12 Economics Internships for High School Students in Tennessee
Internships are a valuable opportunity for high school students interested in pursuing careers in economics, as they provide hands-on experience that can’t be gained in the classroom alone. By working with real data, observing economic decision-making, and participating in professional environments, students gain insights into the day-to-day realities of the field. For students in Tennessee, the state’s strong economic landscape offers numerous opportunities to intern with organizations that rely heavily on economic analysis and strategy.
These internships allow students to apply what they’ve learned in class to real-world situations, making abstract concepts like supply and demand or market behavior more tangible. Gaining early exposure to the field can also help students clarify their career interests and strengthen their resume for future college or job applications.
Here are 12 economics internships for high school students in Tennessee!
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. Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills, and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort.
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 develop a business idea from the beginning. You’ll take part in live sessions, case discussions, and hands-on workshops that guide you through key steps like defining a problem, studying the market, building a product, and outlining a launch plan. Throughout the program, you’ll receive input from startup founders and professionals with experience at companies like Google and Microsoft. At the conclusion of the program, you’ll share your project with a group of mentors and investors. You’ll retain full ownership of the work you create during the program.
3. East Tennessee Economic Council Internships In Industry
Location: Anderson, Knox, and Roane Counties in Tennessee (participating companies and schools include Oak Ridge Schools, Anderson County Schools, Clinton High School, and Roane State Community College)
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns are recommended to be paid $12–15/hr (or customary rate); no cost to apply for students
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis — high school placements typically begin in August or January; Roane State placements are year-round
Program Dates:
High school programs: August–mid-December or late January–mid-May (18 weeks/semester, with flexibility)
Roane State placements: 15-week semesters, flexible start dates, possible multi-semester arrangements
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors in participating schools and Roane State Community College students; students must have joined relevant coursework and be matched to industry partners
This school-to-industry partnership connects motivated high school and college students with Tennessee businesses and manufacturers for short-term internships. Students earn school credit while gaining hands-on skills in areas like business planning, management, finance, and more. Each intern is matched to industry partners and receives supervision and support from educators.
The program emphasizes flexibility — students typically work 15–20 hours per week based on mutual availability, with schedules coordinated to avoid academic disruptions. Beyond technical knowledge, interns are exposed to all aspects of the industry, helping inform future career and education paths. Cost to companies includes customary hourly wages, and the initiative supports local workforce growth while giving students meaningful experiences. Interested students and employers can register online, after which school representatives facilitate matching and placement.
4. Women Empowered Through Business (WEB) Institute
Location: Haslam College of Business, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Cost/Stipend: TBA. Check here for updates!
Application Deadline: March 31 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Program Dates: July 13–18 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Eligibility: Rising female high school juniors with an interest in business and technology. Applicants must demonstrate leadership potential, meet minimum academic standards, and submit a completed application, transcript, and one letter of recommendation.
The Women Empowered through Business (WEB) Institute is a week-long residential summer program created to inspire and prepare young women for education and careers in business. You will take part in interactive workshops and hands-on learning experiences covering topics like entrepreneurship, supply chain management, business analytics, technology, and personal branding.
Guided by Haslam College of Business faculty, staff, and student mentors, you’ll gain both technical knowledge and leadership skills. The program also offers networking opportunities with women professionals and successful business alumni. Through team-based projects and campus engagement, WEB fosters confidence, collaboration, and awareness of the wide range of career paths available in business.
5. POWER Youth Summer Employment Initiative
Location: Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee
Cost/Stipend: Free to participate. Youth earn hourly stipends:
Ages 14–15: $12/hr for project-based roles
Ages 16–19: $15/hr for internships at local organizations
Application Deadline: April 25 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Program Dates: June 2— July 18 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Eligibility: Open to youth ages 14–24 living in Davidson County. Grouped by age: 14–15 (project work), 16–19 (internships), and 20–22 (ambassadors). Must have a Davidson County address.
POWER Youth is Nashville’s official summer employment and internship program for youth, previously known as Opportunity NOW. The initiative aims to provide meaningful job experiences, career exploration, and skill development for high school students and young adults. You’ll work with local nonprofits, businesses, and government partners and receive paid stipends while developing job skills, exploring new industries, and building professional networks.
The program includes a mix of art, community development, research, and workplace projects, with pre-program coaching for older interns. Registration and applications are handled through an online portal, which opens in February and closes in April each year. Dedicated computers are available at the Metro Action Commission offices to support applicants who need access.
6. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Multiple U.S cities, including Cheatham, Davidson, Knox, Rutherford, Shelby, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson in Tennessee. The program will culminate in an in-person summit in Washington D.C.
Cost: No cost for the internship or the student leader’s summit in Washington D.C. Students only need to pay for their own souvenirs and incidentals.
Application Deadline: January 15 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Program Dates: Internship start dates vary by market. You can expect your internship to begin shortly following the end of your school year. The internship will run for 8 weeks and includes a week in D.C
Eligibility: Must be a U.S.-authorized high school junior or senior in good standing, able to work 35 hours/week for 8 weeks at a local nonprofit, attend a week-long D.C. summit, reside in an eligible location, and not be a past program selectee or Bank of America employee/family
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program offers high school students the chance to gain experience in areas like accounting, business, and finance through hands-on work. You’ll be assigned to a local nonprofit for a paid internship, where you may work on tasks such as budgeting, financial planning, or analysis. The program also includes a week-long leadership summit in Washington, D.C., where you can learn more about civic engagement and leadership. Through this experience, you’ll explore how nonprofits operate within the broader economy and contribute to your community in a professional setting.
7. USDA Pathways Internship Program
Location: Various locations, including Tennessee
Cost/Stipend: Paid, year-round internship opportunities
Application Deadline: Expected to be open year-round. Find more information here.
Program Dates: Variable based on role
Eligibility: Degree-seeking high school, undergraduate, and graduate students
The USDA Pathways Internship Program offers high school students industry experience through paid work opportunities that are connected to their academic and career interests. You gain practical experience in fields related to agricultural economics, economic policy, and community development, allowing you to apply economic principles in real-world federal settings.
By working within a large federal agency, you receive mentorship and professional development that foster economic understanding and career exploration. Successful completion of the internship also provides a pathway to non-competitive federal employment, which encourages long-term engagement in economic and public service careers. All this is designed specifically for current degree-seeking students, including high schoolers, with work opportunities available year-round.
8. EnergyMag Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Stipends may be provided
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 developing skills in research and analysis. As an intern, you will focus on topics related to the renewable energy industry, including company research, technology assessment, and market trends. You’ll work under the guidance of a mentor, who will provide feedback and support throughout the process. Your responsibilities will include gathering information, contacting relevant sources, analyzing data, and writing a draft report. Completed reports may be published on the EnergyMag website.
9. PHC Group’s Mary Miller Summer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students will be paid, but the amount is not specified.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: Summer (exact dates not specified)
Eligibility: Rising or current high school seniors with work authorization
The Mary Miller Summer Program at PHC Group is open to rising or current high school seniors with work authorization. As an intern, you will support the Public Health Director and assist with tasks related to social media, online engagement, and basic technical support. Your work may include joining planning meetings, researching social media trends, analyzing data, preparing posts, and incorporating feedback from staff and clients. You will also take part in group projects and work independently on assigned tasks, with a focus on building communication and collaboration skills.
10. Building-U High School Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines; it is recommended that you apply as soon as possible.
Program Dates: Usually 3 months from June to August. It can be extended!
Eligibility: All high school students can apply.
Building-U is a remote nonprofit that involves high school students in various operational areas of the organization. As an intern, you will join a specific team based on your interests and skills, with roles available in areas such as research and development, business development, student outreach, and more. Teams may focus on tasks like content creation, digital marketing, data analysis, or web development. The internship is designed to give you experience working collaboratively while developing skills in organization, communication, and project coordination.
11. Shelby County Summer Youth Program
Location: Shelby County, Tennessee (various departments in County Government, Corporate Sponsors, and Non-Profit Organizations)
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Paid program
Ages 14–15: $10.00/hr
Ages 16 and up: $15.00/hr
Application Deadline: March 15 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Program Dates: June 2 and/or June 9 — July 25 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Eligibility: Must live in Shelby County, Tennessee, and be currently enrolled in school (including trade schools, colleges, homeschool, public, or private high schools). Applicants must provide proof of identity and employment eligibility as required by federal law.
The Shelby County Summer Youth Program provides high school students with paid internship opportunities within county government, corporate sponsors, and nonprofit organizations. This program emphasizes the development of constructive work habits, essential job skills, on-the-job training, and real-life exposure to various career options, including roles related to business and economics. The program runs for approximately eight weeks during the summer, helping you build your resume and prepare for future career pathways. Participants receive their specific placement details prior to the start date and must comply with the required documentation for employment clearance.
12. S.E.V.I.E.R. Ready Internship Program
Location: Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville, Tennessee (Sevier County)
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Some internship opportunities offer stipends; overall program participation is free for students
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions throughout the year; specific deadlines may vary by internship opportunity
Program Dates: Vary depending on specific internships; summer internships are available, along with fall and spring semester opportunities
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors within the Sevier County School System. Some positions require students to be 18, but others do not. Students must complete application paperwork, be screened by their school, and obtain employer approval for placement.
The S.E.V.I.E.R. Ready Internship Program is a work-based learning initiative designed to bridge the gap between high school education and career opportunities in Sevier County. The program offers you exposure to a wide range of industries, including business, economics, healthcare, hospitality, and more through internships and job shadowing opportunities.
The internship commitments typically involve a few hours per week, enabling students to balance school and work. This program is a proactive approach that equips students with knowledge about the local economy and on-the-job experience to boost their future economic prospects. Transportation to work sites is the student’s responsibility.
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!