15 Paid Business Internships for High School Students
Interested in marketing, business, finance, or entrepreneurship, and curious about what these fields actually look like, beyond the textbooks? A well-designed internship can be one of the most valuable ways to explore these interests early on and gain clarity about how businesses operate.
What do paid business internships for high school students really offer?
These internships introduce you to real-world problem-solving, teamwork, professional communication, and foundational business skills. You will develop market research, pitching, project management, and data-driven decision-making skills.
How can paid business internships for high school students help you?
Internships offer something that goes far beyond the classroom: firsthand exposure to professional environments, real projects, and the decision-making that shapes organizations and industries. Not only that, but internships also strengthen your college applications, as universities look for students who have explored their interests.
You should also take a look at these prestigious business summer programs, or check here for business awards for high school students.
With this in mind, we’ve curated a list of 15 paid business internships for high school students.
Disclaimer: Some items below are business programs that offer financial aid and help you develop the skills for future business internships.
15 Paid Business Internships for High School Students
1. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies according to program. There is need-based financial aid
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
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 places you inside a real startup, working on projects that actually matter to the company. You are matched with a fast-growing startup in fields like tech, AI, health, marketing, journalism, or consulting, depending on your interests. These are not mock internships. You work directly with founders and managers, contribute to active projects, and get regular guidance from a Ladder Coach who helps you stay on track. Many of the startups are early stage but well funded, often led by founders with serious industry or startup experience. The program ends with you presenting your work to the company, giving you a clear sense of how startups operate and what it feels like to be part of a small, fast-moving team.
2. Young Founders Lab (YFL)
Location: Online
Stipend: This is a paid entrepreneurial work-learn experience
Program Dates: Varies depending on cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort. You can access the application link here!
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 9–12.
The Young Founders Lab is an entrepreneurship incubator designed for high school students who want to build a real startup while still in high school. The program mirrors the structure of top accelerators such as Y-Combinator, guiding you through the full startup journey. The program blends hands-on venture building with interactive learning through workshops, case studies, group collaborations, panel discussions, and live Q&A sessions with entrepreneurs. You’ll receive ongoing guidance from industry mentors and attend weekly office hours to refine your strategy, product design, and go-to-market plans. Along the way, you’ll join a global community of motivated peers and gain access to exclusive opportunities.
3. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Various cities across the United States
Stipend: Paid, exact amount varies by location; students are paid hourly
Program Dates: During the summer, an 8-week internship + one-week national summit
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who reside in an eligible city, are legally authorized to work in the U.S.
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program is a paid internship program for high school students interested in civic leadership. Each year, more than 300 juniors and seniors from nearly 100 communities earn the opportunity to work with local nonprofits. As an intern, you'll support mission-driven projects, gaining exposure to nonprofit operations, community development work, and leadership in real-world environments. In addition to the internship, you’ll attend a week-long, all-expenses-paid leadership summit in Washington, DC, where you’ll learn how nonprofits, government, and the private sector collaborate. Throughout the program, you’ll participate in workshops, meet civic and business leaders, and develop skills in communication, advocacy, and social impact.
4. Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Redmond, WA or Atlanta, GA
Stipend: Paid full-time internship
Program Dates: Usually held between July – August
Application Deadline: Usually early February
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors living within 50 miles of Redmond, WA or attending school in designated Atlanta metro districts; must have completed pre-calculus.
The Microsoft Discovery Program is a four-week paid internship designed for graduating high school seniors exploring careers at the intersection of technology, business, and product development. You’ll work in small teams on real projects, gaining exposure to areas such as product management, UX design, customer research, and early-stage product strategy. With guidance from Microsoft employees, you’ll see how products are shaped, from initial problem exploration to early solution design, while learning how business and technology decisions come together. The program places a strong focus on professional skill-building through mentorship, collaborative project work, and using Microsoft’s design and problem-solving frameworks to structure your work.
5. JPMorgan Chase Fellowship Program
Location: Select JPMorgan Chase offices across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid full-time summer fellowship
Program Dates: Five-week internship, varies by year and track
Application Deadline: January 13
Eligibility: Open to college sophomores, including students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, who want early exposure to careers in business and financial services
The JPMorgan Chase Fellowship Program is a paid, five-week internship that introduces aspiring business leaders to the world of financial services and related business fields. You’ll work full-time in areas such as commercial banking, asset and wealth management, human resources, and other core business functions. The experience blends hands-on project work with structured professional development, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how a global firm analyzes problems, supports clients, and drives business decisions. Throughout the program, you’ll build essential business skills, including communication, analytical thinking, teamwork, and leadership, through a mix of real workplace responsibilities and targeted training sessions.
6. Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship Program
Location: Nationwide placements across media, tech, and entertainment companies
Stipend: Paid full-time internship
Program Dates: Typically May–August
Application Deadline: Application for Summer is open
Eligibility: High school seniors and college students with a minimum 3.0 GPA and must be authorized to work in the U.S.
The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship Program connects high school students and early college students with paid internships at leading companies across media, tech, and business. You’ll be placed with partner organizations in roles such as marketing, business operations, sales, strategy, communications, journalism, production, and technology. You can explore different career paths while gaining real-world experience. As an intern, you’ll contribute to meaningful projects, develop industry-specific and transferable business skills, and expand your professional network through mentorship and exposure to senior leaders.
7. Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI)
Location: Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid summer internship
Program Dates: During the summer
Application Deadline: February 1 - March 31
Eligibility: Chicago residents who are high school sophomores or juniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA and a household income below $80,000.
The Chicago Summer Business Institute is a long-running paid internship program that introduces high school students to careers in business and financial services. You’ll be placed in professional workplaces across Chicago, gaining early exposure to corporate environments, administrative functions, and business operations. You’ll build foundational skills in communication, teamwork, professionalism, and problem-solving, while gaining firsthand insight into the day-to-day work of firms in the financial and business sectors. Alongside your internship responsibilities, you'll take part in a structured program that supports career exploration, skill building, and long-term academic achievement.
8. KP LAUNCH High School Internship Program
Location: Northern California Kaiser Permanente facilities
Stipend: $24/hour
Program Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–19 living in a Kaiser Permanente Northern California service area.
The KP LAUNCH High School Internship Program is a structured seven-week paid experience that introduces high school students to the administrative and business side of healthcare within one of the country's largest healthcare organizations. You’ll work in departments such as HR, operations, project coordination, customer service, finance, and other non-medical teams that keep a major healthcare system running. Alongside your day-to-day responsibilities, the program includes weekly workshops focused on professional development, workplace communication, and career exploration. Beyond your on-the-job responsibilities, you’ll take part in networking opportunities with peers and Kaiser Permanente leaders through community projects and professional sessions.
9. Norman Mineta High School Summer Academy
Location: Bay Area, California (online sessions)
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: Usually during the summer, keep an eye on the website for the latest information
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Bay Area high school students aged 15+ who have completed 9th grade
The Norman Mineta High School Summer Academy introduces high school students to the business and operational side of public-sector agencies in the Bay Area. Through weekly online seminars, you’ll explore how policy, budgeting, and organizational decision-making shape transportation, housing, and community infrastructure. The academy blends policy education with practical skill-building, helping you understand how large public agencies manage resources, collaborate across departments, and tackle region-wide challenges. You’ll examine real-world issues such as transportation equity, air quality, and housing affordability, applying business-oriented thinking to understand stakeholder needs, strategic planning, and long-term project management. At the end of the program, you’ll deliver a capstone presentation on a local policy or planning challenge.
10. Urban Alliance High School Internship Program
Location: Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, and Greater Washington, DC
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: Year-long internship, you’ll work part-time during the school year and full-time in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by city
Eligibility: High school seniors in participating regions
The Urban Alliance High School Internship Program places you in professional workplaces across business, nonprofit, and government sectors, helping you gain early exposure to administrative work, project support, communication tasks, customer-facing responsibilities, and other foundational business skills. A hallmark of the program is its dual-mentor model; you're paired with an Urban Alliance program lead and a workplace mentor who helps you navigate professional expectations and plan for life after high school. Before starting your internship, you'll complete six weeks of job-readiness training, and throughout the program, you'll continue participating in weekly workshops focused on workplace behavior, communication, financial literacy, and college or career preparation.
11. Ladders for Leaders
Location: New York City
Stipend: Minimum $16.50/hour
Program Dates: During the summer for 6 weeks
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: NYC residents ages 16–24 who are enrolled in high school or college, have prior paid or volunteer experience, and are legally eligible to work in the U.S.
Ladders for Leaders is a selective New York City-based internship program that connects high-achieving high school and college students with paid summer positions at top companies, nonprofits, and government agencies. As part of the city’s flagship Summer Youth Employment Program, the initiative offers exposure to career pathways in business, finance, marketing, consulting, technology, and public service. Once placed, you’ll gain real-world experience across corporate and organizational functions, while building a strong foundation of business and leadership skills. A notable benefit of the program is access to the Ladders for Leaders alumni network, offering long-term opportunities for mentorship, community events, and career pathways beyond the internship.
12. Google Business Internship
Location: Varies by Google office; some placements may be hybrid or remote depending on role
Stipend: Paid, competitive hourly compensation
Program Dates: Typically 12–14 weeks; exact dates vary by role and location
Application Deadline: Varies by region and position
Eligibility: Select roles are open to high school seniors entering college; eligibility requirements differ by internship posting
Google's paid internships offer high school students the opportunity to explore roles across marketing, operations, product strategy, user insights, sales, and people development. As a business intern, you'll contribute to active projects from day one, supporting teams that help shape Google’s global business operations and user-first strategy. Throughout the internship, you'll receive mentorship, gain hands-on project exposure, and develop a deeper understanding of how modern business functions within a global tech organization.
13. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) High School Internship – Business & Operations Tracks
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
Stipend: Compensation varies by academic level and includes eligibility for housing and travel support
Program Dates: 10–16 weeks
Application Deadline: Varies by position
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students must be enrolled in school the semester before and after the internship. International students studying in the U.S. with CPT authorization may apply
Idaho National Laboratory offers a range of paid business-focused internship roles in areas such as operations, strategy, communications, finance, and logistics. These placements give you the chance to work within a large federal research facility while supporting the business functions that enable scientific and technological innovation. As an intern, you’ll collaborate with experienced professionals, contribute to real projects, and participate in seminars and networking events designed to build early career readiness. Most internships run 10–16 weeks and begin with a structured onboarding period, during which you’ll work with mentors to define your project goals and expectations.
14. Meta Summer Academy (MSA)
Location: East Palo Alto / Belle Haven / Redwood City, CA
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: Six-week program beginning mid-June
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Current 10th-grade students who are full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City with a minimum 2.0 GPA
The Meta Summer Academy (MSA) is a career exploration program designed to help high school students understand how major companies operate across both technical and non-technical roles. A major focus of the program is on the development of business-relevant skills, including financial literacy, communication, professional networking, and exposure to real workplace environments at Meta. Throughout the internship, you’ll attend workshops, meet Meta employees across departments, and complete hands-on projects that help you build confidence, teamwork skills, and career awareness. MSA is structured like an early professional internship where you’ll follow a full-time schedule, receive mentorship, and practice workplace readiness skills that transfer directly into business, tech, or general professional pathways.
15. Port of Seattle High School Internship Program
Location: Seattle, Washington
Stipend: Interns earn an hourly wage
Program Dates: Usually during the summer
Application Deadline: Opens in May
Eligibility: High school students or students in a GED program and must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
The Port of Seattle High School Internship Program introduces you to professional careers across aviation, maritime operations, governance, community engagement, and corporate services. You’ll work at well-known Port sites, gaining hands-on exposure to how large public organizations manage operations, support local economies, and lead community initiatives. The program emphasizes career-focused learning, helping you build skills in project management, communication, leadership, diversity and inclusion, and workplace professionalism. Throughout the summer, you’ll participate in workshops, facility tours, mentorship meetings, LinkedIn and resume sessions, and interactive career-awareness activities. Because you’ll be working on real assignments, this experience will offer you a meaningful pathway into business, operations, and organizational leadership roles.
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