An internship at a tech giant like Amazon is more than just a line on a resume—it's a high-impact, career-launching experience. For many ambitious students, it's the ultimate goal. But beyond the invaluable experience and professional development, there's a significant financial component. Amazon internships are renowned for being exceptionally well-compensated, often paying a monthly salary that rivals or even exceeds that of many full-time jobs.
So, what can you actually expect to earn? An Amazon intern's salary can be impressive, with technical roles frequently paying over $9,000 per month, complemented by generous housing and relocation stipends. This article provides a data-driven breakdown of what you can expect to earn as an Amazon intern, the factors that influence your pay, and the career outlook that follows.
What Does an Amazon Intern Do?
Forget fetching coffee or making copies. Amazon interns are integrated directly into teams and work on real, impactful projects that can influence millions of customers. The company's "Day 1" culture and "Ownership" principle extend to its intern class.
From day one, an intern is typically assigned:
- A dedicated manager who provides guidance and oversees their project.
- A mentor who offers day-to-day support and helps them navigate the company culture.
- A specific, well-defined project to be completed over the 12-16 week internship period.
Responsibilities vary widely depending on the role, but interns are expected to contribute meaningfully, attend team meetings, present their findings, and, in many cases, see their code or work pushed into a live production environment. It's a challenging, fast-paced, and highly rewarding role designed to simulate the experience of a full-time employee.
Average Amazon Intern Salary
While salaries vary, the compensation for Amazon interns is consistently among the highest in the industry. The total compensation package is typically broken down into a base salary and additional stipends.
- Average Base Salary: For technical roles like Software Development Engineer (SDE), the base salary is substantial. According to data from salary aggregator Levels.fyi, a leading source for tech compensation, Amazon SDE interns earn a median monthly salary of approximately $9,480. This translates to an hourly wage of over $58 per hour.
- Total Compensation Package: The base salary is only part of the story. Amazon provides a generous benefits package to its interns, which often includes:
- Housing Stipend: To help with the high cost of living in tech hubs, Amazon typically provides a monthly, post-tax housing stipend. Data from Glassdoor and community reports suggest this stipend is often between $2,500 and $3,000 per month, depending on the location.
- Relocation Assistance: For interns who need to move for the summer, Amazon often provides a lump-sum payment to cover travel and relocation expenses.
When you combine the base salary with the housing stipend, the effective monthly compensation can easily exceed $12,000, making it one of the most lucrative internship opportunities available. Non-technical roles in areas like finance or marketing are also highly competitive, though they may have a slightly lower salary range.
Key Factors That Influence Salary
Your specific offer will depend on several key variables. Understanding these factors can help you interpret salary data and know where you might fall on the spectrum.
### Area of Specialization
This is arguably the most significant factor. Technical roles that require specialized, in-demand skills command the highest salaries.
- Software Development Engineer (SDE): This is the most common technical internship and sets the benchmark for high pay, with monthly salaries often in the $9,000 - $10,000 range.
- Applied Scientist / Data Scientist: Interns in these roles, especially those pursuing advanced degrees, can earn even more than SDEs due to the specialized knowledge required in machine learning and data analysis.
- Product Manager - Technical (PM-T): These roles blend business strategy with technical understanding and are compensated at a similarly high level to SDEs.
- Finance, Marketing, and Operations: These non-technical (or less technical) roles are still very well-paid, but their base salary is typically lower than that of an SDE. You might expect a range closer to $6,000 - $8,000 per month, which is still exceptionally competitive for an internship.
### Geographic Location
Where you work matters. Amazon adjusts its compensation based on the cost of living and local market rates in different cities.
- Top-Tier Locations (High Cost of Living): Internships based in cities like Sunnyvale, CA; Seattle, WA; and New York, NY will offer the highest base salaries and/or housing stipends to offset the expensive environment.
- Other Tech Hubs: Locations such as Austin, TX; Boston, MA; and Arlington, VA also offer highly competitive salaries, though they may be marginally lower than those in the Bay Area or Seattle. The housing stipend is often location-dependent.
### Level of Education
Your academic level plays a crucial role in determining your compensation, especially for research-oriented positions.
- Undergraduate (Bachelor's): The standard, highly competitive intern salary figures typically apply to students pursuing a bachelor's degree.
- Master's Student: Students in a master's program may receive a slight premium over their undergraduate counterparts.
- PhD Candidate: This group sees the largest potential increase. PhD interns, particularly in roles like Applied Scientist, can command salaries significantly higher than the standard rate due to their deep expertise and the direct applicability of their research.
### Years of Experience
While internships are entry points, prior experience can still be a factor. This is often reflected in the project's complexity rather than a direct salary negotiation. However, a "returning intern"—someone who completed a successful internship with Amazon the previous year and is coming back—may be offered a higher salary for their second internship.
### Company Type
As this article is specific to Amazon, this factor relates to the different business units within the company. An intern working for Amazon Web Services (AWS), a highly profitable and technically demanding division, may be on a slightly different compensation scale than an intern in the retail or devices divisions. However, these differences are generally minor compared to the impact of your role and location.
Job Outlook
An internship is temporary, but its impact on your career is long-lasting. The primary benefit of an Amazon internship is its role as a direct pipeline to a full-time position. Amazon has a very high intern-to-full-time conversion rate, with many successful interns receiving a full-time offer at the end of the summer.
This offer launches you into a highly sought-after career. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment for software developers will grow by 25% between 2022 and 2032, a rate much faster than the average for all occupations. Securing an internship and subsequent full-time role at Amazon places you at the forefront of this high-growth, high-earning industry. The brand recognition and experience gained are assets that will benefit you for your entire professional life.
Conclusion
An internship at Amazon is a powerful catalyst for a career in tech and beyond. The financial rewards are substantial, with technical interns often earning a total package equivalent to over $12,000 per month.
Here are the key takeaways for any prospective applicant:
- Expect High Compensation: Technical interns can expect a base salary exceeding $9,000/month plus a generous housing stipend.
- Your Role is Key: SDE, Scientist, and PM-T interns are at the top of the pay scale.
- Location Matters: Pay is adjusted for the cost of living, with hubs like Seattle and the Bay Area offering the highest compensation.
- It’s a Direct Path to a Career: The ultimate value lies in the high probability of receiving a full-time offer in a fast-growing and stable industry.
For students mapping out their future, an Amazon internship represents one of the best possible returns on investment—not just in summer earnings, but in building a foundation for a successful and lucrative career.