10 Online Paid Internships for High School Students

Internships are a great way to gain career experience, develop new skills, and connect with professionals — all before graduating high school. Many leading organizations and universities offer paid internships, so you can earn while you learn. 

Even better, online internships make it possible to work from anywhere, giving you flexibility to explore your interests without disrupting your school schedule. 

If you're passionate about a field and want to dive in early, we’ve rounded up 10 online paid internships for high school students!

1. NASA’s OSTEM Internships

Location: Virtual / NASA centers across the country

Stipend: While most interns receive a stipend, certain opportunities are unpaid.

Application Deadline: 

  • Summer: February 28

  • Fall: May 16

Dates: 

  • Spring Session: Mid-January to Early May 

  • Summer Session: Late May to August 

  • Fall Session: Late August to Mid-December

Eligibility: U.S. citizens, full-time students (high school through graduate level) aged 16 at the time of application, with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale


NASA’s OSTEM internships offer opportunities for students to gain real-world experience in science, technology, engineering, and space exploration. Whether you choose to work remotely or at a NASA facility, you’ll engage in hands-on projects, applying your academic knowledge to real STEM challenges. These internships provide mentorship from NASA professionals, allowing you to develop technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and industry insights. 


With three sessions held each year, you have multiple chances to contribute to groundbreaking research and innovation. This program is designed to help you build your resume, explore career paths, and gain practical experience that aligns with your academic and professional goals.

2. Internships at the American Psychological Association (APA)

Location: Virtual

Stipend: There are paid opportunities available. 

Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship you apply for 

Dates: Varies depending on the internship you apply for

Eligibility: High school students


If you're passionate about psychology and want to apply your knowledge to real-world challenges, the APA Internal Internship Program (IIP) is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience. As an intern, you’ll work in a nonprofit setting, contributing to research, policy, communications, and education projects. You’ll also have access to mentorship, career-building workshops, and discussions on networking, federal advocacy, and graduate school applications. 

The program helps you develop critical skills such as research, writing, and project management, preparing you for a variety of careers in psychology. Its strong emphasis on applying psychological principles to benefit society makes this internship a platform for those eager to make an impact in the field.

3. Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) Internship

Location: Virtual or in-person (Philadelphia, PA)

Stipend: 10 paid internship spots available

Application Deadline: Typically early March

Dates: 

  • Spring: February–May

  • Summer: June–August

  • Fall: September–December

Eligibility: High school students


If you're eager to gain real-world experience in foreign policy at a prestigious think tank, the FPRI Internship Program is a good option. As an intern, you’ll work closely with scholars and professionals in international relations, sharpening essential skills like research, communication, and critical thinking. You’ll also have access to exclusive foreign policy seminars, networking events, and professional mentorship. Summer interns get to attend weekly career-focused discussions with experts in the field. 

Whether you choose research, event planning, communications, or operations, you’ll be part of meaningful projects that contribute to global policy discussions. Plus, you’ll have the chance to publish your work in FPRI’s Intern Corner. With both in-person and remote options, this program ensures flexibility while preparing you for a future in international affairs.

4. Camp Zon by Zon Lab

Location: Virtual

Stipend: This is a paid internship; the stipend amount is not specified

Application Deadline: April 27

Dates: July 14 - July 25

Eligibility: High school or rising college freshmen, 16 years of age and older, residing in Massachusetts


For high school students fascinated by cancer research and blood development, Camp Zon offers a unique opportunity to explore these fields in a paid, two-week virtual research experience. You’ll work alongside top scientists at a world-class facility, learning to critically analyze scientific literature and develop coding skills for data analysis.


As part of the Zon Lab, you’ll design a research project focused on anemia using zebrafish as a model organism. You’ll generate hypotheses, analyze data, and witness live experiments performed in the lab. In addition, you’ll attend lectures by leading scientists, gaining insights into cutting-edge biomedical research. The camp also includes mentorship sessions with Dr. Len Zon and career panel discussions.

5. Internships at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Location: Virtual, In-person, or Hybrid

Stipend: This is a paid internship; the stipend amount is not specified

Application Deadline: March 1

Dates: Internships are offered year-round and can vary from 6 weeks to one year

Eligibility: Open to high school students


Interested in folklore, music, or cultural preservation? The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage offers year-round internships that let you explore topics like ethnomusicology, museum studies, linguistics, and digital media. Whether you’re working on the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, or the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives, you’ll gain valuable research, production, and outreach skills. 


Internships are available remotely or in Washington, D.C., with flexible durations ranging from six weeks to a year. You’ll work with professionals in the field and may be able to earn course credit if you're studying related subjects like history, music, or library science.

6. The Mary Miller Summer Program by the PHC Group

Location: Virtual

Stipend: This is a paid internship; the stipend amount is not specified

Application Deadline: TBA 

Dates: Summer, exact dates TBA

Eligibility: High school seniors and juniors


The Mary Miller Summer Program is a paid internship designed for rising high school juniors and seniors who want to develop leadership skills and gain real-world experience. You’ll work as part of a global team, collaborating with senior leadership on social media projects, online community engagement, and digital marketing research.

Under the guidance of the Public Health Director, you’ll craft creative content, analyze trends, and contribute to strategic discussions. Through team projects and independent work, you’ll explore public health initiatives and digital communication strategies.

7. Spark Summer Internship Program (Spark SIP)

Location: Virtual or In-person

Stipend: There are paid opportunities available. 

Application Deadline: Applications will open in March/April

Dates: June - August (~6 to 8 weeks); exact dates vary depending on opportunity

Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12


The Spark Summer Internship Program (Spark SIP) provides high school students in the Greater Seattle area with an opportunity to gain real-world STEM experience. Through hands-on projects like modeling power grid resilience or technical writing in quantum mechanics, you’ll collaborate with industry experts, professors, and mentors. This program allows you to explore your academic interests, develop critical research and problem-solving skills, and prepare for future career paths. 

You’ll be assigned 5-6 projects, according to your interests. You can experience what it’s like to work in a professional setting, tackling real-world challenges that have practical applications.

8. Internships at the Smithsonian National Zoo

Location: Washington, D.C. | Front Royal, VA | Herndon, VA. In-person, hybrid, and virtual formats are available.

Stipend: This is a paid internship; the stipend amount is not specified

Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship you apply for

Dates: Varies depending on the internship you apply for

Eligibility: High school students


The Smithsonian National Zoo Internship Program offers an opportunity to explore zoology, veterinary medicine, genetics, and more. As an intern, you’ll work alongside leading experts on animal care, enrichment programs, and research projects, gaining valuable skills in a professional wildlife setting.


With multiple internships available throughout the year, students can explore various career paths in wildlife and environmental sciences. Volunteering positions are also available.

9. City Limits Accountability Reporting Initiative for Youth (CLARIFY) by City Limits

Location: Virtual 

Stipend: $500

Application Deadline: 

  • Summer: May 24 (Tentative, based on 2024 program dates)

  • Fall: September 9 (Tentative, based on 2024 program dates)

Dates: The program runs for 8 weeks starting from October 15 (Tentative, based on 2024 program dates)

Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors residing in New York City


CLARIFY is a paid internship for NYC high school students passionate about writing, storytelling, and civic engagement. This program, launched by City Limits, trains students in public service journalism, offering hands-on experience in news writing, research, and interviewing. Under the mentorship of professional journalists, you’ll cover important issues affecting your community and have the opportunity to publish your work in City Limits. 

The program is designed to enhance media literacy, fuel civic engagement, and strengthen research and writing skills — all while giving you a professional newsroom experience. Whether you’re an aspiring journalist or simply eager to explore the power of storytelling, this program offers the unique opportunity to make an impact.

10. Smithsonian Science Education Center Internship Program

Location: Virtual, in-person, or hybrid

Stipend: There are paid opportunities available.

Application Deadline: March 17

Dates: Dates vary depending on the internship you apply for

Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years and older


The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) is offering paid internships for those interested in developing curriculums, conducting research, or supporting global STEM initiatives. Whether you’re passionate about storytelling, digital media, or science education, you’ll work on exciting projects like uncovering hidden histories of women in STEM, crafting engaging social media content for NESST, or creating K-8 science assessments. These virtual, hybrid, and in-person internships allow you to collaborate with Smithsonian experts, gain professional skills, and make a real impact in science education.


Image Source - NASA Logo

Tyler Moulton

Tyler Moulton is Head of Academics and Veritas AI Partnerships with 6 years of experience in education consulting, teaching, and astronomy research at Harvard and the University of Cambridge, where they developed a passion for machine learning and artificial intelligence. Tyler is passionate about connecting high-achieving students to advanced AI techniques and helping them build independent, real-world projects in the field of AI!

Previous
Previous

10 Free + Online AI Summer Programs for High School Students

Next
Next

12 Competitive Summer Programs for High School Students