Boston guide: Where to do your J1, Grad visa or US internship

Ain’t no party like a Boston tea party. Samuel Adams, the Celtics, Harvard (Elle Woods...) – Boston is an all-American slice of college, sporting and political history. And Bostonians know it. It's one of the proudest cities in America, and for good reason. A big city with a small-town heart, just like the seafood chowder, you’ll be happy as a clam living and working in Boston on your summer J1 or Grad USA visa.

Why Boston

Boston is the birthplace of America, where Paul Revere made his famous ride, patriots threw tea into the harbour and the Red Sox finally broke the curse of the Bambino. It has all the trappings of a major city, with the bonus of friendly locals, beaches in summer and ski slopes in winter. Follow the Freedom Trail around Boston's colonial landmarks, drop into Harvard for some intellectual inspiration, or enjoy views of the Charles River and surrounding New England countryside.

Where to live

From the Back Bay to the North End, the most appealing Boston neighbourhoods have excellent public transportation links, great restaurants, public parks and picturesque streets. Consider the Allston/Brighton area for a student crowd or trendy Jamaica Plain, an area well known for its diversity. Across the river, Cambridge is home to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and historic brick buildings. Some J1 employers will include subsidised accommodation, but if not – check out BostonForRent.com,  BostonApartments.com or WeRentBoston.com.

J1 jobs Boston

Previous UIST J1-ers in Boston have worked as food runners, bartenders, baristas, and ice cream servers. Average salaries for 2023 in Boston ranged from USD $13-$22/hour. Often including perks such as great tips, competitive wages, end of contract bonus and meals during work. Each year, we have 1,000+ J1 jobs with our tried-and-trusted US employers across America. Book onto J1 early and select ‘USIT Job’ for access to our online Job Hub where you can search, apply and get hired.

Where to work or intern

If you’re heading to the USA on one of our Grad USA, Internship USA or Trainee USA visas, then Boston is famous for being a hub of technology, engineering, medicine and higher education – making it a top choice for life-changing career training in the USA. You'll find nearly 60 colleges within the greater Boston area, including prestigious Harvard University and MIT. Boston is also the location of several world-renowned hospitals, major banks, investment firms like Fidelity and insurance companies like John Hancock Financial Services. This is a great city in which to gain professional experience in high tech research and development, financial services, law, publishing and marketing. Culture and the arts are everywhere in Boston and it’s home to countless museums, public libraries and galleries – making it an inspiring US city to live in.

Climate

Summers can get hot and sticky – which is a good excuse to escape to the whale and yacht-filled waters of Cape Cod at weekends. While you'll need to bundle up well during Boston’s famously snowy winters – likewise a good reason to hit the multiple ski resorts nearby. Spring is alternatively bright and rainy. Massachusetts truly puts on a show come autumn, when trees explode into a riot of rust, red and golden hues.

What we love

Aoife, our Social Media Exec, did her summer J1 job in Boston.

“We were fortunate enough that the Boston Celtics were in the NBA final playoffs for the first time since 2010! This was so exciting and honestly made the first few weeks of our J1. We went out to watch the games and even ran down to TD Garden when they won their home game. The atmosphere was unreal, and it is something that I will remember for a long time. Apart from sports games, there is so much to see in Boston. We spent many an evening walking through Boston Commons and getting some fried dough and lemonade. This is a beautiful place to sit, especially on summer evenings after work. Dermot Kennedy even played a surprise gig there! Getting the train up to Cambridge to see the Harvard and MIT campuses is a must where we lived our ultimate Elle Woods fantasies. Cambridge is a beautiful area to visit - just grab a Dunkin coffee and walk around and see America’s oldest and most prestigious colleges."

Want to put your career or summer on the US map, but not sure where you can go? Book a call with the USIT team.