When it comes to finding internships, you’re probably looking for a few things in particular. Perhaps you want the chance to explore a unique career or the opportunity to hone a specific set of skills. One thing you shouldn’t overlook in your internship search, though, is your salary.
The right college internship can lead to a high-paying job after you graduate, especially if it’s paid. According to a 2019 Student Survey Report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), students who took unpaid internships received half as many jobs offers as those who took paid internships.
Paid internships are amazing, obviously, but why settle for minimum wage? If you want to gain valuable experience while raking in some serious dough, check out this list of the highest-paying internships in the world. *
*Data provided by Glassdoor
1. Facebook
Median Monthly Salary: $8,000
Facebook is constantly seeking talented interns and co-ops to join their software engineering team. However, be warned: The competition for these opportunities is insanely fierce. But that probably comes as no big surprise, given that it’s the highest-paying internship opportunity on this list.
2. Amazon
Median Monthly Salary: $7,725
Since Amazon has dipped its hands into many different industries, you’ll find a diverse range of high-paying internship opportunities on its website. Interested in applying for one of the largest and most powerful multinational companies? The multinational company gives out helpful tips on how to land an Amazon internship on their blog.
3. Salesforce
Median Monthly Salary: $7,667
Salesforce, a cloud-based software company, provides internship opportunities for both technical and non-technical backgrounds. While the tech-based roles are likely to pay more, you really can’t go wrong with any Salesforce internship. Along with a great salary, the company also offers perks like volunteer time off (VTO) and a social calendar full of networking events.
4. Google
Median Monthly Salary: $7,500
While Google may not take the top spot on our list of highest-paying internships, they definitely make up for it in their internship perks. Google interns enjoy many of the same perks as regular employees, such as free rent, transportation, gym membership, massages, electronics, and much more.
Keep in mind that Google gets a high number of applications each semester. You can maximize your chances of getting accepted by putting together an awesome application. Check out these blogs to get some helpful pointers for writing cover letters and resumes for internships:
5. Microsoft
Median Monthly Pay: $7,250
Microsoft has long had a reputation for being one of the best places to intern. In addition to offering competitive pay, interns get to work on products that actually matter (read: no coffee fetching or mindless busywork). Plus, Microsoft interns get tons of amazing perks, like free daily meals, transportation, and relocation benefits.
6. Uber
Median Monthly Pay: $7,167
Perhaps one of your side hustles for college involved driving for Uber. But did you know that they have some of the highest-paying internships in the world? The rideshare company has tons of amazing internship opportunities for those majoring in business, software engineering, computer science, finance, marketing, and more. Intern perks include catered meals, stipend for housing, and Uber credits for transportation.
Median Monthly Pay: $7,167
Perhaps one of your side hustles for college involved driving for Uber. But did you know that they have some of the highest-paying internships in the world? The rideshare company has tons of amazing internship opportunities for those majoring in business, software engineering, computer science, finance, marketing, and more. Intern perks include catered meals, stipend for housing, and Uber credits for transportation.
7. Bloomberg L.P.
Median Monthly Pay: $7,000
Fancy working in fintech? According to several Glassdoor reviews, Bloomberg L.P. offers a welcoming and supportive place to work – on top of great pay. Although the fintech media company has mostly shifted to remote internships due to COVID-19, you can still gain valuable skills and networking opportunities through a virtual experience.
8. Capital One
Median Monthly Pay: $7,000
If you want to break into the finance industry, an internship at Capital One is sure to look amazing on a resume. The American bank has several internship programs that provide students with the opportunity to apply the skills they learned in the classroom to a real-world business setting. If you’re majoring in math, accounting, or finance, be sure to check out their Commercial Banking Program, which gives students an in-depth understanding of the banking industry.
Snag Your Dream Internship
We probably don’t need to tell you that all of these internships are ultra-competitive. That’s just a natural consequence of offering an amazing paycheck, as well as prestige. But that does NOT mean that these internships are out of your reach. As long as you meet their minimum qualifications, you have just as good of a chance of getting the internship as anyone else — so go for it!