10 Paid Business Internships for High School Students
Internships offer a great opportunity for high school students to explore different career fields, develop a range of valuable skills, and gain experience in a professional environment. These programs allow you to get an early start on exploring career paths, helping you make an informed decision about what you study in college.
Early exposure through internships can be valuable for students interested in pursuing a career in business. Doing a business internship helps you stand out in college admissions and offers practical experience that will be useful in your future career. By getting professional experience in fields such as finance, marketing, management, or entrepreneurship, you can gain a competitive edge when applying to undergraduate business programs or future job opportunities.
Here are 10 paid business internship programs for high school students that you can consider.
Location: Various locations across the U.S. and Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors in high school who are legally authorized to work in the U.S., are in good academic standing, and permanently reside in an eligible location
Stipend: $11/hour
Application Deadline: January 15
Dates/Duration: 8 weeks, including a 1-week conference in Washington, D.C.
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program offers a paid internship with a local nonprofit organization, where you contribute to community initiatives and develop essential skills that prepare you for future business success. Each year, over 300 high school juniors and seniors from more than 100 communities nationwide are selected for this program. In addition to your internship, you will have the opportunity to attend a national leadership summit, where you will engage with like-minded peers and industry professionals, gaining exposure to civic, social, and business leadership strategies. The program is designed to broaden your understanding of how different sectors—government, business, and nonprofits—work together to address community needs. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Various NASA centers
Eligibility: High school and college-level students
Stipend: The majority of interns will receive a stipend
Application Deadline: Summer: February 28; Fall: May 16
Dates/Duration: 10 weeks
NASA’s internship programs offer an opportunity for 2,000 students annually to gain experience in fields such as science, engineering, finance, information technology, and business. You will work with professionals, including research scientists, engineers, and business experts, who serve as mentors throughout the program. These internships allow you to contribute to project management, financial planning, and operational tasks in a space-related business environment. Additionally, you will participate in field visits to NASA centers and present a final project showcasing the work you’ve completed during the program. For tips on getting a NASA internship, check out our guide here.
Location: Meta headquarters, Menlo Park, CA
Eligibility: High school sophomores who are full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: March 1
Dates/Duration: June 17 – July 26
As a participant in the Meta Summer Academy, you will have the chance to explore the technology industry and learn coding skills while exploring a variety of career paths. The program focuses on fostering economic success, stability, and mobility by providing skills development and early career exploration. You will be mentored by Meta professionals who will introduce you to technology, machine learning and AI, finance, environmental science, sustainability, business, marketing, and more. In addition to building technical knowledge, you’ll also develop critical soft skills, which will be helpful in various sectors. To learn more about this internship, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Warner Bros. Discovery Studios, Burbank, CA
Eligibility: High-school seniors from Burbank or Los Angeles County with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 who plan to attend an accredited college or university
Stipend: $5,000 scholarship towards college
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates/Duration: TBA
The Warner Bros. Discovery Reach Honorship Program is an internship for graduating high school seniors who are interested in the business side of media and entertainment. If you want to explore the corporate and studio aspects of the entertainment industry, this program is a good fit. You will learn about a range of business functions, from traditional roles such as finance, human resources, operations, marketing, and communications to more specialized, technical, or creative areas like content development, post-production, sound editing, and game design. This program is suitable for those who want to gain a deeper understanding of how the business and creative sides of the industry work together to produce entertainment.
Location: Various locations in Kansas City, MO
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Stipend: $12/hr; $2,500 upon program completion
Application Deadline: February 1
Dates/Duration: TBA
As a participant in the Young Entrepreneurs Program, you will have the opportunity to explore the world of entrepreneurship while learning from professionals across a wide range of fields, including engineering, marketing, product management, sales, finance, and analytics. This internship is designed to give you hands-on experience, allowing you to develop the skills necessary to thrive in today’s competitive business landscape. By working on projects and receiving mentorship from industry experts, you'll learn how different business functions sustain successful ventures.
Location: Varies, usually at the KP office closest to your home address
Eligibility: High school students between the ages 16-19 who have a permanent residence in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area
Stipend: $23/hour
Application Deadline: Applications open on November 18
Dates/Duration: June 16 – August 1
The Kaiser Permanente (KP) Launch Program is designed for high school students who want to explore administrative and supporting careers in the healthcare industry. While this is a healthcare internship, you will not participate in medical treatment or procedures but approach healthcare through professional skills development training. We have included this program in this list because the internship allows you to gain exposure to accounting, finance, administration, compliance, program management, sales and marketing, and more, which is valuable for you as a business intern. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Various locations in New York City, NY
Eligibility: Students aged 16 – 24 enrolled in high school or college who have prior paid or volunteer work experience and are residents of one of the five boroughs of New York City
Stipend: Paid internship (wage not specified)
Application Deadline: January 21
Dates/Duration: Varies according to internship
Ladders for Leaders is a component of NYC’s Summer Youth Employment Program. It offers you paid professional summer internships with leading corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies in New York City. The program is designed to prepare you for employer hiring processes with pre-employment training. The internship trains you in workplace readiness skills and business etiquette, as well as job application processes like building a résumé and cover letter, interview skills, etc. As an alumnus of the internship program, you will be invited to networking events to boost your career.
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Eligibility: High school seniors who are students of color, are at least 18 years old, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, plan to attend a 4-year accredited college or university, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Stipend: Stipend determined by EBF partners with whom you will intern
Application Deadline: Typical in early January
Dates/Duration: May – June
The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship is an 8-week internship program for high school or undergraduate college students of color who want to pursue a career in media or tech. This program is for students interested in being a business executive, producer, journalist, web developer, engineer, PR agent, or sales representative in the media, entertainment, and technology industries. The program hosts a class of 150 new and returning EBF Fellows who intern at EBF partners. As part of the program, you will have access to professional development workshops and annual conferences, one-to-one career coaching and mentorship, and exposure to industry professionals and executives.
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 – 18
Stipend: Paid internship, amount unspecified
Application Deadline: Information not available
Dates/Duration: TBA
CLA’s high school internship program is a paid program designed to train business, accounting, and professional services aspirants. The internship is a hands-on learning experience working with clients on real projects to develop new skills. You will have the chance to learn about different career paths within professional services. Internships are offered at various locations across the country.
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens, at least 16 years old, and have a minimum 2.0 GPA
Stipend: Stipend determined by the department you will join
Application Deadline: Varies according to internship
Dates/Duration: Varies according to the internship
The U.S. Department of State’s Pathways Internship Program includes the Internship Experience Program and the Internship Temporary Program. These programs allow you to work with federal departments such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Management and Budget, Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, etc. As an aspiring business professional, working in Federal departments can provide an insider's view of how the government functions across various business areas, such as finance, management, and human resources. Internship vacancy announcements are posted on USAJobs , and interns will be paid a stipend according to the government’s pay scales along with benefits.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.