15 Business Internships for High School Students in Florida
If you’re a high school student in Florida and curious about business, an internship can show you what it’s like working at a company or organization. You’ll see how teams work together, how decisions are made, and how ideas move from planning to execution. Along the way, you’ll pick up skills like communication, problem solving, and time management, things you’ll use no matter what career you choose.
Florida’s economy is built on a mix of industries like tourism, finance, real estate, and technology, which means there are a lot of directions you can explore. An internship lets you test the waters in these areas before committing to a specific career path or a college major. You might discover a field you love or realize you want to try something different; either way, you’ll be making informed choices about your future. Additionally, internships give you a concrete achievement to show on your college applications.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 business internships for high school students in Florida.
15 Business Internships for High School Students in Florida
1. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type
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 an 8-week online program for high school students who want to work with real startups. You get matched with a company based on your interests and these companies work in areas like AI, health tech, marketing, journalism, and more. Many have raised millions in funding and are led by founders with experience at places like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. During the internship, you’ll work on actual projects with guidance from both your startup manager and a Ladder Coach. You’ll learn how to manage tasks, communicate clearly, and take ownership of your work. At the end, you present your final project to the company.
2. 3DE Schools by Junior Achievement – South Florida
Cost: Free
Location: Charles W. Flanagan High School (Pembroke Pines, FL) and McArthur High School (Hollywood, FL)
Dates: Integrated into the academic year as a school-based program
Application Deadline: Enrollment handled through participating schools
Eligibility: Open to students enrolled in participating 3DE partner high schools in South Florida
3DE Schools by Junior Achievement redesigns your high school experience to connect learning with real-world business challenges. You’ll solve case studies created with industry partners, applying concepts from economics, marketing, and management across subjects like math, science, history, and English. You’ll build skills in problem solving, communication, and teamwork while working directly with local companies. Every part of your education is tied to real business environments, helping you understand how classroom knowledge applies to professional life.
3. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Dates: Vary according to cohort
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Eligibility: All high school students can apply
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 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. Florida Chamber Foundation Internship Program
Cost: Free
Location: Placements available with businesses across Florida
Dates: Varies based on business placement and regional chamber coordination
Application Deadline: Rolling; contact the local chamber or the Florida Chamber Foundation
Eligibility: Open to Floridians with disabilities ages 16+
Florida Chamber Foundation Internship Program connects high school students with disabilities to paid internships across Florida. You’ll be matched with a business based on your interests and abilities, and placed in roles like marketing, administration, or customer service. You’ll gain real experience in professional settings while building workplace skills and confidence. Businesses receive support and reimbursement for intern costs, and you’ll benefit from mentorship and career resources offered through chamber partners.
5. Bank of America Student Leaders® Program
Cost: Free; pays a stipend
Location: Various nonprofit placements across Florida with a national summit in Washington, D.C.
Dates: Eight-week summer program; specific dates vary annually
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors and seniors; must demonstrate leadership and commitment to community service
Bank of America Student Leaders® Program gives you a paid eight-week internship at a local nonprofit, where you’ll work 35 hours a week and build skills in leadership, teamwork, and community engagement. You’ll also attend the national Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll meet students from across the country and learn how nonprofits, businesses, and government work together to address local challenges. You’ll gain experience in areas like project planning, communication, and nonprofit operations, skills that apply directly to business, entrepreneurship, and public service.
6. Jimerson Birr - P.A. High School Summer Internship Program
Cost: Free
Location: Jacksonville, FL (with offices in Tampa, Miami, Orlando, and Tallahassee)
Dates: 4–6 weeks during the summer; exact dates vary by location
Application Deadline: Varies; check the careers page or contact Jimerson Birr for details
Eligibility: Open to motivated high school students preparing to enter their first year of college
Jimerson Birr High School Summer Internship Program gives you hands-on experience at a fast-paced business law firm in Jacksonville, Florida. Over 4 to 6 weeks, you’ll rotate through departments like accounting, communications and marketing, legal services, IT, and business administration. You’ll work directly with department heads and contribute to real projects, building skills in organization, communication, and client service. You’ll learn how a professional firm runs day-to-day and gain experience that applies to fields like economics, management, and entrepreneurship. The program focuses on professional development and gives you a strong foundation for college and future internships.
7. Miami Dade College Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP)
Cost: Free; students may earn stipends and dual enrollment credit
Location: Worksites across Miami-Dade County with academic credit through Miami Dade College
Dates: Typically July – early August; varies by worksite
Application Deadline: Usually closes in late spring (check M‑DCPS Summer Youth Internship site)
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12 enrolled in Miami-Dade County Public Schools; ages 15–18; minimum 2.5 weighted GPA
Miami Dade College Summer Youth Internship Program places you in a paid, five-week internship with a local business or public agency. You’ll work on real projects in areas like marketing, finance, administration, and operations while earning dual enrollment credit through Miami Dade College. You’ll take courses like General Business Internship I & II, which help you connect your work experience to academic and career goals. The program includes structured mentorship and lets you build professional skills, explore career paths, and make lasting connections in your community.
8. Coral Reef High School Summer Youth Internship Program
Cost: Free; students must purchase basic school insurance (~$14) if not already covered
Location: Partner businesses and organisations across Miami-Dade County; coordinated through Coral Reef High School
Dates: Typically July – early August (aligned with the M‑DCPS Summer Youth Internship Program)
Application Deadline: Varies annually; pre‑internship course must be completed by mid‑May
Eligibility: Students enrolled in Coral Reef High School’s Business, Legal, Agriscience, Engineering, or Medical academies; Visual & Performing Arts and IB students may opt in.
The Coral Reef High School Summer Youth Internship Program is a graduation requirement for students in the Business and Legal NAF academies. You’ll be placed with a local business or organization and work in areas like finance, law, administration, or business operations while earning credit toward your academy track. Before starting, you must complete a pre-internship course through Odysseyware, join the school’s Cuda Credit Union, and create a digital portfolio using Bulb to document your skills and achievements. You also need to purchase school insurance through the approved provider.
9. Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office High School Volunteer Internship Program
Cost: Free; unpaid volunteer internship, with some students eligible for school credit
Location: E.R. Graham Building, 1350 NW 12 Avenue, Miami, FL
Dates: Year-round; summer and academic term placements available
Application Deadline: Rolling; applicants go through screening and interview before placement.
Eligibility: Open to high school students in Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade State Attorney’s High School Internship Program gives you direct experience in professional administration inside one of the largest legal offices in the country. You’ll rotate through units like Criminal Intake, Domestic Violence, and Victim/Witness, where you’ll assist with case files, contact victims and witnesses, and observe court proceedings. You’ll build skills in organization, communication, and deadline management while working in a structured office environment. The program includes training in ethics, office procedures, and public service, helping you understand how large institutions manage operations, client services, and internal workflows.
10. University of Miami UVenture High School Program
Cost: Free
Location: Miami Herbert Business School, 5250 University Drive, Coral Gables, FL
Dates: Monthly Saturday afternoon conferences during the academic year; the Summit for Young Entrepreneurs is held annually in the spring
Application Deadline: Rolling; students can register during the academic year
Eligibility: High school students across Miami-Dade County
UVenture High School Program at Miami Herbert Business School connects you to the University of Miami’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. You’ll attend monthly Saturday sessions focused on startup planning, business strategy, and collaborative problem-solving, working alongside university mentors and peers. The program ends with the Summit for Young Entrepreneurs, where students from across Miami-Dade and Broward pitch ideas, meet local business leaders, and explore future venture opportunities. All sessions are hosted at Miami Herbert Business School, giving you early exposure to business thinking, leadership development, and the startup process in a professional setting.
11. City of Miami Beach Internship Program
Cost: Free; paid placements available for eligible students through M‑DCPS SYIP
Location: City of Miami Beach departments and administrative offices, Miami Beach, FL
Dates: Summer session aligns with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Summer Youth Internship Program (typically July – early August); academic year internships also available
Application Deadline: Varies; SYIP applications generally close in late spring
Eligibility: Miami Beach Senior High School students applying via M‑DCPS SYIP or the Academic Year Internship Program.
City of Miami Beach High School Internship Program places you in a supervised role within a city department, where you’ll apply classroom knowledge to real municipal operations. You’ll work alongside staff on administrative and project-based tasks, gaining experience in organization, communication, and leadership. Interns rotate through areas of city government and receive training in office procedures and ethics. You’ll learn how departments manage services, budgets, and workflows, skills that apply directly to business, public administration, and operations management.
12. American Heritage Schools Business & Entrepreneurship Program
Cost: Included in tuition for enrolled students; no separate program fee
Location: American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus (Plantation, FL) and Palm Beach Campus (Delray Beach, FL)
Dates: Four-year program with senior-year internship; internships typically run during the academic year.
Application Deadline: Rolling; based on school admissions timelines
Eligibility: High school students enrolled at American Heritage Schools
American Heritage Schools Business & Entrepreneurship Program gives you a four-year track of college-level business courses taught by industry professionals. You’ll study business management, marketing, finance, accounting, entrepreneurship, and business law, building a strong foundation in core business disciplines.
In your senior year, you’ll complete a capstone internship with business leaders, gaining hands-on experience in areas like operations, leadership, and strategic planning. You’ll work directly with executives such as CFOs and COOs across South Florida. The program includes a Business & Entrepreneurship Society with bi-weekly meetings featuring guest speakers from top industries.
13. Miami Southridge Senior High School Business Innovation & Management Magnet Program
Cost: Free for enrolled magnet students
Location: Miami Southridge Senior High School, 19355 SW 114th Ave, Miami, FL
Dates: Four-year magnet track with internships typically completed during junior or senior year
Application Deadline: Follows Miami-Dade County Public Schools magnet application cycle (usually closes in January)
Eligibility: High school students accepted into the Business Innovation & Management Magnet Program.
The Business Innovation & Management Magnet Program at Miami Southridge Senior High prepares you for careers in business, finance, and operations through a technology-enhanced curriculum and real-world experience. You learn to plan and execute business activities in collaborative work settings while building technical skills in management and finance. You earn industry certifications in Microsoft, Intuit QuickBooks, and Adobe. You also train on Bloomberg Terminals, the same financial platform used by global banks and corporations. The program includes internships with local businesses and leadership development through the Future Business Leaders of America Club.
14. NASA OSTEM High School Business & Program Management Internships
Cost: Paid; OSTEM high school interns receive a stipend
Location: NASA Kennedy Space Centre, Cape Canaveral, FL; remote opportunities available
Dates: June – August (exact dates vary by placement)
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: U.S. citizens aged 16+ enrolled full-time in high school with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
The NASA OSTEM High School Internship Program offers paid placements in business, finance, and program management roles at centers like Kennedy Space Center. You support teams in procurement, budgeting, accounting, and organizational operations while working under the guidance of NASA mentors. The program includes structured training and exposure to large-scale project management, giving you real experience in business operations inside a federal agency. You build skills in communication, analysis, and leadership while contributing to NASA’s mission behind the scenes.
15. America On Tech Tech Flex Leaders (TFL) – Miami
Cost: Free; stipend awarded upon program completion
Location: Hybrid; weekly sessions are mostly virtual with several in-person events in Miami
Dates: September – May; summer professional development bootcamp in June; eligible students can apply for paid summer internships in July–August
Application Deadline: Priority deadline – July 6 | Final deadline – August 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors enrolled in a Miami high school
Tech Flex Leaders Program by America On Tech is a free, nine-month hybrid experience for high school juniors and seniors in Miami. You meet weekly for technical training, professional development, and mentorship with industry professionals. Sessions run from September to May, with in-person events held three times per semester.
In the first semester, you learn web development using HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap. In the second semester, you choose a specialized track such as digital marketing or product management and work on team projects for Demo Day. Miami students who complete the program can apply for select paid internships through AOT’s employer network.
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!