14 Business Internships for High School Students in Austin
If you’re a high school student interested in business, an internship can be a good way to explore that interest and see what working in the field is really like. Business internships give you exposure to areas like marketing, management, entrepreneurship, and finance while helping you develop teamwork and communication skills.
In Austin, opportunities can be found across startups, established companies, and community organizations. Some programs focus on the basics of how businesses operate, while others may give you the chance to work on projects, support daily operations, or learn from professionals in the field. Doing a business internship in high school can also make your college applications stronger by showing initiative and early experience in a career-related area.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 14 business internships for high school students in Austin!
14 Business Internships for High School Students in Austin
1. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by the program
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 structured internship program designed for high school students interested in gaining work experience with start-ups. Through the program, you will have the chance to work on projects at early-stage and growing companies across a range of industries, including technology, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and others. During your internship, you will work directly with a manager at the company as well as a Ladder Coach, focusing on real-world projects that you present to the team. You can view the available opportunities on their application form.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: 100% virtual with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies by the program type
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts offered year-round — Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a four-week online program where you work on developing a business idea from the ground up. You will participate in live sessions, case discussions, and practical workshops that walk you through steps such as identifying a problem, researching the market, designing a product or service, and preparing a launch plan. During the program, you will receive guidance from startup founders and professionals who have experience at organizations including Google and Microsoft. At the end of the program, you will present your project to a panel of mentors and investors.
3. McCombs Future Executive Academy - UT Austin
Location: Austin, TX (The University of Texas at Austin — McCombs School of Business)
Cost: Free to attend (includes housing and meals). No stipend
Application Deadline: March 1
Dates: June 1 — 6
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors across the U.S
At the McCombs Future Executive Academy, you will spend six days on the UT Austin campus learning about business fundamentals and leadership concepts. The program includes group activities, leadership sessions, and workshops facilitated by McCombs faculty and professionals from industry. You will also take part in team-based problem-solving exercises and explore potential career paths in business and entrepreneurship. The academy welcomes applications from first-generation students and those who have experienced economic or social challenges.
4. DYNAMC - Discover Yourself in Accounting Majors and Careers - UT Austin
Location: Austin, TX (The University of Texas at Austin — McCombs School of Business)
Cost: Free to attend (educational, housing, and food costs fully covered). No stipend
Application Deadline: March 1
Dates: June 22–27
Eligibility: Open to current high school sophomores and juniors in the United States.
DYNAMC is a six-day summer program for high school sophomores and juniors interested in understanding how accounting connects to business strategy, analytics, and financial management. Offered by the McCombs School of Business, the program examines the role of accounting in areas such as entrepreneurship and organizational decision-making. You will work with McCombs faculty, take part in workshops, and participate in a case competition designed to simulate real-world business and accounting scenarios.
5. Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders - UT Austin
Location: Austin, TX (The University of Texas at Austin — McCombs School of Business)
Cost: Free to attend (educational, housing, and food costs fully covered). No stipend
Application Deadline: January 31
Dates: June 8–12
Eligibility: Current high school juniors enrolled at a Texas high school
Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders – UT Austin is a five-day, fully funded leadership program for rising high school seniors in Texas. You’ll study how public policy, ethical leadership, and community engagement intersect to shape real-world outcomes. Through case studies and collaborative projects, you’ll analyze challenges in areas like healthcare, education, and environmental policy, working alongside peers and mentors to propose solutions.
6. Austin Youth Initiatives Office Summer Internship
Location: Austin, TX
Cost: No cost. Stipend of $13/hour
Application Deadline: February 29
Dates: June 2 – July 11
Eligibility: Austin-area high school students aged 15–18
City of Austin High School Summer Internship Programs give you paid, hands-on experience in business-related fields like marketing, accounting, hospitality, and leadership development. You’ll work 20 hours per week for seven weeks in a city department, gaining exposure to professional tools, public service careers, and workplace expectations. Specialized tracks include the Emerging Leaders Summer Internship Program, a partnership with Bank of America and the Quality of Life Foundation, where you’ll build leadership skills and explore different career fields.
7. PHC Group, LLC: Mary Miller Summer Program
Location: Remote
Cost: No cost. Stipend paid
Application Deadline: May 12 for Summer I and June 26 for Summer II cohorts
Dates: Summer; dates vary by cohort
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (ages 16–18)
PHC Group’s Mary Miller Summer Program is a paid, remote internship for high school juniors and seniors interested in business, communication, and public health. You’ll work directly with senior leadership and the Public Health Director on projects that connect social media strategy with community engagement and public health messaging. Your work may include attending planning meetings, creating outreach content, analyzing engagement trends, and translating research into actionable insights. The program is designed to build your leadership, creativity, and professional skills while honoring the legacy of Mary Miller, a youth advocate and educator.
8. Travis County Internships
Location: Austin, TX
Cost: No cost. Internships may be paid or unpaid, and academic credit is sometimes available.
Application deadline: Applications are accepted as positions are open
Program dates: Typically an entire semester or summer
Eligibility: You must be actively enrolled in a high school. There are several classifications of internships: Student 1 and Student 2 are open to high school students.
Travis County High School Internship Program offers semester-long placements in county departments, with both paid and unpaid options available. Interns work after school hours under the supervision of experienced professionals. Business-focused placements are available in offices such as the District Attorney’s Office and the Juvenile Court Psychology Department, where you may assist with budgeting, data organization, event coordination, and interdepartmental communications. You will gain exposure to public sector business operations, including financial planning, policy implementation, and administrative workflows.
9. Moody Center Internships
Location: Austin, TX
Cost: No cost. Stipend paid at $13/hr.
Application deadline: Posted individually and remain open until filled
Program dates: Internships typically last for a semester or quarter
Eligibility: You must be authorized to work in the U.S., demonstrate a passion for live entertainment through events you’ve attended, related community service, previous job experience, or participation in school clubs.
The Moody Center in Austin offers semester-long internships for high school students, with positions paying $13 per hour for up to 20 hours per week. You will support different areas of the live sports and entertainment industry, including marketing, scheduling, event operations, and social media. You will work alongside managers and supervisors to gain practical experience in event planning, digital marketing, and community relations. Interns may also create social media content, assist with artist engagement, and support fundraising activities, providing firsthand insight into the business side of entertainment.
10. Build Up High School Internship
Location: Austin, TX, and other locations available nationwide
Cost/Stipend: Paid, amount varies depending on local minimum wage and experience
Application deadline: Typically mid-April
Program dates: 8 weeks, typically June–August
Eligibility: You must be a rising high school junior, senior, or graduating senior, have a family income below HUD's median family income for your county, and be legally entitled to work in the U.S.
Build Up High School Internship – DPR Construction is an eight-week, full-time summer program where you work 35–40 hours per week on a major commercial construction site. You’ll be placed in the job trailer alongside a professional project team, gaining direct experience in construction management. Throughout the internship, you’ll learn how multi-million-dollar projects are planned, scheduled, and budgeted. You’ll use industry-standard tools like BIM 360, CMIC, HammerTech, and Primavera to support coordination across engineering, architecture, and subcontractor teams.
11. Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) Grants and Internships
Location: Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: Interns are paid $15-$18 per hour
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Program dates: Internships typically last for a semester or quarter, though some last for the entire academic year
Eligibility: You must be at least 16 years of age, and some positions may require that you be 18 years of age, be eligible to work in the U.S., and be enrolled as a student at a high school, technical school, college, or university
The TxDOT internship program is offered year-round for high school and college students interested in transportation and public service. Both full-time and part-time roles are available. As an intern, you may contribute to projects such as route planning, budget discussions, and road surveys. The program also provides training sessions, access to professional resources, and opportunities to work with interns and staff across Texas. Along the way, you will gain insight into areas like project funding, financial planning, and the business side of transportation management.
12. Organizational Behavior and Leadership Academy
Location: Austin, TX (University of Texas at Austin )
Cost: Residential: $6,599; Commuter: $3,599
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full
Dates: June 15–27
Eligibility: High school students
Organizational Behavior and Leadership Academy is a two-week summer program where you study how workplace behavior and leadership styles influence organizational culture and performance. You’ll explore concepts from organizational behavior through case studies, discussions, and collaborative projects, applying leadership approaches in real-world scenarios. The curriculum includes topics like group dynamics, leadership traits, and strategies for building inclusive and high-performing teams.
13. Business 101 Academy: Global Entrepreneurship
Location: Austin, TX (University of Texas at Austin — Summer Discovery)
Cost: Costs between $5,200 and $6,200 for 3 weeks (includes housing, meals, instruction, and activities). No stipend.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full
Dates: June 29 — July 18
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th-grade students interested in global business and entrepreneurship
Business 101 Academy: Global Entrepreneurship is a three-week summer program where you explore how entrepreneurship works across international markets. You’ll learn how to develop a startup idea from scratch, starting with concept testing, then moving into market research, business model design, and global entry strategies. You’ll study differences between domestic and international markets, analyze customer behavior, and build financial models to support your business plan. By the end, you and your team will pitch your venture, applying everything you’ve learned to a real startup concept.
14. EnergyMag Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications are open all year round. You can apply here.
Program Dates: Flexible. Students may request lengthening an internship by a week or two because of conflicting time pressure from school.
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have taken at least one honors science or honors English class, with a minimum GPA of 3.25, can apply.
EnergyMag offers virtual research internships for high school and college students interested in renewable energy. As an intern, you will research companies, evaluate technologies, and carry out market analysis , skills that are broadly relevant in business and research settings. You will work under the guidance of a mentor, who will help you structure your work and build your analysis. Responsibilities include gathering information from relevant sources, synthesizing findings, and producing a written report, which may be published on the EnergyMag site.
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!