13 Business Internships for High School Students in NYC

MD: This guide lists 13 business internships for high school students in New York City. 

If you’re a high school student in New York City (NYC) and thinking about exploring business in a practical setting, there’s multiple options you could consider. 

You could join a startup incubator program that allows you to work on a business idea, a pre-college program in business that lets you explore business at the college level, or an internship in business! 

Why should I do an internship in business as a high schooler? 

  • A business internship in high school offers practical experience that complements what you learn in class. As an intern, you will be expected to assist with basic tasks like research, scheduling, or event planning - all of which provides exposure to how organizations operate!

  • Through this experience, you can also develop transferable skills such as time management, communication, and problem-solving — all useful in both academic and professional settings. 

  • Internships can also help clarify which areas of business you might want to explore further, be it at the high school level for research or pre-college programs, or at the undergraduate level.

NYC is packed with internship opportunities hosted by startups, banks, and organizations open to high schoolers, and to get you started, here is a list of 13 business internships for high school students in NYC:

  1. Ladder Internship Program

    Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students like you! In this program, you get to work with a high-growth start-up. The start-ups offering internships come from a variety of industries, including tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more.

    Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies, raising over a million dollars on average. Past founders have included YCombinator alumni, founders who raised over $30 million, or those who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. As an intern, you’ll work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. Apply here! 

    Location:  Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.

    Cost: $2490 (Financial Aid Available)

    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!

  2. Young Founders Lab

    The Young Founder’s Lab is a start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you work on building a revenue-generating start-up that solves a real-world problem. You also get mentored by entrepreneurs and professionals from places like Google, Microsoft, and X. While this isn’t a traditional internship, you will be expected to follow a work-learn model throughout the program.

    Alongside building your start-up, you take part in sessions on business basics, idea development, and skill-building. You also attend workshops, case studies, and panel discussions. This program gives you a way to learn how businesses are built and run. You can check out the brochure for the program here.

    Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops

    Cost: $2,900 (team-based program) or $3,500 (individual program). There is need-based financial aid.

    Application Deadline: Deadlines vary according to cohort. April 13 (Summer Regular Admission 1)

    Program Dates: Varies according to cohort 

    Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students

  3. NYC Mayor’s Office Internship Program

    This internship gives high school and college students a chance to explore how business works inside the city government. It’s structured around three key parts. First is the Work Component. - you can choose a department like Administrative Services, the Deputy Mayor for Operations, or the Office of Management and Budget. 

    The second is Government Engagement - every two weeks, you join a Speaker Series led by senior officials like Deputy Mayors and Commissioners. These sessions focus on how policy decisions are made, how city budgets are managed, and how city departments run large-scale operations. 

    The final part of this internship is the Service Project - which involves you designing and leading a project that uses business thinking to solve a local problem, whether it’s financial planning for a nonprofit, creating a basic service model, or improving communication in a community-based support group.

    Location: Various offices across NYC

    Cost: None. Stipend of $16.50 per hour

    Application Deadline: To be announced for the Fall/Spring cohort. Typically in August

    Program Dates: September – April for the Fall/Spring cohort 

    Eligibility: Students who are New York City residents, 16 years of age or older, have current working papers at the time of application, and are enrolled in high school.

  4. JPMorgan Chase High School Internships

    JPMorgan Chase offers both internships and pre-internships for high school students, depending on availability. These programs place you in finance-related roles at one of the world’s largest financial institutions, based in NYC’s financial district.

    You work under experienced professionals who guide you through the basics of financial analysis, business communication, and how large teams collaborate.  You’ll also help with tasks like preparing financial reports or setting up client meetings, giving you a close-up view of how business decisions are made at a global level.

    Location: New York, NY (Manhattan, with some hybrid options)

    Cost: Free (paid internship, stipend varies but typically aligns with industry standards, e.g., $15-$20/hour)

    Application Deadline: Varies based on role.

    Program Dates: Varies based on role.

    Eligibility: NYC high school juniors and seniors, aged 16+, with strong academic records (minimum 3.0 GPA preferred) and an interest in finance or business. 

  5. Goldman Sachs High School Internship

    This internship offers NYC high school students the chance to gain real-world experience in finance at a top global investment bank. Interns assist with tasks such as market research, data analysis, and client presentations in departments like Investment Banking and Operations. You'll develop key business skills in financial analysis, teamwork, and communication while working under the guidance of seasoned professionals.

    The internship includes training on finance basics and provides mentorship for personalized support. You'll have the opportunity to contribute to real-world business tasks, such as analyzing market trends or supporting corporate deals.

    Location: New York, NY (Manhattan)

    Cost: Free 

    Application Deadline: February 15

    Program Dates: July – August (6–8 weeks)

    Eligibility: NYC high school juniors or seniors, aged 16+, with a minimum 3.0 GPA

  6. Brooklyn Navy Yard Internship Program

    The Brooklyn Navy Yard Internship Program offers you the chance to gain paid, hands-on experience at businesses within the Yard, including tech startups, manufacturing companies, and creative agencies. You’ll assist with tasks like marketing, inventory management, or administrative work, depending on your career interests.

    Under the guidance of professionals, you’ll develop important skills in project coordination, communication, and time management. The program includes career mentoring, workplace readiness workshops, and networking opportunities with local business leaders.

    Location: Brooklyn, NY

    Cost: Free (paid internship, stipend ~$15/hour)

    Application Deadline: March 17

    Program Dates: July – August (8 weeks)

    Eligibility: NYC high school seniors, aged 16+, with strong communication skills

  7. NYC Ladders for Leaders

    Ladders for Leaders places high school students in paid internships with top companies, nonprofits, and government agencies in NYC, focusing on business roles. You’ll work on tasks like market research, data analysis, administrative support, and project coordination in fields like finance, marketing, and business operations.

    Before your internship, you’ll complete 30 hours of training in résumé writing, interview skills, and workplace readiness. During the internship, you’ll develop important skills like communication, time management, and business etiquette while working on real business tasks.

    Location: Various organizations in NYC

    Cost: None. Pays a stipend.

    Application Deadline: February 3

    Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer

    Eligibility: High school and college students aged 16 – 24 who are residents of one of the five boroughs of New York City, have prior work experience (either paid or volunteer), and are legally allowed to work in the United States.

  8. Bank of America Student Leaders Program

    The Bank of America Student Leaders Program gives you leadership training and work experience with a local nonprofit for 8 weeks. You’ll explore how nonprofits support their communities and play an important role in society. 

    You will also attend the national Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll learn about the collaboration between nonprofits, governments, and businesses to address local needs. During this experience, you’ll also develop civic, social, and business leadership skills.

    Location: Various locations

    Cost: Free. Paid internship

    Application Deadline: January 15

    Program Dates: 8 weeks in the summer

    Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are legally authorized to work in the U.S., reside in eligible locations, can work 35 hours/week at a nonprofit, attend the Student Leaders Summit, and are not Bank of America employees or their immediate family members.

  9. Tech Flex Leaders

    The Tech Flex Leaders Program focuses on technology and includes a strong business component through its product management and digital marketing tracks. In the first semester, you'll learn web development by mastering HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap. The semester ends with a Demo Day Competition where teams present their final web projects to a panel of judges. 

    In the second semester, you’ll choose a tech track based on your career goals. The product management track teaches you how to create successful products that solve user problems and drive business growth. Select NYC Tech Flex Leaders may also have the chance to earn a paid summer internship.

    Location: Hybrid, with in-person components in New York (Manhattan), Los Angeles, or Miami

    Cost: None. Stipend of $1,000

    Application Deadline: July 6 (priority application) or August 3 (final application) 

    Program Dates: 9 months starting September 8 

    Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors attending a New York City (all boroughs), Los Angeles County, or Miami-Dade/Broward County public or charter school.

  10. The School Construction Authority’s High School Summer Internship Program

    The School Construction Authority’s High School Summer Internship Program gives high school students the chance to work in different departments like Capital Planning, Legal Construction Management, and Life Cycle Cost Management. You'll spend four days a week helping with real business tasks and one day on activities like career mentoring. 

    Your assignments will depend on where you're placed, and you'll also complete a 10-hour OSHA construction safety course. This experience will give you hands-on exposure to business operations in the construction industry.

    Location: New York, NY

    Cost: Free. Stipend of $16.50 per hour.

    Application Deadline: March 7

    Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer. The exact dates depend on the department and organization.

    Eligibility: Students enrolled in a New York City public high school who are in good academic standing and have strong verbal and written language skills 

  11. Futures and Options Internship Program

    The Futures and Options Internship Program offers New York City high school students the chance to gain professional experience with business organizations, including financial firms, marketing agencies, and nonprofits. You will perform tasks like data analysis, client support, marketing assistance, or administrative duties, contributing to business operations. 

    The program starts with mandatory orientation sessions, followed by career readiness workshops focused on resume writing, interviewing, and business etiquette for corporate environments. Field visits to companies like Ernst & Young or JPMorgan Chase offer insights into careers in finance and marketing.

    Location: Broadway, Manhattan

    Cost: Free. Paid internship

    Application Deadline: February 9

    Program Dates: 6 weeks from July – August

    Eligibility: Juniors or seniors enrolled in a high school in NYC, who are 16 – 19 years old, have a valid working card, and can lawfully work in the US.

  12. CLA High School Internship Program

    The CLA High School Internship Program introduces you to accounting and professional services through hands-on activities and direct mentorship. You’ll work with professionals to understand how firms support clients in areas like tax planning, auditing, and consulting. 

    You’ll also take part in interactive case studies that show how businesses solve financial problems and manage operations. You’ll learn how to review financial statements, calculate basic taxes, assist with internal audits, and use tools like Excel for data entry and analysis. The program includes workshops on client communication, ethical decision-making, and time management. 

    Location: Various locations across the U.S.

    Cost: Free. Pays a stipend!

    Application Deadline: January (tentative)

    Program Dates: June 17 – July 19 (tentative)

    Eligibility: High school students aged 16 – 18

  13. Building-U High School Internship

    Building-U offers internships across various departments, including Business and Development, Resource R&D, Data Privacy, Marketing, and Multimedia. In the Business and Development team, you’ll work on cultivating partnerships and organizing data to support funding strategies for current and future initiatives.

    You’ll also be able to contribute to other teams, helping you build a diverse skill set in teamwork, communication, and professional collaboration. This internship will provide you with exposure to different areas of business while developing key skills that will support your career goals.

    Location: Virtual

    Cost: None

    Application Deadline: On a rolling basis

    Program Dates: 3 months throughout the year

    Eligibility: High school students

Krishnapriya J

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!

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