Top 15 Paid Business Internships for High School Students
Business internships for high school students present you with opportunities to explore the field, gain practical understanding, and develop valuable skill sets for the future. These programs are a good way to make an informed decision about a domain and can become a vital step in choosing a career path that best suits your interests.
Paid internships for high school students are a great way to gain professional experience with financial stability and increase motivation and productivity. In this blog, we’ve compiled 15 top-paid business internships for high school students that you can consider.
1. Microsoft High School Internship Program – Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Microsoft, Redmond, Washington
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: High school senior graduating from high school before program start date; lives and attends high school within 50 miles of Redmond, Washington; member of or participant in one of the following Microsoft-sponsored organizations: Computing for All, College Success Foundation, Rainier Scholars, Technology Access Foundation, UW STEM Upward Bound, Washington MESA
Stipend: $20/hour
This four-week paid internship opportunity does not require any previous technical experience. You’ll get to work on business and technology projects, which will help you gain insights into the tech industry’s business side. You’ll also be working in groups, developing technical and foundational skills, learning from employees working around the campus, and connecting with other interns. The internship aims to inculcate a growth mindset for its interns and develop a culture of recognizing the needs of the customers. It does not require STEM majors to apply, but you must have completed pre-calculus or 3 consecutive years of math by the start of the program.
2. SPARK Summer Mentorship Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S.; remote available
Acceptance Rate: less than 5%
Dates: 6-8 weeks, June to August
Application Deadline: May 1 (based on past year's dates)
Eligibility: High school students in 9-12; students in the Greater Seattle area (for in-person internships)
Stipend: Paid and unpaid internships available
The SPARK Summer Mentorship Program is one of those internships for high school students that connects students with mentors from diverse fields. As an intern, you’ll benefit from hands-on learning experiences with industry experts, educators, and community leaders. You’ll be able to explore career paths and develop essential skills relevant to the field you’re interested in. Some fields include computer science, software engineering, marketing, and more.
3. KPMG’s Empower High School Experience Internship
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Cohort Size: 18-20 students/cohort
Dates: 3 weeks from July to August (based on previous years)
Application Deadline: January (tentative; based on previous years)
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors in high school living within commutable proximity to the KPMG office
Stipend: $20-$25
KPMG’s Empower High School Experience Internship is an intensive three-week internship program that admits a total of 200 participants each year. The internship aims to develop academic and professional capabilities in students, encouraging them to explore the field in-depth. During the program, you will be mentored by experts from the financial sector, which will help you gain a better understanding of the intricacies of the field. You will get to be a part of interaction workshops, collaborate on real-world case studies, and improve your critical thinking abilities.
For more information on this program, check out this blog!
4. KP Launch High School Internship Program
Location: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Oakland, California
Cohort Size: 40-50 students
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: November 18 – January 6
Eligibility: Students who are 16-19 by June 1; current high school students and/or graduating seniors in the U.S.; must have permanent residence in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area; priority is given to juniors and senior-level students
Stipend: $24/hour
For those interested in the healthcare industry, this internship offers practical experience and insights into non-medical careers, like administrative and supporting careers, within the healthcare industry. Some of the career paths you’ll get to explore during this internship include accounting, finance, and actuarial careers; sales and marketing careers; consulting services and project/program management (non-IT) careers; and many more. As an intern, you will attend weekly workshops that ensure personal and professional skills development and benefit from networking opportunities with peers and senior leaders. You’ll also be a part of work-based activities, community service projects, or social events.
For more information on this program, take a look at this blog!
5. Chicago Summer Business Institute
Location: Chicago Summer Business Institute, Chicago, Illinois
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 31
Eligibility: Must be a Chicago resident, a sophomore or junior, have a 3.0 GPA, and have a household income under $80,000/year
Stipend: Paid
Founded in 1991, the Chicago Summer Business Institute provides internships to students to provide them with financial stability while they are studying. This can become an incentive for the students.
The Chicago Summer Business Institute gives high school students the chance to explore key business and leadership skills that can help set them up for the future. The program focuses on teaching essential business principles, from strategic thinking to effective decision-making. These skill sets play a role in preparing you for real-world professional environments. During this internship, you’ll gain exposure to various aspects of business, including leadership, team management, and communication skills. The program is designed to equip you with the tools to navigate a business career.
6. Idaho National Laboratory Internship
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 10-16 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies based on internship
Eligibility: High school students above the age of 16; minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Stipend: Paid
The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) offers a variety of diverse paid internships for high school students and undergraduate and graduate level students. During these internships, you’ll work on innovative real-world projects and collaborate with experienced scientists and engineers. While many NL internships focus on STEM fields, they also focus on other fields like Business Management, Cybersecurity, Finance, HR, Computer Science, and more.
As an intern, you’ll work with a mentor who will help you outline your project, secure the necessary resources, and provide assistance and mentorship. You’ll also attend weekly seminars, tours, and community events. The internship ends with a poster session, where you’ll get to present the work you’ve done throughout the program.
7. CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) High School Internship Program
Location: CLA; various locations across the U.S.
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Date: June 17 – July 19 (tentative)
Application Deadline: January (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 16-18
Stipend: Paid (amount unspecified)
The CLA internship is for high school students interested in learning more about accounting and finance—you’ll be able to explore areas like tax preparation, financial analysis, audit procedures, and more. What sets this internship apart is that it gives you the opportunity to gain real-world experience by working on real projects and with real clients. You’ll get to explore an interactive case study, shadow professionals at different levels, and participate in team projects. By participating in this internship, you’ll get to develop new skills, understand your strengths, and gain an idea of the various career paths available to you.
8. Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Cohort Size: 150 students
Dates: May – June (specific dates are determined by the partner company)
Application Deadline: Early January
Eligibility: High school seniors planning to attend a four-year accredited U.S. college; at least 18 years old; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; GPA of at least 3.0
Stipend: Paid
The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship is an eight-week internship that provides high school seniors with an opportunity to explore careers in careers in media, entertainment, and technology. You’ll get to explore aspects like journalism, PR, business, and more. You’ll be exposed to industry professionals and gain a better understanding of the different sub-fields in the industry. The internship also offers workshops, annual conferences, one-to-one career coaching, and mentorship. It typically hosts a cohort of 150 students, including both new and returning EBF fellows.
You can apply for a need-based scholarship as part of the internship. With the broad range of partnerships that the Emma Brown Foundation Summer Internship has, it provides you with more opportunities at your disposal.
9. Young Entrepreneur Program (YEP)
Location: Remote + In-person options in various locations across Kansas City, Missouri
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Date:
- Session 1: June 2 – June 27
- Session 2: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 17
Eligibility: High school students finishing their junior year or senior year
Stipend: $2,500 scholarship + $12/hour
The Young Entrepreneur Program (YEP) allows you to explore the world of entrepreneurship up close. You’ll gain learning experience in a broad range of fields like engineering, finance, marketing, and product management, among others. With a structure that enhances hands-on experience for the students, the internship develops skills necessary to thrive in a competitive environment of business and its related fields. You will be mentored by industry experts, who will give you exposure to different business functions.
10. Pacific Northwest High School Business Internship
Location: PNNL, Richmond, Washington
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: August – May
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications open in early February
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (with some focus on diverse backgrounds)
Stipend: Paid
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) offers internships for high school students interested in pursuing a business career. As part of the internship, you’ll get to attend educational and leadership development activities, like laboratory demonstrations, field trips, communications, and career awareness workshops. The internship is held during the academic year, which means you’ll attend regular classes for half the day and then work up to 4 hours a day, 5 days a week at PNNL.
11. Warner Bros. Discovery – Reach Honorship Program
Location: Warner Bros. Discovery Studios, Burbank, California
Cohort Size: 5-6 students annually
Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: February (tentative)
Eligibility: High-school seniors from Burbank or Los Angeles County; a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; should plan to attend an accredited college or university
Stipend: $5,000 scholarship towards college
Each summer, this internship provides you with a choice from 60+ Warner Bros. departments. They include marketing, publicity, social media, studio operations, media research, and sales, among others.
The Warner Bros. Discovery’s Reach Honorship Program is an internship that can be understood as one that sits at the intersection of media and business. As an intern, you will gain insight into the corporate aspects of the entertainment industry. With a large alumni network and networking opportunities, you get to be part of professional circles through exposure to different areas of the internship.
12. Bank of America Student Internship
Location: Various locations across the U.S. and Washington, D.C.
Cohort Size: 300 students annually
Dates: 8 weeks (dates vary), including a 1-week conference in Washington, D.C. (July 21 – 26)
Application Deadline: October 14 – January 15
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors in high school; legally authorized to work in the U.S.; in good academic standing; permanently reside in an eligible location
Stipend: $11/hour
The Bank of America Student Internship is designed to help high school students gain an understanding of the different sectors: business, non-profit, and government. As an intern, you’ll have a chance to understand how these different sectors work together to address the needs of society and community. This prepares you to make informed decisions for your future professional field. The internship also includes leadership summits that you can attend along with other students, helping you to connect with like-minded people.
Location: Various locations in New York City, New York
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Varies according to internship; 6 weeks
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Students aged 16-24 enrolled in high school or college; must have prior paid or volunteer work experience; must live in one of the five boroughs of New York City
Stipend: At least $16.50/hour
The Ladders for Leaders internship program is part of NYC’s Summer Youth Employment Program. It helps you build a better understanding of government, non-profit organizations, and corporations in the city. You’ll get to participate in internships across a variety of industries and learn essential workplace readiness skills and business etiquette. As an intern, you will also benefit from a huge alumni network that is an active part of the internship program. This helps you to have an idea of the practical implications of the internships.
Location: Meta headquarters, California
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Date: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores; minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA; residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City
Stipend: Paid
The Meta Summer Academy is an internship that offers students the chance to learn more about the management of the world's social media network. As an intern, you’ll be able to gain practical knowledge by being a part of Meta’s day-to-day environment. You’ll also be paired with a Meta employee, who will act as your mentor during the program.
The internship’s goal is to motivate young professionals to achieve economic success, stability, and mobility through skills and development. The internship began in 2012 and has provided over 200 students with an opportunity to engage in a meaningful summer.
15. New York City Office of the Mayor Internship
Location: Various city department offices across New York City, New York
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: July 7 – August 29
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: 16 years or older; currently enrolled in high school or accepted into an undergraduate program
Cost: $16.50/hour
The New York City Office of the Mayor offers internships for high school students across a variety of departments and fields. As an intern, you’ll be able to learn more about the business of government operations. The internship is divided into three main components: work assignment, government engagement, and service project.
During the internship, you’ll get to collaborate with staff and work on several projects, including conducting research, analyzing data, managing incoming inquiries, staffing events, and more. You’ll also get to attend a bi-weekly Speaker Series that will educate you on the inner workings of City government and go on a tour of various Mayors’ Office facilities in NYC. Finally, you will be involved in a service project that focuses on uplifting New Yorkers and contributing to the community.
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Image Source: KPMG logo