10 Internships for High School Students in Las Vegas
- Stephen Turban
- Jun 23
- 7 min read
If you're a high school student based in Las Vegas and want to explore careers in a subject early, internships in the region are a strong option. They help you learn real-world skills like communication, teamwork, and time management. You also get to see how different industries work, meet professionals, and build connections that might help you later.
These experiences can also strengthen your college applications. You’ll have real projects to talk about in your essays, and they show that you’re motivated to learn outside the classroom. Internships also give you something concrete to add to your CV or resume.
To get started, here is a list of 10 internships in Las Vegas for high school students!
10 Internships for High School Students in Las Vegas
Cost: Starting at $2,490. Need-based financial aid is available.
Location: Virtual.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. The upcoming summer deadline is June 23.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 5-10 hours/week for 8-12 weeks are eligible to apply. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective online program for high school students that offers hands-on experience across fields like finance, tech, AI and machine learning, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. You’ll intern with fast-growing start-ups, many backed by over $1 million in funding. The program lasts eight weeks.
During that time, you’ll work on real projects, get guidance from company managers and a Ladder Coach, and present your final work. This project-based approach helps you build practical skills and experience that colleges and employers value. You can explore available opportunities through the application form.
Cost: None. Pays a stipend of $12 per hour
Location: Clark County, Las Vegas, NV
Dates: June 9 - July 31
Application Deadline: February 18
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old by June 9 are eligible to apply. Applicants must have at least a 2.0 GPA
The Summer Business Institute (SBI) Program, started by Clark County in 1996, gives high school students paid internships in various fields like law, medicine, engineering, education, IT, and communications. It works with the Clark County School District and more than 80 local businesses.
You’ll work in person, Monday through Wednesday, eight hours each day, earning $12 an hour. Thursday's focus is on workshops covering financial literacy and life skills. After finishing the program, you may qualify for college bonuses. Applications are limited to 300 and close once that number is reached.
Cost: Free!
Location: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV.
Dates: July 13 - 26.
Application Deadline: April 25.
Eligibility: Rising 10th- 12th grade Nevada high school students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to apply.
The National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI) at UNLV offers a two-week residential program for high school students interested in science, engineering, and transportation. You will study transportation systems, urban infrastructure planning, and pedestrian safety while learning about career options in these fields.
The program includes college preparation activities, life skills workshops, tours of UNLV labs, field trips, and group projects. You will also take part in peer mentoring sessions with current UNLV students.
Cost: None. Pays a stipend
Location: Clark County, Las Vegas, NV
Dates: The internship typically runs for 6 - 17 weeks (between May 15 - August 15) for a total of 260 hours
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply
The Clark County Information Technology internship program gives high school students practical experience related to their academic and career goals. You will work with professionals in software development, data analysis, cybersecurity, project management, cloud platforms, infrastructure, and technical support. Each intern is paired with a mentor who guides learning and offers insight into IT career paths.
Cost: None
Location: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Dates: June 2 - 27
Application Deadline: Priority Deadline: May 2 | Final Deadline: May 23
Eligibility: Current freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors attending a high school in Las Vegas are eligible to apply. Additionally, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria: have a family gross income of $60,000 or less, attend a Title I school, or be a first-generation college-bound student (with parents or guardians who have not earned a degree from a four-year institution).
The Young Executive Scholars Tourism & Hospitality Program is a college-level program at UNLV for high school students interested in the hospitality and tourism industry. You will attend in-person workshops and weekly field trips from Monday to Thursday. The program includes expert-led tours of major resorts and opportunities to meet industry leaders such as CEOs and executives.
The program focuses on leadership development and hands-on learning. You will complete a final group project that strengthens your resume and college applications. You may also qualify for scholarships toward college and receive a laptop for use during the program.
Cost: None. A stipend of $16.85 per hour is paid.
Location: One of Nevada Department of Wildlife’s three administrative regions—Western (Reno), Eastern (Elko), or Southern (Las Vegas)
Dates: The internship typically runs through the summer, finishing near the autumn semester start date of the college or university to which the student has registered to attend. Interns are expected to work 40 hours per week.
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school seniors attending a Nevada school and planning to graduate are eligible to apply. Applicants must be intending to pursue an undergraduate degree in wildlife management, biology, ecology, or a closely related field and have a minimum GPA of 2.50.
The James Lathrop & Wayne Capurro Memorial Internship Program is a paid summer internship with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) for high school students interested in wildlife management. You will do hands-on fieldwork, including hiking, camping, and building wildlife infrastructure like water tanks.
The work takes place in remote, mountainous areas where you may live and work independently, sometimes without regular contact. You must be comfortable driving manual and 4WD vehicles on rough terrain, including tasks like changing tires and using tire chains. The program requires relocating within Nevada, often to rural locations where you might live alone in camp trailers.
Cost: None. Pays a stipend
Location: Discovery Children's Museum, Las Vegas, NV.
Dates: Multiple internships throughout the year.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted year-round.
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 15-17 years old who have completed volunteer training in all eight galleries at the Museum are eligible to apply.
YouthWorks is an internship program that gives high school students a chance to gain work experience, build their education, and earn community service hours useful for school credit and college applications. You will start by volunteering in the museum’s main galleries, learning about the museum’s policies, procedures, and mission.
The program is selective and looks for students motivated to grow personally and professionally. You will work closely with museum staff and get experience in different departments to build a foundation in a professional environment.
Cost: Free
Location: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current 9th- 12th graders at Bonanza, Clark, Durango, and Pahrump Valley High Schools are eligible to apply
Nevada State GEAR UP is a federally funded program aimed at helping low-income high school students prepare for college and succeed after graduation. The program offers one-on-one or small group mentoring, including online support through the Student Success Agency.
You’ll explore STEM fields through activities and resources, get help with choosing courses, and plan your career path. Each student follows an Individual Learning Plan that is regularly monitored. GEAR UP also covers social-emotional learning, cultural development, financial literacy, goal setting, and life skills to support your overall success.
Cost: $550
Location: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Dates: Beginner SPARK: June 23 – 27 | Intermediate SPARK: July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply. It is recommended, but not required, to take the beginner session before the advanced session.
The Summer Program Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK) provides a research-focused experience for middle and high school students. The beginner program covers the basics of research with hands-on activities that introduce different stages of the research process.
The intermediate program is for students who already have some research experience. It focuses on data literacy, hypothesis testing, data analysis, and using data software to strengthen research skills.
Cost: None
Location: Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, Las Vegas, NV
Dates: Summer and Fall
Application Deadline: Summer: March 17 – April 7 | Fall: July 21 – August 25
Eligibility: High school students who are 15-17 years old and interested in healthcare careers are eligible to apply
The Medical Explorer Program introduces you to different medical professions through hands-on activities and direct interaction with healthcare professionals. You will also develop skills in communication, character building, and career planning.
To stay active in the program, you must attend at least 75 percent of meetings, complete 12 volunteer hours per month during the school year, and 8 hours per week during summer. You will also take part in one hospital service project and one community outreach event, such as a health fair or blood drive.
Activities may include IV preparation, medication administration, lab work, and facility tours. The program selects only 25 applicants.
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.
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