Which Company Pays Their Interns THE BEST?

undefined · 09-23-2007, 09:29 AM

I'm in my junior year and I'm looking for an electrical/computer engineering internship. Now, I know this is a silly question - but which companies pay the most (in the US)? I know Google and Microsoft are both up there, but any others?

I'm only taking this attitude for this internship... when I get a real job, I'll obviously be looking at each offer/position with great detail.

I will be honest with you:

* I don't care how long I have to work because I plan on working my butt off wherever I get into.

* At this point, I want to find a job that offers me the most money, no matter what industry (I mean, minus manufacturing, etc...). I've had an internship in the aviation industry and I do not mind moving around industries for this upcoming summer. I'm open to work in any field, as long as it is technical and provides me with a good base. Defense/Medical/Computer Electronics/Software company (doing EE/CE work is preferable, or embedded systems), etc.

* I understand that factors such as GPA, leadership skills/positions on campus, volunteer, previous work experience, technical skills, etc... contribute to the calculation of my GPA, but I think I have at least 80% nailed down.

If anyone can throw a ballpark figure of a company, for a specific position, that'd be helpful. And again, I know that it depends on MANY factors, both on my side and on their side (profit for the year, business unit of the company, other candidates in the pool, etc.)

Sorry if I sound ignorant at this point, but I've researched many other parts of finding an internship. I got stuck with a $13/hr internship between my sophomore and junior year and didn't learn as much as I'd like, especially knowing that my friend (who has lesser qualifications than me - both in all GPA, leadership positions, and technical skills) got paid quite a hefty number per hour. I just applied to the wrong job.

real_mav · 09-25-2007, 04:42 AM

i heard oracle pays slightly more. Yahoo is pretty high too.

dcoates · 09-27-2007, 11:36 AM

Wow, I would have killed for a $13/hr internship in college! Seriously though, you're going for an internship so I say don't focus on money. I don't know your financial background, but you can definitely more than get by if you consider $13/hr a low sum. An internship shouldn't be about the pay, it should be about networking, 'trying out' a career, and learning new things.

Myrmidon73 · 09-27-2007, 04:35 PM

If you want to makes lots of money, and are smart enough (I'm guessing you are, by looking at your post), just play poker. It seems like you have enough money for a good bankroll.

The point of an internship is to gain experience in a field you are interested in. If you only care about the money, there are lots of ways to make way more than $13/hour

kfc4u · 09-27-2007, 06:05 PM

undefined,

a lot of EE/CS internships for college juniors should pay pretty well, i'd say at least $20/hour if not more.

do note that company prestige doesnt necessarily equal higher salary. i don't think google is "up there" for their respective industry... from what i've heard, they're probably at the lower end for salary, but you get compensated quite well in benefits though. most other silicon valley companies should pay you more than $20/hr.

Theotherguy · 09-29-2007, 02:48 PM

I got 14.07 an hour from NASA.

I was just filing paperwork though.

varsity1AC · 10-03-2007, 07:02 PM

I get 25 for ibanking. But keep in mind, Ibanking=hard.

CesareBorgia · 10-04-2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

I get 25 for ibanking. But keep in mind, Ibanking=hard.

Really? Where was this? A friend of mine worked at Goldman last summer and only made $12.5-15/hr because of the insane hours. Overall, though, I think he pulled in $12,000 for 10 weeks.

undefined · 10-05-2007, 07:43 AM

See, as far as the money goes - I'd like to earn enough. I guess it depends on the position. I really don't want to work with Google, unless they have a position where I can excel. They have the reputation as being one of the best companies out there, and sure the perks would be nice... but once you're out of the job there, those perks won't come with you. The money will.

I'm currently doing a search and so far I've applied to a few jobs at IBM, General Dynamics, a position @ Microsoft (hopefully I'll get a call back), and I think that's it. I'll be applying to Intel / AMD soon - do any of you know how they pay?

Also, Theotherguy - what position did you have? Did you have to apply to NASA from the usajobs website?

kfc4u - you mentioned $20 at least per hour, do you know where exactly? I can hopefully go to the company's website and check them out.

dcoates - I'm just using money as another factor to chose. I already have one internship experience under my belt, as noted in the first post. I would like to get a better experience this time, just more money added to it. I know it's possible. I'm not solely going into this for more money, but rather get the experience and some extra cash on the side, too. I'm not really in any financial trouble, but who doesn't need money? Plus it'd be helpful after I graduate and move to find a job.

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Thanks for all of your replies - it helps a lot.

Britty512 · 10-05-2007, 10:39 AM

I lived with a friend over the summer who worked for Lockheed and Martin in VA. He earned about 20$ an hour and was able to choose his own schedule during the week as long as he worked 40 hours.

Strick11 · 10-05-2007, 05:07 PM

I don't know about Intel, but my S interned with another company in a related business for just over $25 an hour. The year before he found an internship at a cellphone manufacturer for a little less.

Of course, these were at companies he thought he wanted to work for after graduation and he had no idea what the money would be until after he accepted their offers. Money wasn't his main consideration.

undefined · 10-05-2007, 05:48 PM

I see.

Britty512 - I heard LHM pay is typically pretty low. My friend worked with them throughout the school year, for about 1.5 years and they gave him a low starting salary, even as a lead SW engineer. Odd.

Strick11 - do you mind if I ask you which company it was?

Britty512 · 10-05-2007, 08:25 PM

I'm not entirely sure what he did as an intern at LHM but I know it had something to do with computer programming, I asked him his exact hourly wage and it was 22$.

Strick11 · 10-06-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Strick11 - do you mind if I ask you which company it was?

I don't think my S would mind my answering. It was NVIDIA (it may be a special purpose processor, but it's still a processor). He was making mods to various drivers.

He just accepted a job offer from them for after graduation.

ixjunitxi · 10-06-2007, 06:42 PM

I work at hedge fund in NYC and we make 20/hr... but i know i banks pay slightly more for Summer Analyst positions