IT Intern Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$35,000
national median salary
$27,000 to $46,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$48,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$37,000
Washington DC, DC
Lowest Paying
$26,000
Charleston, WV
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile for full-time positions. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated April 2026. Baseline derived from BLS SOC 15-1299. Full methodology.
The average IT Intern salary in the United States is $35,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $27,000 at the 25th percentile to $46,000 at the 75th. San Francisco pays the most at $48,000, while Washington DC offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. IT Intern compensation is driven by years of experience, specialization depth, and the industry domain.
IT Intern salary by city
Skills that increase IT Intern pay
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for IT Interns based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $4,900 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$4,900 per year
≈ +$4,550 per year
≈ +$4,200 per year
≈ +$3,850 per year
≈ +$3,850 per year
≈ +$3,500 per year
≈ +$3,500 per year
≈ +$3,150 per year
What you should know
IT Intern compensation is driven by years of experience, specialization depth, and the industry domain. Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 10% in a typical year. Within tech-sector IT Interns specifically, employer tier (FAANG and frontier-AI labs vs mid-stage startups vs traditional enterprise) drives 70%+ variance across the compensation band.
IT Interns progress from entry to senior over 5 to 8 years, with lead and management levels requiring 10+ years and demonstrated cross-functional scope. IT Interns specifically are entry-level; the first 2 to 3 years build foundational skills before the mid-level transition.
Total compensation for IT Interns runs roughly $39K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~10% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. At tech companies specifically, equity and sign-on are often the largest delta between offers — two roles with matching base can differ by $100K+ at total when equity is included.
Total compensation breakdown
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote IT Interns typically earn $32,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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