In college, summer starts in October.

Or rather, planning your summer starts in October.

Sound crazy?

It kinda is…

Nowadays, paid internships are inevitable.

Why?

Because, just like getting a perfect SAT score alone isn’t going to get you into Harvard, getting a college degree will no longer land you a job.

You need experience. And, more often than not, that experience comes in the form of paid internships.

Internships are a great way to get real world experience in your field, network with great people and learn a lot during the summer.

This article will show you some of the highest paid internships, which will allow you to travel, eat out all the time and still save money. Not to mention all the free swag!

In fact, these high-paying internships pay more than two times the average American’s monthly salary.

Ballin'.

Before you start reading, why don't you start browsing some internship jobs? See if you can land one right now!

5. Amazon

It’s no surprise that the world's largest online retailer in the world pays interns well. Although the internship is not as lavish as some other internships on this list, interning at Amazon will not only look great on your resume but it will also give you a plethora of real world experiences on a large global scale.

Median Monthly Salary:

$6,400 USD

Sample Internship Programs:

__Non Tech:__Retail, Online Marketing, Finance and Accounting

Tech: Development Engineering, Design

What They Look For:

If you are constantly questioning assumptions, thinking analytically and always have an urge to create items that make life easier, faster, simpler and overall more satisfying, Amazon wants you.

Headquarters:

Seattle, Washington

International Internships Available:

Yes.

How to Apply

• Online
• Through on-campus recruitment

Biggest Perk:

Private movie screenings and other intern outings

Percent of Interns Who Receive Full Time Offers:

50-70%

4. Salesforce

Salesforce is one of the most highly valued American cloud computing companies in the world. They call their interns “FutureForce” and consider them part of Salesforce’s greater “Ohana” (meaning family. Heyy Lilo.

Median Monthly Salary:

$6,450 USD

Sample Internship Programs:

Sales, Services, Marketing, Finance, Legal and Employee Success and Technology

What They Look For:

If you connect with one of the company's 10 values, (trust, growth, customer success, innovation, giving back, equality for all, transparency, well-being and fun) you will do well at Salesforce, especially if you love giving back to the community.

Headquarters:

San Francisco, California

International Internships Available:

Yes

How to Apply:

• Online
• Through on campus recruitment

Biggest Perk:

VTO: Full-pay time off to volunteer at places, such as food banks and elementary schools.

Percent of Interns Who Receive Full Time Offers:

80%

3. ExxonMobil

The only non-tech internship to make the list is a huge multinational oil and gas company. Big oil companies often have a bad rep, but Exxon interns work on a multitude of diverse and innovative projects, including improving energy efficiency, mapping the oceans and turning algae into biofuel, to name a few.

Median Monthly Salary:

$6,507 USD

Sample Internship Programs:

Process Engineering, Research Engineering, Project Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Human Resources.

What They Look For:

If you are studying engineering, business, computer science or geoscience, Exxon wants you. If you are passionate about solving the world’s energy challenges, Exxon wants you even more. Bonus points if you specialize in Safety Studies, Software Monitoring and Process Simulation.

Headquarters:

Irving, Texas

International Internships Available:

Yes

How to Apply:

• Online
• Through on-campus recruitment

Biggest Perk:

Bowling events, intense laser tag and Astros baseball games

Percent of Interns Who Receive Full Time Offers:

N/A

2. Microsoft

Microsoft wants to hire the best talent available, and they are willing to pay for it. They know they have to compete with hipper companies around the world and they put up a great fight. There is something to be said about working for an older, more established company. Don’t count the old guy out just yet.

Median Monthly Salary:

$7,100USD

Sample Internship Programs:

• Explore Microsoft: A freshman/sophomore rotational software engineering program.
• Upperclassman Internships:
• Business: Finance, HR, Marketing and Law
• Tech: Software, Hardware, IT, Project Management and Tech Writers

What They Look For:

Passionate about technology? Great! Passionate about Microsoft? Even better! Do you have the courage to offer the company suggestions for improvement? Microsoft is for you. Don’t hold back, Microsoft loves your ambition and confidence.

Headquarters:

Redmond, Washington

International Internships Available:

Yes

How to Apply:

• Online
• Through on campus recruitment

Biggest Perk:

Off-site fair

Percent of Interns Who Receive Full Time Offers:

85%

1. Facebook

Sitting pretty at the number one spot is most popular social media network: Facebook. With 1.94 billion users worldwide, Facebook can’t be stopped. Its popularity and relatively young age allows the company to treat its interns well…really, really well.

Median Monthly Salary:

$8,000 USD

Sample Internship Programs:

• Facebook University: for rising college sophomores from underrepresented communities featuring internships in Engineering, Analytics, Operations, Global Marketing and Instagram.
• Other Internships: multiple opportunities in Engineering, Tech, Design and Business

What They Look For:

Have you already made a big impact in your community? Are you a great leader? Do you constantly find yourself thinking about the problems of the future and building solutions to fix them? Facebook is the place for you.

Headquarters:

Menlo Park, California

International Internships Available:

Yes

How to Apply:

• Online
• Through on campus recruitment

Biggest Perk:

Free meals… all day long. As well as a weekend getaway in Yosemite.

Percent of Interns Who Receive Full Time Offers:

N/A

Bottom Line:

Internships are a great way to get experience while still in college. Some of them are also a great way to start saving for retirement or to start a travel budget.

But money isn’t everything.

Although, it feels really great to make so much money at such a young age, the most important thing about choosing an internship is making sure you are doing work you are passionate about.

Who knows, a full time offer may be in your future!