15 Finance Internships for High School Students in San Francisco
For high school students aiming for careers in finance, internships offer a great way to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry work. Beyond shadowing professionals, these experiences allow you to take part in meaningful projects, understand the nuances of financial decision-making, and see how concepts like investment strategies, risk assessment, and market analysis are used.
Finance internships for high school students also help with your professional growth. They help you sharpen analytical skills, strengthen your understanding of business operations, and build confidence in navigating corporate environments. More importantly, they give you early exposure to potential career paths, so you can make informed decisions about your future studies and job prospects. San Francisco, with its concentration of global headquarters, tech giants, venture capital firms, and innovative startups, provides many solid finance internships.
Here’s our curated list of the top 15 finance internships for high school students in San Francisco!
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. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. Here is the application form.
2. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
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!
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established 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 ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. Sandia National Laboratories – Business & Finance Internships
Cost: Free; students receive a stipend (amount varies by role)
Location: Livermore, CA (Bay Area) and other Sandia sites
Dates: Summer (full-time, ~40 hours/week) or year-round (part-time, ~25 hours/week); start/end dates vary by posting
Application Deadline: Rolling, as positions are posted continuously
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years old, enrolled full-time in high school, college, or university, with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Relevant coursework or interest in business, finance, or administration is preferred.
Sandia National Laboratories offers paid internships at its Livermore site in business, finance, and mission services, giving you direct exposure to the operations of a top U.S. Department of Energy research facility. You may assist in budgeting, procurement, cost analysis, or strategic project support alongside senior analysts and managers. Many students are placed within the Mission Services Talent Acquisition Team or similar business units, where they work with financial and administrative processes that support cutting-edge research projects. The program also includes seminars, workshops, and site tours, ensuring you gain both practical skills and an understanding of the lab’s broader mission.
4. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Cost: Free; students receive a paid internship stipend (amount varies by location)
Location: San Francisco, CA, and other U.S. cities (internship with local nonprofits) + National Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C.
Dates: Eight-week summer internship
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in the fall
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in good standing who demonstrate leadership and a commitment to community service; must be able to work legally in the U.S.
The Bank of America Student Leaders program offers high school juniors and seniors a paid, eight-week internship with a local nonprofit, such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America or Habitat for Humanity. You’ll gain first-hand experience with nonprofit operations, financial decision-making, and resource management, working alongside community leaders to address local needs. Beyond your local placement, the program includes a week-long Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll join peers from across the country for leadership training and policy discussions. Throughout the summer, you’ll develop transferable skills in communication, budgeting, and project management while learning how businesses, governments, and nonprofits collaborate to strengthen communities. This program combines local work experience and national leadership development.
5. CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) High School Internship Program
Cost: Free; paid internship (exact stipend varies)
Location: Select U.S. offices, including California (check current openings for San Francisco/Bay Area availability)
Dates: Summer, starting in June (exact dates vary by location)
Application Deadline: Varies by location; typically spring for summer start
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–18 with an interest in business, finance, accounting, or professional services
CLA’s High School Internship Program offers high school students the chance to explore careers in accounting, finance, and professional services. You’ll work on client projects, collaborate with experienced professionals, and develop technical and interpersonal skills. The program provides hands-on exposure to accounting workflows, financial reporting, and client service, helping you understand how professional firms operate day-to-day. You’ll also have opportunities to network with mentors, gain insight into industry career paths, and build a solid foundation for future internships. For students aiming to break into finance or accounting, this is a suitable first step.
6. Project Pull Internship
Cost: Free; paid ($19.25/hour as per most recent cycle)
Location: City and County of San Francisco departments
Dates: June 9 - August 1
Application Deadline: February 17
Eligibility: High school students entering junior or senior year, or first-year college students, who live or attend school in San Francisco, must meet GPA requirements
The Project Pull Internship places motivated students in City and County of San Francisco departments to gain hands-on experience in areas including business, architecture, and engineering. You’ll be paired with professional mentors, learning core workplace skills such as leadership, teamwork, and project management while contributing to public sector projects. The program emphasizes civic pride, community service, and exposure to real-world business operations in a government context. Over the summer, you’ll participate in professional development workshops and network with professionals in the public sector. For students interested in finance or business careers, this internship offers an exposure to municipal budgeting, planning, and administration.
7. Venture Analyst Internship – 1435 Capital Management
Cost: Free; students are paid a stipend
Location: Princeton, NJ (hybrid; in-person attendance required — check for Bay Area remote eligibility)
Dates: A 10-week summer session
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–18, ideally entering junior or senior year, with a strong interest in entrepreneurship and finance
The Venture Analyst Internship offers high school students the chance to immerse themselves in the venture capital industry. You’ll conduct investment research, evaluate market trends, track portfolio companies, and assist in sourcing new deals. You will also collaborate with startups, gaining insight into early-stage company operations and funding strategies. The hybrid format allows for both remote and in-person engagement, ensuring flexibility while maintaining hands-on learning. By the end of the summer, you’ll have a deeper understanding of investment analysis, entrepreneurship, and the inner workings of a specialized finance firm.
8. Meta Summer Academy
Cost: Free; paid program; stipend amount varies by year
Location: San Francisco, CA (Meta offices)
Dates: June 16 – July 25 (six weeks, ~30 hours/week)
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores during the academic year; must reside in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City; minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
The Meta Summer Academy offers high school students a six-week, paid career exploration experience at one of the world’s most influential tech companies. You’ll gain insight into the day-to-day operations of Meta while developing technical skills like coding and learning financial literacy essentials to support long-term economic success. The program combines workshops, mentoring, and job-shadowing to introduce students to both tech and non-tech roles across the company. By working closely with Meta employees, you’ll strengthen your professional network, build workplace confidence, and develop transferable skills in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. For Bay Area students interested in blending technology, business, and finance, this internship provides an early, impactful start.
9. Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy
Cost: Free; students are paid a stipend
Location: Online seminars with in-person capstone at Bay Area Metro Center, San Francisco, CA
Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: Typically opens mid-March year on year
Eligibility: Bay Area high school students at least 15 years old, having completed ninth grade; GPA not considered
The Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy introduces high school students to public sector career pathways through a six-week series of expert-led seminars and interactive projects. You’ll explore regional policy issues like transportation planning, housing affordability, environmental justice, and community health, while gaining insight into how agencies manage budgets and allocate funding. Partner agencies include the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Bay Area Air District, and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. You’ll attend weekly online sessions, complete quizzes, and deliver a capstone presentation on a local challenge.
10. JA Take Stock in Your Future
Cost: Free (sponsored by RSM US LLP and Junior Achievement)
Location: Available in Northern California, including San Francisco classrooms and after-school sites; virtual options are also available
Dates: Varies by school and JA NorCal schedule throughout the academic year
Application Deadline: Applications typically open through participating schools and JA NorCal on a rolling basis each academic year
Eligibility: Open to high school students (Grades 9–12) in Northern California
JA Take Stock in Your Future® introduces high school students to the field of investing and the stock market through a structured curriculum and interactive activities. You’ll learn foundational concepts of stocks, analyze how current events impact markets, and explore long-term investing strategies. Many participants also take part in the JA Stock Market Challenge, a hands-on simulation where you will practice trading decisions in real time. The program can be implemented in classrooms, after-school, or virtually, and includes guided sessions led by trained JA volunteers. By the end of the experience, you’ll gain confidence in financial literacy, develop critical thinking skills, and better understand the risks and rewards of market participation.
11. SF YouthWorks
Cost: Free; students are paid $19.18/hour
Location: San Francisco, California
Dates: Summer (exact start and end dates not published)
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in late summer (August–September) each year for the school-year program, and in spring (March–April) for the summer session.
Eligibility: Open to 11th–12th graders who reside in or attend school in San Francisco. Applicants must be able to obtain a work permit.
SF YouthWorks offers paid summer internships that place high school students in over 30 San Francisco city departments, including the Public Utilities Commission, Public Library, Police Department, and finance-related offices such as the Treasurer & Tax Collector and Controller’s Office. You’ll gain hands-on public service experience while receiving mentorship from city employees, participating in professional skills workshops, and exploring careers through field trips and site tours. The program emphasizes building job readiness, leadership skills, and post–high school planning support to prepare students for college and future careers.
12. Enterprise for Youth – Summer Paid Internships
Cost: Free; students are paid $20/hour
Location: San Francisco, California
Dates: June 9 – July 31
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors, SFUSD students and/or San Francisco residents, with preference for applicants who have completed Enterprise’s Job Readiness Training or have demonstrated financial need or underrepresentation
Enterprise for Youth provides a structured, paid summer internship for Bay Area high school students. Over eight weeks, you’ll work across diverse sectors such as professional services, small business, tech, healthcare, nonprofit, climate, culinary, retail, and legal/financial services, gaining real-world experience. You’ll also attend weekly professional development workshops with Enterprise staff, designed to build workplace skills, job context, and peer community. The program is ideal for students seeking both hands-on career exposure and soft skill development in structured settings.
13. Morgan Stanley JumpStart Scholars in Finance
Cost: Free (sponsored by Morgan Stanley)
Location: Virtual
Program dates: November – April
Application deadline: Estimated mid-September
Eligibility: Open to ambitious high school seniors
The Morgan Stanley JumpStart Scholars in Finance is a five-month, virtual, immersive learning program aimed at preparing high school seniors for careers in finance. Through bi-weekly sessions led by Morgan Stanley employees, you’ll explore core topics like Introduction to Finance, Entrepreneurship, Wealth Building, Financial Literacy, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, and Career Development. The experience culminates in a capstone competition in April, where scholars tackle a real-world finance case study. This is an opportunity to gain direct exposure to the finance industry, develop leadership skills, and learn from professionals at a leading financial institution.
14. Quantitative Finance Virtual Summer Research Experience – Stevens Institute of Technology
Cost: $2,000
Location: Virtual (live and self-paced components)
Dates: June 30 – August 11
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with some coding and Excel experience
The Stevens School of Business offers a six-week immersive virtual research program that equips high school students with the technical, analytical, and industry knowledge needed in finance. You’ll explore quantitative finance through interactive lectures, hands-on exercises, and real-world case studies, diving into areas such as financial analysis, probability, statistical modeling, and data-driven decision-making. You’ll earn two industry-recognized credentials - Bloomberg Market Concepts and Capital IQ certifications - while also building advanced coding skills in Python and R, both essential for quantitative analysis. The program blends live, synchronous sessions with self-paced learning, ensuring you gain practical skills in financial databases, investment research, and statistical tools.
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!
Cost: Free
Location: Thurgood Marshall High School, San Francisco, CA
Program Dates: April 14–18
Application Deadline: Coordinated through participating schools
Eligibility: Open to students in Northern California, including high school participants, interested in financial literacy and real-world budgeting skills.
The JA Finance Park Pop Up in San Francisco is a week-long, immersive personal finance simulation where students step into the role of adults managing a monthly budget. You’ll be assigned a fictional life scenario complete with career, income, family situation, and expenses, and tasked with making real-world financial decisions. Through guided activities and interactive kiosks, you’ll practice budgeting, evaluating housing and transportation costs, managing credit, and making savings investments. This hands-on experience helps you understand the trade-offs involved in everyday money management while reinforcing key economic concepts. The program is designed to boost decision-making, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills to make informed financial choices.
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!