The short answer
Many do, but not all, and "paid" covers several different arrangements. Of the 156 programs in this directory, 99 are paid according to their official sources, whether as an hourly wage, a salary, a stipend or a research award. The publisher's own description makes 4 unpaid: the programs from Uber, The White House, US Department of the Treasury and United Nations Secretariat. For the other 53, the official sources we reviewed state no pay for the program as a whole; it may depend on the opening, the host or the written offer, so we label them to check rather than guess. Whatever the label, the amount that counts is the one in the written offer for your role, set against what the term will cost you.
Confirm the written amount and schedule
Read the individual posting and the written offer for the amount, the payment cadence, the expected hours, the exact dates, and any conditions attached. A program overview often describes compensation in general terms without listing a figure for the role you would actually hold, and a range shown for a whole program is not a commitment to you. Distinguish an hourly wage from a weekly stipend and from a one-off research award: they behave differently when the term runs short, when you work extra hours, or when a holiday falls inside the placement. This directory never converts an unknown figure into an estimated salary.
Work out what the term actually costs you
Build a simple budget before comparing offers: rent for the full term plus any deposit, travel to and from the site, daily transport, food, and anything you must buy to start. Then set the pay against it. A well-paid placement in an expensive city can leave you with less than a modest one you can do from home, and a deposit due in May is a real problem even when the total works out over the summer. Ask when the first payment actually arrives — a monthly cycle can mean several weeks of costs before any money does.
Ask how support is delivered, not just whether it exists
Housing assistance, travel support, and relocation allowances vary enormously in how they reach you. Provided directly, reimbursed after you submit receipts, paid as a lump sum in the first month, or available only to participants meeting separate conditions are four different things, and only the first helps with money you need upfront. Ask specifically what is covered, what evidence is required, and when it is paid. A reimbursement you receive in August does not pay a deposit in May.
Check the academic and practical conditions
Confirm whether you need insurance, school approval, or a particular enrollment status to participate, and whether taking academic credit for the internship carries tuition or fees at your institution — credit is sometimes the more expensive option. Ask whether unpaid overtime is expected, what happens if the term dates shift, and what the arrangement is if you need to leave early for the academic year. Questions about wage law, tax treatment, or immigration rules need current official information and, where it matters, qualified advice; this guide is neither legal nor tax advice.
Separate an advertised program from your actual offer
A published stipend is useful context for deciding where to apply. It is not what you are being offered until it appears in writing for your role, with your dates and your hours. Before accepting, get the terms in writing and read them. Weigh the parts that are hard to price as well: what you would actually work on, who would supervise you, whether you would learn something you want, and whether the schedule leaves room for the rest of your life. And never pay a service that offers to submit applications on your behalf.
Check eligibility and the selected role's document instructions before submitting. FirstInternships does not accept applications or store your resume.
Find a program Browse paid opportunities