9 Highest Paying Industries for Interns in 2026

Internships can be an important first step toward building a successful career. They give students, recent graduates and career changers a chance to gain practical workplace experience, learn industry expectations and develop professional connections without immediately taking on the full responsibilities of a permanent role.

In the past, many internships were unpaid, with employers often offering “experience” instead of wages. Today, paid internships are much more common, although compensation still varies widely by industry. Some fields offer strong hourly pay and very few unpaid opportunities, while others continue to rely heavily on unpaid intern labor.

The rankings and figures below are based on CashNetUSA’s 2023 U.S. Internship Report and compare average hourly pay for interns across major industries.

9. Government

Average hourly rate for interns: $14.56

Percentage of unpaid internships: 7.97 percent

Bottom line: Government is one of the largest employment sectors in the United States, which means there are many different internship paths available. Because public sector work covers such a broad range of services, interns may find opportunities in education, healthcare, administration, communications, public policy and community programs.

A government internship can be especially useful if you are interested in public service, politics or policy work. It can also help you understand how agencies operate and whether a long-term career in the public sector fits your goals.

8. Education

Average hourly rate for interns: $15.60

Percentage of unpaid internships: 11.03 percent

Bottom line: Teachers across the U.S. are often underpaid, but education internships still provide valuable hands-on experience. These internships commonly take the form of teaching assistant roles, classroom support positions or education program placements.

Interns in this field may observe experienced teachers, help with lesson preparation, support students and learn about classroom management in a real-world environment. An education internship can be a smart way to decide whether teaching is truly the right career path, especially given the workload and relatively modest pay associated with many teaching jobs.

7. Media

Average hourly rate for interns: $15.90

Percentage of unpaid internships: 14.14 percent

Bottom line: Whether your goal is to work in journalism, broadcasting, digital publishing, video production or entertainment, media internships can be extremely valuable. This is an industry where contacts, practical experience and familiarity with production systems can make a major difference.

Media interns often learn how content is planned, produced, edited and distributed. In many cases, internships can lead to future job opportunities because employers prefer candidates who already understand their workflow, tools and editorial standards. However, unpaid internships remain fairly common in this field, so applicants should evaluate each opportunity carefully.

6. Retail

Average hourly rate for interns: $16.39

Percentage of unpaid internships: 18.80 percent

Bottom line: Retail internships are often more focused on planning, operations and business strategy than on working directly on the sales floor. Depending on the company, interns may assist with inventory planning, order management, merchandising, financial analysis or customer data review.

The quality of the experience can vary. Some companies may assign basic administrative tasks, while others give interns the chance to contribute ideas, participate in meetings and learn how retail decisions are made behind the scenes. For those interested in business, supply chains, merchandising or brand management, a retail internship can offer useful early-career exposure.

5. Healthcare

Average hourly rate for interns: $16.61

Percentage of unpaid internships: 5.06 percent

Bottom line: Healthcare depends on highly trained professionals, so internships and supervised training experiences are common. Most healthcare interns are not placed in situations involving major medical decisions. Instead, they may assist staff, observe procedures, support administrative work or learn through structured training.

Healthcare internships are not only for aspiring doctors. Opportunities may also be available in healthcare administration, patient services, education, research support and clinical laboratory settings. Another advantage is that unpaid internships are relatively uncommon in this industry, with just over 5 percent of positions reported as unpaid.

4. Manufacturing

Average hourly rate for interns: $17.01

Percentage of unpaid internships: 0.92 percent

Bottom line: Manufacturing stands out not only for paying interns above minimum wage in many cases, but also for having the lowest percentage of unpaid internships on this list. According to the report, 99.08 percent of manufacturing interns are paid while learning the technical and operational skills needed in the field.

Internships in manufacturing may involve engineering support, production planning, quality control, logistics, maintenance, safety procedures or administrative roles. For people who enjoy problem-solving, systems and hands-on work, this industry can offer a strong paid internship experience.

3. Professional Services

Average hourly rate for interns: $17.91

Percentage of unpaid internships: 14.26 percent

Bottom line: Professional services include fields such as law, consulting, architecture and other specialized services that typically require advanced education, licensing or technical expertise. Internships are common in these industries because early experience helps candidates build practical skills before moving into more advanced roles.

For example, aspiring lawyers may begin by working in support roles and learning how legal offices operate. Consultants, architects and other professional service interns may assist with research, documentation, client preparation or project coordination. Because these careers often require specialized knowledge, internships can be a valuable first step.

2. Finance

Average hourly rate for interns: $18.10

Percentage of unpaid internships: 30.67 percent

Bottom line: Finance is known for strong earning potential, so its high average internship pay is not surprising. What stands out is the high share of unpaid internships. At 30.67 percent, finance has the largest percentage of unpaid internships among the industries listed here.

This creates a clear divide: Some finance interns earn competitive hourly wages, while others receive no pay at all. If you are pursuing finance as a long-term career, it is worth being selective. A paid internship can provide valuable experience in areas such as analysis, accounting, banking or investment support without requiring you to work for free.

1. Technology

Average hourly rate for interns: $19.77

Percentage of unpaid internships: 2.31 percent

Bottom line: Technology ranks as the highest-paying industry for interns. That fits the broader reputation of the tech sector, which is known for competitive salaries, strong demand for skilled workers and rapid career growth opportunities.

Unlike finance, technology also has a very low percentage of unpaid internships. According to the report, 97.69 percent of tech interns are paid. That means applicants should be cautious about any technology internship that offers only “experience” or “connections” instead of compensation.

Some of the most sought-after internships in tech are at major companies, where competition can be intense. These roles are attractive because they may offer meaningful project experience, exposure to professional development practices and, in some cases, a path toward future employment.

Average Internship Pay by Industry