7 Best First Jobs That Are Paid Internships
Written by
G. Brian Davis
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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In a world where AI has automated many entry-level jobs, it feels harder than ever to find a career on-ramp that helps you develop the skills you need and pays decent money. As you explore internship and career options, start with the below fields that still offer paid internships.
Also here are the best first jobs if your field isn’t hiring.
Startups
It sounds counterintuitive, but many startups offer paid internships.
“The best paid internships are with startups or rapidly growing companies, especially in tech, sales or marketing roles,” said Sam Wright of resume-builder Huntr. “In college I had two paid internships at startups and one of them turned into my first job.”
While startups aren’t known for having cash to spare, internships with them come with some great perks. “Unlike corporate internships, startups offer interns direct access to leaders,” he added. “Their contributions are noticed and valued, often leading directly to full-time job offers.”
Unicef
Dream of a career in nonprofits? Consider starting with Unicef, which offers paid internships — a rarity in this space.
Ryan Walker, CEO at career training platform Beyond Academy, has nothing but praise for Unicef and their internship program.
“Different Unicef offices offer internships based on their need and capacity and they typically last six to 26 weeks with the possibility of extension,” he said. “Not all Unicef agencies pay interns, but when they do, you’ll likely earn $700 to $1700, depending on the role and location.”
Software Companies
“Look for roles that offer a blend of hard skills and client interaction,” explained Paul DeMott, chief technology officer (CTO) of Helium SEO. And nowhere is that advice more applicable than software development.
These provide a foundation in your industry of choice, plus the softer skills of working with people. Vijay Sairam, founder of Remote Jobs Central, started his career this way.
“Software businesses as small as HackerRank — where I worked — and as large as the FAANG companies offer paid internships to this day,” Sairam said.
Finance
Financial institutions hire plenty of paid internships, which offer a glimpse into this fast-paced career track. It’s certainly not for everyone — which is why you want to find out as early as possible if it’s for you.
“New graduates who major in finance, accounting or economics can score internships with household-name companies like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, PwC and Deloitte,” Sairam said. But don’t end your search with the big names. Plenty of local or boutique firms offer paid internships as well, often with a full-time job offer at the end.
Media Buying
All companies have marketing budgets and most of them pay for advertising. If you learn the fundamentals of paid marketing campaigns, there’s no limit to your usefulness.
“You gain insight into advertising strategies, negotiation and budget management,” DeMott explained. “I have seen individuals who started in media buying transition into broader marketing strategy roles because they understand the financial implications and ROI (return on investment) of different marketing channels.”
Social Media Marketing
People spend an enormous amount of time on social media. Meanwhile, social platforms maintain detailed data on each user — allowing surgical precision for marketers.
The social media market size hit $252.95 billion in 2024 according to The Business Research Company. It’s projected to hit $466.56 billion by 2029.
Healthcare Administration
Many hospitals, urgent care and other medical facilities and administrators offer paid internships. Coupled with a degree in health administration, these often pave a career path.
“Paid internships in health administration are some of the best first jobs of all time,” said Lucas Botzen, founder of recruiting platform Rivermate. “They offer structured training in which candidates can develop analytical and problem-solving ability. Plus, the industry pays high wages and internships offer a direct avenue to full-time employment.”
As you research and compare paid internships, focus less on the money and more on the skills and career opportunities you’ll gain. Look for internships that let you work directly with clients or partners, rather than hiding behind a computer screen (or worse, coffee machine).
Ask about how many interns go on to work for the company full-time. Most of all, ask how much interaction you’ll have with higher-ranking leaders at the company. The more exposure you have to the top, the more likely you are to find paths there yourself.
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