $20.39
> Unpaid internships: 13.8% — 15th highest
> Median household income: $83,771 — 8th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,277 — 13th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 42.1% — 6th highest
2. California
> Avg. hourly pay: $20.78
> Unpaid internships: 25.8% — 5th highest
> Median household income: $84,907 — 5th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,750 — 2nd highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 36.2% — 16th highest
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1. Washington
> Avg. hourly pay: $20.92
> Unpaid internships: 11.9% — 17th highest
> Median household income: $84,247 — 7th highest
> Median gross rent: $1,484 — 5th highest
> People with a bachelor’s degree: 39.0% — 10th highest
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