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Internships in Greater Des Moines

Ready to start your career? Start with an internship in Greater Des Moines (DSM), a growing hiring market for new college graduates and young professionals. DSM continues to earn national recognition, including being named a Top 100 Best Place to Live (Livability, 2026), a top city for Gen Z workers (Checkr, 2025) and the #1 Best Place to Live in Iowa for Young Adults (SoFi, 2025).

Find an Internship

In DSM, You’ll find opportunities in key industries like advanced manufacturing, ag innovation, finance, insurance, technology and logistics. Other prime fields looking for interns and other early career professionals include accounting, actuarial sciences, education, healthcare, IT, marketing and communications, accounting and more.

Find an Internship

Why Choose DSM for an Internship

The rankings are in DSM’s favor and here’s what they have to say:

Top 100 Best Places to Live— Livability, 2026

#3 Best City for Gen Z Workers — Checkr, 2025

#1 Best Place to Live in Iowa for Young Adults — SoFi, 2025

Top 10 Most Affordable Place for Gen Z Homebuyers— Fortune, 2026

Top 5 Mid-Sized Metro for AI-Enhanced Jobs — CoworkingCafe, 2026

And the numbers speak for themselves: nearly 90% of participants in the 2025 DSM Intern Connection program say they would accept a job in Greater Des Moines if offered.

Greater Des Moines Employers

Many employers have robust internship and student programs. Learn more about major employers here and check out these internship programs offered by companies in DSM:

Agriculture: Corteva Agriscience | John Deere

Employee Benefits and Insurance Broker: Holmes Murphy

Government: Polk County – Attorney's Office | Polk County – Sheriff's Office

Healthcare: MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center

Logistics and Distribution – Retail: Casey’s General Stores, Inc.

Logistics and Transportation: Ruan Companies

Utilities: MidAmerican Energy Company

The Greater Des Moines Partnership, the region’s economic and community development organization, can also be a resource. Contact Jenae Sikkink, Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Inclusive Strategies, jsikkink@DSMpartnership.com for inquiries.

Unique Greater Des Moines Internship Programs

Programs throughout DSM enhance the on-the-job experience. Interns are invited to be part of the DSM Intern Connection, a networking and professional development program.

The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce hosts Yurtern in the summer and the Iowa Association of Business and Industry hosts Leadership Iowa University, a weeklong summer program for Iowa college students that is designed to educate, inspire and develop young leaders as the foundation for Iowa’s future economic growth. The Pella Area Community and Economic Alliance also presents programming for interns.

Have Fun in DSM

But DSM is more than just a place to work, it’s a place to experience and build your life. Coming to DSM for an internship means you have vibrant experiences at your fingertips, too. Here you’ll find:

World-class arts and entertainment
One-of-a-kind events
A food scene that's spicy, sweet, unique, and everything in between delicious and "wow!"
A hidden gem for outdoor recreation (800+ miles of trails! Kayaking! Hiking! Nature!)
And plenty to do on the weekends

Learn More About Fun in DSM

Find Your Greater in DSM

Build a career you'll love with a start in DSM. Visit the Greater Des Moines Career Center and search "internship" to find current opportunities.

Find Your Internship in DSM