Accounting Internship Salary: A Comprehensive Overview
An accounting internship offers invaluable practical experience for students and recent graduates aspiring to a career in accounting. A key consideration for prospective interns is the compensation they can expect to receive. This article delves into the typical salary range for accounting internships, factors influencing pay, and how salaries vary across different locations and industries.
Average Accounting Internship Salary in the United States
The average accounting internship salary in the United States is $30,642. This figure, however, represents a broad average, and actual salaries can vary significantly based on several factors. Accounting internship salaries typically range between $24,000 and $38,000 yearly.
The average hourly rate for accounting interns is $14.73 per hour.
Factors Influencing Accounting Internship Salary
Several factors can influence the salary offered for an accounting internship. These include:
- Location: The geographic location of the internship plays a significant role in determining salary.
- Education: Interns with more advanced education or specialized coursework may command higher salaries.
- Experience: Prior experience, even in related fields, can positively impact earning potential.
Salary Variations by Location
Location is a primary driver of salary differences for accounting internships.
Read also: Guide to Accounting Internship Resumes
Accounting interns earn the highest average salary in California.
Highest Paying States
The highest-paying states for accounting interns are California, Washington, and Colorado.
Highest Paying Cities
The highest-paying cities for accounting interns are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Grand Junction, CO.
Lowest Paying States
The lowest average accounting internship salary states are Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Salary Variations by Company
Different companies offer varying compensation packages for accounting internships. Accounting internship salaries at BWX Technologies and Los Alamos National Laboratory are the highest-paying according to recent salary estimates. In addition, the average accounting internship salary at companies like National Grid plc and CBIZ are highly competitive.
Read also: Career in Accounting
- American Enterprise Institute: $37,501
Salary Range Percentiles
An accounting internship's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $38,000 at the 90th percentile.
Accounting Internship Salary by Industry
The industry in which the internship is based also affects the average salary. The average accounting internship salary varies across industries. The average accounting internship salary in the telecommunication industry is $34,961, the highest of any industry. The average accounting internship salary in the finance industry is $34,163. Accounting interns in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $31,178, the lowest of any industry.
Highest Paying Accounting Internship Jobs
The type of role within accounting also affects the salary. The highest paying types of accounting interns are account auditor, accounting consultant, and accounting analyst.
Accounting Internship Salary Trends Over Time
The average accounting internship salary has risen over the past decade. In 2014, the average accounting internship earned $25,100 annually, but today, they earn $30,642 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for accounting interns over the last decade.
Wage Gap Considerations
Wage disparities can exist based on gender, race, and education.
Read also: Master's in Accountancy at Rutgers
Additional Salary Data Points
Based on the latest salary information compiled by Zippia, Glassdoor, Ziprecruiter and Comparably, the average salary for an accounting internship typically falls between $30,642 and $62,492.
- Comparably: $62,492 yearly
- ZipRecruiter: $37,795 yearly
tags: #accounting #internship #salary

