United Rentals Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply

Last updated: August 2026

United Rentals is the world's largest equipment rental company, with $16.1 billion in FY2025 revenue, approximately 28,500 employees, and more than 1,500 rental locations across 49 US states and every Canadian province. The company ranks #279 on the Fortune 500 and earned Glassdoor's #35 Best Places to Work in 2026. Unlike most Fortune 500 employers whose summer internship windows have already closed, United Rentals has live intern requisitions on its Workday board right now and hires on a rolling basis.

Quick Facts

United Rentals runs 10-week paid summer internships in Sales and Service Technician tracks at branches across its 1,500-plus location network. The company hires on a rolling basis with no stated deadline, and the Sales Intern role is explicitly designed as a pipeline to a full-time Sales Associate position.

United Rentals hires on a rolling basis, so there is no window to wait for. Build the operational and analytical skills their Sales Intern JD asks for with two remote Externships you can start this week:

• Amazon Fulfillment Center Operational Strategy People Analytics Externship — practice the branch operations and workflow optimization skills that United Rentals values in every intern.

• Breaking Games E-Commerce Data Analysis Strategy Externship — build the analytical and financial analysis skills named in the Sales Intern job description.

What Is an United Rentals Internship?

The United Rentals internship program is a 10-week, branch-based summer experience across two main tracks: Sales Intern and Service Technician Intern. Sales Interns shadow inside and outside sales representatives, learn the company's RentalMan and Salesforce systems, and participate in yard operations and a summer scavenger hunt competition. Service Tech Interns learn equipment types, assist seasoned mechanics, and build hands-on maintenance skills. Both tracks are designed as pipelines to full-time roles: the Sales Development Program and the Technician Development Program. United Rentals holds a 4.0 out of 5.0 rating on Glassdoor with 82% of employees recommending the company, and CEO Matthew Flannery ranks #15 on Glassdoor's Best CEOs 2026 list.

When Do United Rentals Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

United Rentals does not follow a traditional campus-recruiting calendar. The company posts intern requisitions year-round as individual branches identify needs, and applications are reviewed within a few business days. There is no national window and no batch review. Here is how the cycle typically plays out for a summer 2027 start.

How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.

Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open

United Rentals fills intern positions at the branch level, which means a posting in your city may be the only one this cycle. There is no national deadline and no batch review. The company's FAQ states that applications are reviewed within a few business days, and Glassdoor reports an average time-to-hire of about one day for intern roles. When a branch manager fills a seat, the posting comes down. Students who apply the day a posting appears have a real advantage over those who wait, because there is no second round of review.

Which United Rentals Internship Programs Should You Target?

United Rentals offers three branch-based intern tracks, all designed as pipelines to full-time roles in the company's Sales and Service departments.

All three tracks are available at branches across United Rentals' 1,500-plus location network. The Sales Intern feeds into the Sales Development Program and the Service Tech Intern feeds into the AED-recognized Technician Development Program. For the latest postings, search intern on the careers site.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

United Rentals' eligibility requirements differ by track but share a common baseline.

• Sales Intern: Currently pursuing a BA/BS in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Psychology, or a related sales major.

• Service Tech Intern: High school diploma or GED and pursuing a technical degree or certification. Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record required.

• Age: Must be at least 18 years old for all positions.

• Background check and drug test: Required for all US-based roles. United Rentals classifies intern positions as safety-sensitive.

• Prior experience: Preferred but not required for Sales Interns. Service Tech Interns need mechanical aptitude and foundational knowledge of tools.

Does United Rentals Have a GPA Cutoff for Interns?

No. United Rentals does not state a GPA requirement anywhere in its intern job descriptions, program pages, or FAQ. The company evaluates candidates on skills, drive, and fit rather than academic metrics. The Sales Intern posting emphasizes self-motivation, communication, and analytical skills. The Service Tech Intern posting focuses on mechanical aptitude and willingness to learn. If you meet the degree and age requirements and can demonstrate the right attitude, your transcript is unlikely to be the deciding factor.

What Skills Does United Rentals Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

United Rentals posts the same two intern templates at every branch, so the skill profile splits cleanly between the sales and technical tracks. Communication skills and customer service focus appear in both postings, reflecting the company's branch-based, customer-facing culture. Self-motivation and a strong drive are called out in identical language across both JDs. The Sales Intern posting adds Microsoft Office proficiency and analytical skills, while the Service Tech posting requires mechanical aptitude and a valid driver's license.

How Is Demand for Equipment Rental & Industrial Interns Moving Right Now?

Build These Skills Before You Apply

And every skill in that chart maps to a remote Externship.

Each Externship runs two to eight weeks and produces a portfolio deliverable you can reference in your United Rentals interview. These build the analytical, operational, and customer-behavior skills the company's requisitions name, giving you concrete project evidence for a branch manager interview.

What Is the United Rentals Application and Interview Process Like?

United Rentals' hiring process is branch-driven and moves fast once you apply.

1. Search the Workday board. Go to ur.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/URcareers or use the intern keyword search on the careers site. Filter by your preferred location.

2. Apply online. Have a resume ready. From the FAQ: "Having a resume ready will help you move through it faster." Tailor your resume to the specific track, highlighting sales experience for Sales Intern or mechanical aptitude for Service Tech.

3. Expect to hear back quickly. United Rentals' FAQ states the talent acquisition team reviews applications regularly and you may hear from a recruiter within a few business days by email, phone, or text.

4. Complete the interview. Glassdoor reports describe a phone screen followed by an interview with the branch manager or a panel of two to three local managers. Questions are discussion-type with workplace scenarios. Difficulty is rated 3 out of 5 with 100% positive experiences.

5. Post-offer screening. Drug test, background check, and work eligibility documents are required on your first day. All intern positions are classified as safety-sensitive.

The entire process can move in as little as one day for intern roles, though the company-wide average is 23 days. United Rentals does not use coding tests, HireVue, or standardized online assessments for intern candidates.

What Students on Reddit Say

United Rentals does not generate dedicated intern experience threads on Reddit, but the sales and diesel tech communities have discussed the company as an employer.

How Do You Stand Out at United Rentals?

First, apply the day you see a posting near you. United Rentals is rolling and branch-based, which means a position in your city may be the only one this cycle. There is no national window and no batch review, so first come, first considered. Second, learn RentalMan and Salesforce basics before you interview. These are the two systems named in the Sales Intern JD, and mentioning familiarity signals readiness. RentalMan is United Rentals' proprietary fleet management system, and Salesforce is the CRM. Third, show you understand the equipment rental business model. United Rentals is not a retailer. It is a B2B equipment solutions provider serving construction, industrial, and infrastructure customers. Read the Our Company page and understand the difference between General Rentals and Specialty Rentals. Branch managers want to see candidates who already grasp what the business does.

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

United Rentals is the dominant player in equipment rental, but several other specialty companies also run structured internship programs worth considering.

For a broader comparison of internship programs at specialty retailers and related companies, see the marketing internships summer 2027 guide.

FAQ

Are United Rentals internships paid?

Yes. Every United Rentals intern posting is marked paid, and the early career page promises competitive pay, college credits, and valuable training. Indeed reports an average of roughly $21 per hour for Sales Interns and about $17 per hour for Service Tech Interns. The company does not publish a fixed rate; pay varies by position, location, and experience.

When do United Rentals internship applications open?

There is no fixed opening date. United Rentals hires interns on a rolling basis as individual branches identify needs. Postings appear throughout the year, with the heaviest volume typically in spring for summer starts. Check the Workday board regularly and join the Talent Network for alerts when new positions go live.

What majors does United Rentals look for in Sales Interns?

The job description asks for a BA or BS in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Psychology, or a related sales major. Service Tech Interns need a technical degree or certification in progress instead. No specific GPA is stated anywhere in the company's intern postings or program pages.

Do I need prior experience to intern at United Rentals?

For Sales Interns, prior relevant work experience is preferred but not required. For Service Tech Interns, the main requirement is a technical degree in progress and mechanical aptitude. The company offers training and shadowing precisely because interns are expected to learn on the job, not arrive as experts.

What is the United Rentals intern interview like?

Expect a phone screen followed by an interview with the branch manager or a panel of two to three local managers. Glassdoor intern reports describe discussion-type questions with workplace scenarios. Difficulty rates 3 out of 5, with 100 percent positive experiences reported. All candidates in the data set applied online.

Can a United Rentals internship lead to a full-time job?

Yes, that is the stated goal. The Sales Intern posting says interns leave with the goal of becoming a Sales Associate upon receipt of degree through the Sales Development Program. The Service Tech Intern can advance into service technician roles via the AED-recognized Technician Development Program.

Where are United Rentals internships located?

At individual branches across United Rentals' network of more than 1,500 locations in 49 US states and every Canadian province. All internships are on-site at a branch. You will work in the yard and in the office. There is no remote option. Recent postings appeared in Wisconsin, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas.

Do I need a driver's license to intern at United Rentals?

The Service Tech Intern posting explicitly requires a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record. The Sales Intern posting does not state it, but the company FAQ says most positions require one. A drug test and background check are required for all US-based roles regardless of track.

United Rentals hires on a rolling basis and has live intern postings right now, so there is no window to wait for. While you search for a branch near you, a remote Externship in operational strategy or data analysis gives you the analytical and operational skills that branch managers look for in every Sales Intern candidate.