What interns get paid?

Interns in many fields receive competitive pay, especially in industries where technical skills are highly valued. Here’s a breakdown of what interns get paid across various fields:

1. Technology and Software Engineering

• Hourly Pay: Tech interns, particularly software engineering interns, often earn 20 to 60+ per hour at major companies like Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Amazon.
• Monthly Pay: This translates to around 5,000 to 10,000 per month, making it one of the highest-paying fields for interns.
• Additional Benefits: Many tech companies also provide perks like housing stipends, relocation assistance, meals, and access to company events.

2. Finance and Investment Banking

• Hourly Pay: Finance and investment banking interns typically make between 25 and 50 per hour.
• Monthly Pay: High-paying finance internships, especially in investment banks or hedge funds, can offer 7,000 to 10,000 per month.
• Performance Bonuses: Some finance internships include bonuses, particularly in roles like quantitative analysis or trading.

3. Consulting

• Hourly Pay: Consulting interns at top firms like McKinsey, Bain, and BCG often earn between 25 to 40 per hour.
• Monthly Pay: Interns in consulting can expect 5,000 to 8,000 per month, depending on the company and location.
• Networking and Development: Consulting firms often offer workshops and mentorship, adding professional development value.

4. Engineering (Non-Software)

• Hourly Pay: Mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering interns typically earn 15 to 30 per hour.
• Monthly Pay: Interns in these fields often make 3,000 to 5,000 per month.
• Project-Based Experience: These internships often involve hands-on work on real engineering projects, providing valuable field experience.

5. Healthcare, Research, and Biotech

• Hourly Pay: Internships in healthcare, research, and biotech generally pay 15 to 30 per hour.
• Monthly Pay: Earnings range from 3,000 to 5,000 per month, depending on the specific role and institution.
• Academic Credit and Experience: Some healthcare and research internships may offer academic credit in addition to pay, especially for students in medical or research fields.

6. Media, Marketing, and Public Relations

• Hourly Pay: Interns in media, marketing, and PR typically make between 12 to 20 per hour.
• Monthly Pay: Monthly earnings usually range from 2,500 to 4,000, though this varies based on the company and location.
• Experience in Creative Fields: Media and marketing internships often provide valuable experience in content creation, campaign management, and social media.

7. Nonprofit and Public Service

• Hourly Pay: Nonprofit internships can range from unpaid to 10 to 20 per hour. Paid internships in this sector are becoming more common, though they tend to offer lower pay compared to corporate roles.
• Monthly Pay: Paid internships in nonprofits may offer 1,500 to 3,000 per month, depending on the organization’s budget and funding.
• Volunteer Stipends or Academic Credit: Many nonprofits offer stipends or academic credit, especially for interns working in community service or social work.

8. Law and Legal Internships

• Hourly Pay: Legal interns at law firms or corporate legal departments can make between 15 to 35 per hour.
• Monthly Pay: Interns may earn 3,000 to 6,000 per month, depending on the firm and role.
• Experience in Legal Research and Documentation: Legal internships provide experience in researching case law, drafting documents, and observing court procedures.

9. Education and Academic Internships

• Hourly Pay: Internships in education, such as teaching assistantships or academic research, often pay 10 to 25 per hour.
• Monthly Pay: Interns typically earn 2,000 to 4,000 per month, particularly in academic research roles.
• Academic Credit: Some academic internships offer credit instead of pay, particularly if they are university-sponsored.

Conclusion

Paid internships are available across many fields, with tech, finance, and consulting offering the highest pay, often 20 to 60+ per hour. Other fields, such as media, nonprofits, and education, tend to offer lower pay but provide valuable experience and networking opportunities. Paid internships have become increasingly common, especially in industries that value specialized skills, making them a beneficial choice for students looking to gain work experience.