How much does a student intern make in California?

Typical pay at each employer, 2025 (everyone paid).

• University of California, San Francisco260 people$3,958
• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority203 people$1,744
• Contra Costa County165 people$12,003
• City of San Diego111 people$1,921
• Santa Clara County86 people$13,510
• University of California, Los Angeles63 people$18,720
• Placer County59 people$4,872
• Monterey County51 people$6,289
• University of California, Santa Barbara44 people$3,862
• City of Santa Clara38 people$7,902
• South Coast Air Quality Management District29 people$5,180
• Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Contra Costa)29 people$33,600
• San Bernardino County28 people$7,313
• San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District28 people$3,960
• Irvine Ranch Water District25 people$8,295
• Orange County Sanitation District23 people$7,082
• University of California, Santa Cruz15 people$5,934
• Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority14 people$5,666
• Kern County14 people$7,013
• City of Milpitas12 people$7,713
• City of San Bernardino11 people$4,640
• Turlock Irrigation District11 people$12,412
• University of California, Irvine10 people$5,825
• City of Santee10 people$8,405
• Sacramento Area Council of Governments10 people$2,700
• City of San Pablo9 people$2,066
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California8 people$16,710
• Contra Costa Water District8 people$9,982
• City of Elk Grove7 people$3,284
• City of West Sacramento5 people$13,739
• Placer County Water Agency5 people$5,670
• Modesto Irrigation District5 people$10,119
• San Diego County Water Authority4 people$9,685
• Santa Cruz Regional 9114 people$4,499
• San Benito County4 people$5,237
• Carmel Area Wastewater Agency (Monterey)3 people$1,609
• Santa Cruz County Transportation Commission3 people$22,060
• East Bay Municipal Utility District3 people$26,764
• San Bernardino County Superior Court2 people$7,797
• Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District1 person$23,244
• Rancho Santiago Community College District1 person$689
• City of Watsonville1 person$710
• City of Fairfield1 person$1,253
• City of Loma Linda1 person$3,284
• Sacramento Suburban Water District1 person$190

No employers match.

Pay by level

Levels with 5 or more people.

• Student Intern1,112 people$3,697
• Student Intern I15 people$6,358
• Student Intern II37 people$6,775
• Student Intern Level I58 people$7,529
• Student Intern III7 people$9,328
• Student Intern Level III49 people$9,440
• Student Intern Level II61 people$12,003
• Student Intern Level IV68 people$13,510
• Student Intern Level V15 people$37,437

Related jobs and the next step up

Same line of work at a different rank, by typical pay (full-year employees where we can tell*).

1. Student Assistant$3,868 (everyone)
2. Student Intern (this page)$5,128 (everyone)
3. Student Intern Senior$10,849 (everyone)
4. Assistant Student$12,014 (everyone)
5. Student Trainee$14,670 (everyone)

Highest-paid student interns, 2025

Common questions