13 Business Internships for High School Students in Charlotte, NC
If you’re a high school student interested in business, there are plenty of ways to start exploring the field outside the classroom. Interning at a local company gives you a look at how businesses run while letting you contribute to projects. You might assist with finance tasks, support marketing campaigns, or help track data and operations. These responsibilities build skills that matter in business, like communication, problem-solving, and organization, while giving you a closer look at different career paths.
Charlotte is home to major companies in banking, energy, and technology, as well as a growing number of small businesses and startups. Internships in Charlotte connect you with mentors and give you a stronger foundation for college and future jobs. Since these opportunities are local, you can build experience without having to leave home. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up 13 business internships for high school students in Charlotte, NC!
13 Business Internships for High School Students in Charlotte, NC
1. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by the program. Financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohorts
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (8–12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling, varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students (and undergraduates) able to commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program places high school students inside fast-moving startups where they work directly with founders and team members on real projects. Depending on your placement, you might contribute to software development, market research, content creation, or product design, often using tools like Python, Figma, Google Analytics, or CRM platforms. You’re expected to deliver work that supports the company’s goals, whether that means analyzing user data, writing blog posts, building prototypes, or testing marketing strategies. Each intern is matched with a Ladder Coach who helps guide their progress and offers feedback on their work.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies according to program; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohorts
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a four-week startup incubator where high school students work in teams to build and launch real businesses. You start by learning how to shape an idea into a viable product or service, through workshops on business models, market research, and product strategy. From there, you move into execution: building prototypes, testing user feedback, and refining your pitch. Mentors include founders and professionals from companies like Google and Microsoft. They guide you through startup mechanics like customer acquisition, pricing, and growth strategy. By the end of the program, you’ll have built a working product, developed a go-to-market plan, and pitched your startup to peers and mentors.
3. CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) High School Internship Program
Location: Select CLA offices nationwide, including Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free to participate; paid internship with hourly compensation
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Selective; varies by office and applicant pool
Program Dates: Summer (typically begins mid-June and runs for 6–8 weeks)
Application Deadline: Varies by location; students are encouraged to apply early through CLA’s official internship portal
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–18
The CLA High School Internship Program gives you hands-on experience in accounting and professional services through a structured summer placement. You work on real projects that introduce you to client service, financial operations, and business strategy. Interns are placed in CLA offices across the country and join teams that handle actual client work. You learn how to read financial documents, assist with business analysis, and contribute to team-based tasks. Depending on your placement, you might work with accounting software, help prepare reports, or shadow professionals during client meetings.
4. Red Hat High School Internship Program
Location: Raleigh, NC
Cost/Stipend: Paid; $18/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohorts per session
Dates: Session 1: July 7 – July 18; Session 2: July 21 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; at least 16 years old; GPA 2.0+; residents of North Carolina
The Red Hat High School Internship Program offers a two-week, full-time experience where you work 35 hours per week on real projects inside a global open-source software company. You’re placed on teams that focus on areas like software engineering, business operations, or customer engagement, depending on your interests and Red Hat’s needs. You learn how technical and business teams collaborate to build and support enterprise software. That might include contributing to internal tools, helping with documentation, or analyzing user feedback. You also gain exposure to open-source workflows, version control systems like Git, and communication platforms used across distributed teams.
5. MeckPathways High School Internship Program
Location: Various Mecklenburg County departments, Charlotte, NC
Cost/Stipend: Free to participate; paid internship at $15/hour
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Selective; limited placements based on department needs and application strength
Program Dates: June 11 – August 1 (typically 20–40 hours per week, depending on placement)
Application Deadline: Spring (usually opens in February and closes by early March)
Eligibility: You must be enrolled in a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) high school, be at least 16 years old by May 3, and have a Social Security number
The MeckPathways High School Internship Program offers paid summer roles across Mecklenburg County departments, including the library and EMS agency. You work 20 to 40 hours per week on assignments that link classroom learning to public service, contributing to projects in areas like emergency response, community outreach, library services, or environmental management. Tasks may include data entry, organizing programs, or supporting field operations, with county staff mentoring you on workplace skills and professional expectations.
6. New Professionals High School Internship Program
Location: McColl Center, Charlotte, NC
Cost/Stipend: Free to participate; paid internship at $12/hour
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Selective; small cohort supported by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation and the Ingrid + John Amols Creative Community Development Fund
Program Dates: June 17 – July 25
Application Deadline: May 23
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; must be enrolled in a CMS or local high school.
The New Professionals High School Internship Program – McColl Center is a five-week summer experience where you explore the behind-the-scenes work of art institutions. You’re placed in roles that focus on development, operations, residency coordination, and administration. You contribute to real projects that help promote the McColl Center’s work in the community. That might include organizing events, supporting artist residencies, or helping with marketing and outreach. You learn how an arts organization runs day to day, and how different departments collaborate to support exhibitions and public engagement.
7. EnergyMag Virtual Internship Program
Location: Remote
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited placements each year
Dates: Half-time internships: 2–8 weeks (summer); Quarter-time internships: 1–9 months (year-round)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a GPA of 3.25+; at least one honors science or English class recommended
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid; internship letter and published work provided
EnergyMag offers virtual internships that allow high school students to explore renewable energy and energy storage industries through research and analysis projects. As an intern, you will investigate specific companies, technologies, or markets, synthesizing your findings into a professional analysis report that may be published on the EnergyMag website. Mentors provide guidance through daily electronic communication, helping you refine research, writing, and communication skills. The program is flexible, with both short-term and extended internship options, making it a good fit for students balancing school schedules. You will gain valuable professional skills in research, outreach, and technical writing that can strengthen resumes and college applications.
8. Mary Miller Summer Program
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited spaces available
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Typically in the spring
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; must have unrestricted U.S. work authorization
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
The Mary Miller Summer Program – PHC Group introduces high school students to professional work in public health and digital outreach. You join a team led by senior staff and contribute to real projects that support the organization’s mission. Assignments may include managing social media content, researching marketing strategies, or helping create outreach materials for community programs. You learn how to communicate clearly, organize tasks, and think strategically about public health messaging. The work is structured to build your awareness of how nonprofit and consulting teams operate, especially in areas like stakeholder engagement, program planning, and digital communication.
9. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Placements at local nonprofits, including Charlotte, NC
Cost: Paid internship; all expenses covered for the leadership summit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~300 students selected nationally each year
Dates: 8 weeks of summer
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors in the U.S.
The Bank of America Student Leaders® Program is an eight-week paid summer internship for high school juniors and seniors, placing you at local nonprofits to work on projects that develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. You actively contribute to programs addressing community needs with organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Boys & Girls Clubs. The program also includes a fully funded, week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., where you meet peers nationwide and attend workshops, panels, and networking events with leaders in business, government, and social impact.
10. Economics for Leaders (EFL)
Location: Multiple U.S. college campuses; virtual option available
Cost: $2,100; financial aid and scholarships available; $800 for virtual option (+$35 application fee)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; roughly two applicants per spot
Dates: One-week sessions offered between early June and early August
Application Deadline: Early April
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors (including international students); Advanced EFL requires completion of AP Economics or equivalent
The Economics for Leaders (EFL) Summer Program by the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE) is a selective, weeklong program for high school students interested in how economic principles influence leadership and policy. Held on college campuses or online, it combines daily lectures on markets, scarcity, incentives, and trade-offs with interactive simulations and group activities that apply economic reasoning to real-world situations. Leadership workshops focus on collaboration, ethical decision-making, and public speaking to build confidence and communication skills.
11. Young Founders School x BSD Education High School Internship Program
Location: Virtual; projects hosted by companies worldwide
Cost/Stipend: Varies by placement; some sponsored spots available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohorts matched to company projects
Dates: Year-round; internships typically 4–6 weeks (minimum 4 hours per week)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 9–12
The Young Founders School, in partnership with BSD Education, offers a global internship program designed to give high school students real-world business experience. After completing preparatory online courses, you’ll be matched with a startup or company project in industries like technology, healthcare, finance, or marketing. Over 4–6 weeks, you will collaborate with peers, receive guidance from mentors, and work on practical business challenges. The program concludes with a final presentation where students showcase their solutions to company partners.
12. MAIF Kids Work High School Internship Program
Location: North Mecklenburg County (Huntersville, Davidson, Cornelius) & Iredell County, NC
Cost: Paid; includes hourly wage plus transportation, lunch, and uniform allowances.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; limited placements each summer
Dates: June–August (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: Early spring
Eligibility: Current high school students residing in North Mecklenburg County or Iredell County; minimum age 16 by program start; resume and short essay required
The MAIF Kids Work High School Internship Program connects students with local businesses across sectors like retail, hospitality, finance, and marketing to provide hands-on experience in day-to-day operations. You will work 20–25 hours per week alongside managers, contributing to real projects such as customer service analysis, inventory tracking, social media campaigns, and basic bookkeeping. You learn how to communicate in a business setting, manage time effectively, and use industry-specific tools like POS systems, spreadsheets, or marketing platforms. At the end of the program, you receive a formal letter of completion.
13. SC Johnson Summer Internship Program
Location: U.S. business hubs; remote application access
Cost/Stipend: Paid; benefits may include subsidized housing and flexible scheduling
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; limited roles for high school students
Dates: Summer; 10–12 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Primarily for undergraduates; select opportunities open to high school seniors entering college
The SC Johnson Summer Internship Program allows high school and college students to work inside a global consumer goods company known for brands like Ziploc®, Glade®, and Raid®. Internships are available across multiple business functions, including finance, marketing, human resources, sales, and supply chain. You’ll contribute to strategic projects, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and develop problem-solving and communication skills under the guidance of experienced mentors.