15 Business Internships for High School Students in California
Internships are one way for high school students to explore careers in business. They bridge the gap between classroom learning and application, showing you how companies operate and decisions are made. Whether it’s assisting with administrative tasks, participating in team projects, or shadowing professionals, these opportunities help you understand the practical side of business. They also let you test out different career paths early, so you can decide whether you’re interested in entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, or corporate management.
For students in California, where industries range from tech and entertainment to healthcare and finance, internships provide access to diverse business environments and professional networks. Gaining this kind of experience in high school not only builds confidence but also gives you a competitive edge for college and future career plans. You will develop skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork that are essential in any workplace.
Here is a list of 15 business internships for high school students in California that offer practical learning, mentorship, and exposure to professional settings.
1. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form. You will be offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
2. Meta Summer Academy
Cost: Free; stipend is paid to selected participants
Location in California: Menlo Park, CA
Dates: June 16 - July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors from East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City with a strong academic record.
At Meta Summer Academy, you’ll spend six weeks immersed in the business side of one of the world’s most influential tech companies. You’ll participate in career exploration sessions, learn how business and product decisions are made at scale, and gain experience working on projects under the guidance of Meta professionals. You will also attend workshops on communication, leadership, and digital business strategy, preparing you for future internships and college programs. By the end, you’ll walk away with practical workplace skills and insights into how major technology companies operate behind the scenes.
3. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies by program type
Location: 100% virtual with live, interactive workshops
Dates: Vary by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort, you can access the application link here!
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. You will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideation, workshops, skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. While this isn’t a traditional internship, it follows the same work-learn structure as the other programs on this list. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
4. KP LAUNCH High School Program
Cost: Paid; $23–24/hour
Location in LA: Kaiser Permanente medical centres and business offices in Los Angeles County
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 6
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–19 by June 1. Priority given to juniors and seniors. Must reside in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente service area and be available full-time for seven weeks.
KP LAUNCH offers you a paid, seven-week immersion in the administrative and business operations of a leading healthcare organisation. Interns work full-time in departments such as HR, administration, internal medicine, or patient services, focusing on office-based tasks rather than clinical care. You’ll gain insight into the business side of healthcare through workshops, mentorship, and networking with senior leaders. Weekly professional development sessions and community service projects build communication and workplace skills while exposing you to future career paths. By the end of the program, you’ll have business experience, professional references, and a better understanding of working in large-scale organisations.
5. Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy
Cost: Paid program
Location in California: San Francisco Bay Area (primarily online with an optional in-person capstone in San Francisco)
Dates: July 3 – July 31 (online sessions on Thursdays) with an optional in-person capstone on August 1
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Bay Area high school students who have completed ninth grade and are at least 15 years old by the start of the program. Must reside in the Bay Area and attend a local high school.
The Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy is a paid program connecting you with the business and policy side of regional government. Through expert-led weekly seminars from agencies such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Bay Area Air District, you’ll explore topics like transportation planning, housing economics, environmental justice, and air quality management. You will also complete a final capstone presentation and receive a stipend and certificate of completion to strengthen future college or job applications. You’ll leave with insights into business operations within government, exposure to policy careers, and practical experience in regional planning and administration.
6. Project Pull
Cost: Paid (hourly wage; rate varies each year)
Location in California: San Francisco, CA
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 17
Eligibility: High school and college students from diverse communities in San Francisco. Must reside in San Francisco and be able to commit full-time for the summer internship period.
Project Pull offers you the chance to work in the City and County of San Francisco departments, gaining direct exposure to business administration, public sector operations, and professional workplace culture. Interns are paired with mentors across fields like business, architecture, engineering, and city planning while working on real projects that impact the community. The program emphasises leadership, integrity, and teamwork while preparing you for both college and future employment. You’ll also gain professional references, a paid stipend, and valuable insight into public sector business careers. This internship is ideal if you want hands-on experience and direct mentorship while contributing to meaningful city projects.
7. Bank of America Student Leaders® Program
Cost: Paid (stipend provided for eight-week internship)
Location in California: Offered in multiple communities across California, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and others
Dates: Summer (eight-week internship; exact dates vary by location)
Application Deadline: January 17
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in participating communities.
The Bank of America Student Leaders® Program offers you a paid eight-week summer internship working with local nonprofits while developing business and leadership skills. You will also attend the National Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll learn how businesses, nonprofits, and government collaborate to address community needs. Through hands-on projects, mentorship, and service, you’ll gain valuable workplace skills while making a tangible impact in your community. If you’re interested in business, community development, or nonprofit management, this internship gives you direct exposure and a national platform to grow.
8. SLAC Summer Internship Program
Cost: Paid (hourly wage)
Location in California: Menlo Park, CA
Dates: Summer (up to 12 weeks between May and September; exact dates vary by department)
Application Deadline: Early spring (applications typically open in January)
Eligibility: High school students ages 18+ who are authorised to work in the U.S. must pass a background check
The SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory’s Summer Internship Program offers high school students the chance to gain professional work experience in a large-scale research and business environment. Positions vary based on department needs and can include administrative, communications, finance, and project support roles in addition to technical assignments. You’ll work under the guidance of experienced staff, build transferable workplace skills, and learn how a major federal research facility operates. Interns benefit from a professional setting that combines STEM and business operations, making it a strong choice if you’re interested in organisational management or administrative roles in large institutions.
9. SF YouthWorks
Cost: Students are paid $19.18 per hour
Location in California: San Francisco, CA
Dates: Summer (typically June–August)
Application Deadline: March–April
Eligibility: 11th–12th graders who are San Francisco residents or attend school in San Francisco. Must be able to obtain a work permit.
SF YouthWorks places you in paid internships within San Francisco city departments, offering hands-on administrative and business experience in a public sector setting. You’ll be matched with a professional mentor, attend career-readiness workshops, and participate in site tours and community service projects. Departments range from city planning and finance to technology and public health, giving you a broad look at government operations and business administration. The program also includes leadership development opportunities through its Youth Leadership Team for returning interns.
10. SFUSD Summer Internships with Industry Partners
Cost: Paid (hourly wage; varies by placement)
Location in California: San Francisco, CA
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to SFUSD sophomores and juniors, with priority given to rising seniors. Must commit to a minimum of 20 hours per week and attend weekly Work-Based Learning seminars
SFUSD’s Summer Internships connect you to industry mentors and paid positions in career sectors such as finance, marketing, project management, law, and public leadership service. You’ll work alongside professionals while developing transferable skills in communication, teamwork, and workplace problem-solving. Each internship combines on-the-job training with a weekly seminar led by SFUSD mentors to support your career exploration and future planning. The program offers direct exposure to business environments and networks that can support your transition to college and beyond. It’s an opportunity to gain practical work experience in professional industries while still in high school.
11. Warner Bros. Discovery Reach Honorship Program
Cost: Paid (internship stipend + scholarship package)
Location in California: Burbank, CA, and Los Angeles County
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in January and close in March
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors from Los Angeles County or Burbank who are passionate about the business and studio side of the entertainment industry
The Warner Bros. Discovery Reach Honorship Program awards graduating high school seniors a unique combination of a paid summer internship and a college scholarship. During the internship, you’ll gain experience in areas like finance, HR, marketing, operations, and communications, as well as exposure to creative business roles in content development and production. Honorship recipients work alongside professionals inside a major media company, learning how business functions drive the entertainment industry. In addition to practical workplace skills, you’ll benefit from mentorship and financial support to continue your education. If you’re interested in business careers within media and entertainment, this program offers a rare opportunity to start in the industry while still in high school.
12. CliftonLarsonAllen High School Internship Program
Cost: Paid (hourly wage)
Location in California: Multiple CLA offices, including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, and other CA locations
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: January
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–18 interested in business, accounting, and professional services. Must be authorised to work in the U.S.
CliftonLarsonAllen’s High School Internship Program introduces you to the business side of professional services and accounting through real-world projects with actual clients. You will gain exposure to auditing, financial analysis, administrative support, and business consulting while working in a professional office environment. You’ll develop transferable skills, build confidence in your career interests, and get paid while exploring one of the most in-demand business fields. Interns work under professional mentors and learn about career pathways in accounting, advisory, and business operations. It’s a stepping stone if you’re considering business, finance, or professional services in college.
13. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Program
Cost: Paid (hourly wage)
Location in California: NASA Ames Research Centre (Mountain View, CA) and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, CA)
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: U.S. citizens age 16+ with a 3.0 GPA. Open to full-time high school students. Must be able to pass a background check
NASA’s OSTEM internships allow you to work side-by-side with experts in science, engineering, information technology, and business operations. Positions include program management, procurement, budgeting, and communications roles alongside technical assignments. You’ll gain hands-on experience in a federal research and business environment, participate in career development workshops, and build skills that translate to any professional field. Interns work under professional mentors and contribute to real NASA projects supporting aeronautics, exploration, and organisational operations.
14. Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship Program
Cost: Paid (hourly wage; varies by partner company)
Location in California: Partner companies across California (placements vary annually)
Dates: Summer (8+ weeks; May–August depending on company placement)
Application Deadline: Rolling from September – April
Eligibility: High school seniors and undergraduate students with a minimum 3.0 GPA who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Must be 18 by the start of the internship and interested in media, entertainment, or technology careers
The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship Program connects you with paid internships at major media, tech, and entertainment companies. Roles span business functions like marketing, PR, human resources, and operations, alongside technical and creative positions. The program emphasises professional development through full-time, hands-on experience, mentorship, and access to a nationwide network of industry leaders. You will work 35–40 hours a week, gaining insight into the corporate side of media and technology while building career readiness skills. With a competitive selection process and a strong alumni network, EBF offers a prestigious entry point into business careers in California’s entertainment and tech industries.
15. U.S. Department of State Pathways Internship Program
Cost: Paid (hourly wage; federal GS pay scale)
Location in California: Positions available at federal facilities and consular offices across California (varies by year)
Dates: Year-round; summer sessions typically run June–August
Application Deadline: Rolling; vacancies posted on USA Jobs as needed
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in high school through graduate-level programs. Must meet age requirements and be able to pass a background check
The U.S. Department of State Pathways Internship Program provides paid, hands-on experience in federal business and administrative roles. High school students can work in areas such as project management, human resources, communications, and policy support while exploring career paths in public service. You will gain exposure to the operations of a federal agency, build workplace and leadership skills, and may qualify for non-competitive conversion into federal positions after program completion. With placements in California and across the U.S., this program offers a strong introduction to government and business administration in a professional federal setting.
Krishnapriya, or KP, is the Head of Partnerships at the YFL and an LSE graduate. She is super passionate about the environment (especially nonhumans with 3+ limbs) and considers walking her dogs as the most important part of her day!