Summer of Ca$h: Companies Expect to Hire More College Students for (Mostly) Paid Internships [NEWS]

Looking for an internship for this summer?

Here’s some good news for you… and yeah, we know what you’re thinking: wait, it’s possible to have good news on the job front?

Employers are hiring 8.5 percent more interns this summer — well, at least those employers who participated in The National Association of Colleges and Employers‘ most recent survey. That means more opportunity for you to land a sweet job, er, internship that will boost your resume and marketability.

Nearly all employers who responded to the survey expect to pay their interns, NACE reports. Of course, we know there are plenty of unpaid opportunities out there, too, but it’s promising that at least NACE members, which tend to be companies with well-developed college relations and recruitment programs, realize students should be compensated for their time and effort. Responding organizations say they’ll pay college interns an average of $16.21 per hour, slightly less than the 2011 average of $16.68.

Internships are key not only because they’ll keep you learning this summer, but also because they often lead to full-time jobs, NACE says.

If you’re looking for a summer internship, how’s the search? Does it feel any more promising than last year?