Reading about business in classrooms and actually doing it are two completely different experiences. If you’re curious about what happens behind those office doors (or Zoom calls), business internships give you a front-row seat!
Business internships for high school students are built around practical work tied to ongoing projects. You could find yourself analyzing market research, organizing data that shapes company decisions, building presentations for client meetings, supporting marketing campaigns, or helping with business development strategies. You will also sit in on meetings, see different departments collaborate (or clash), and watch how ideas transform into action.
What do business internships for high schoolers include?
Business internships put you inside how companies work. You might build pivot tables in Excel, update Salesforce records, draft investor memos, or track KPIs in Google Analytics. You learn how teams use Slack channels, run standup meetings, and close out sprint cycles.
The work teaches you things textbooks skip over. How to write subject lines that actually get emails opened. When to use BCC and when that makes you look sneaky. How to structure a deck so executives don’t lose attention on slide three.
Without further ado, here are 15 business internships for high school students! If you’re looking for business research programs, you can find them here. You can also check out online business programs for high school students here.
15 Business Internships for High School Students
1. NYC Ladders for Leaders
Location: Corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies in New York City, NY
Stipend: Interns earn at least $16.50 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; the program places more than 450 students at over 200 companies across New York City
Dates: 6 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: Students aged 16–24 who are in high school or college, have some work or volunteer experience, live in one of New York City’s five boroughs, and are legally eligible to work in the U.S.
Ladders for Leaders connects you with paid summer internships at major businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies across New York City through the Summer Youth Employment Program. You go through a competitive application process and complete up to 30 hours of pre-employment training that covers business etiquette, interviews, resume writing, and workplace skills, as well as financial topics like budgeting, investing, saving, and managing money. You will get matched with an employer based on your interests and work 25 to 40 hours a week for six weeks. The program will also help you gain hands-on business experience, work on real projects with mentorship, explore different industries, and build professional connections through networking and alumni events.
2. Maryland Public Television (MPT) Internships
Location: Hybrid and in-person at the Maryland Public Television office, Owings Mills, MD
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: January 28 – May 15 (Spring Session) | June 2 – August 15 (Summer Session) | September 10 – December 15 (Fall Session)
Application Deadline: Varies based on the session and the opportunity
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Maryland Public Television offers hybrid and in-person internships for students to explore the business side of media and broadcasting. You can work in areas such as marketing, public relations, communications, client relations, sales, finance, human resources, development, or administration, as well as programming and production. Most roles follow regular business hours and require at least 16 hours a week, with some flexibility. These placements will allow you to learn how a broadcasting network operates across departments that manage funding, operations, and outreach. Working in business-focused departments such as fundraising, marketing, finance, or client relations will help you gain practical experience in how media organizations run and build professional skills in a real-world setting.
3. CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) High School Internship Program
Location: Locations are available across the U.S. and may change each year, so it is best to check the website and official social media before applying
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 15 – July 16
Application Deadline: March – April
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–18 who are authorized to work in the U.S. without a work visa
The CLA High School Internship is a four-week program that helps high schoolers explore business, accounting, and professional services through hands-on experience. You’ll work on real projects at CLA offices with guidance from professionals and apply what you learn in class to actual business and financial situations. You’ll learn how firms solve business problems, interact with clients, and experience workplace culture. The program will help you build analytical and problem-solving skills and gain practical business experience. You’ll get to analyze case studies, work in groups, and shadow professionals. You’ll also receive training in areas like business consulting, accounting, and auditing.
4. Internships at Hitchiner Manufacturing — High School Opportunities
Location: Milford High School & Applied Technology Center, Milford, NH
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Semester-long program
Application Deadline: Recruitment for these internships usually takes place during the fall semester
Eligibility: Local high school students
Hitchiner Manufacturing works with local high schools to offer paid internships during the school year through a semester-long Manufacturing Exploration and Externship program. It is run by Milford High School and the Applied Technology Center, combining classroom learning with a two-day-per-week internship at companies like Hitchiner. The program requires you to work at least 65 hours per semester and offers a flexible schedule. You’ll gain hands-on experience and learn business basics like management, business etiquette, accounting, graphic arts, and introductory programming. You’ll get matched with mentors and work across departments like sales, IT, and engineering, so you can observe how a company operates. You also learn about manufacturing models like just-in-time and custom production, and work on tasks such as efficiency analysis and process improvement.
5. New York City School Construction Authority’s (SCA) High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Various locations across New York City, NY
Stipend: Interns earn $17 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: January 5 – March 6
Eligibility: New York City public high school students in good academic standing who are legally allowed to work in the United States
The SCA Summer Internship Program offers a paid opportunity to explore the business side of construction while working 30 hours a week. You’ll be placed with an SCA department or partner organization and gain exposure to areas like construction management, architecture, business, engineering, IT, urban planning, and public administration. In business-focused roles, you may help with proposal writing, client research, and data entry, showing how outreach supports growth. You’ll also gain experience in budgeting, marketing support, and compliance, complete OSHA training if needed, and work with a college mentor throughout the program.
6. Port of Long Beach High School Internship Program
Location: Port of Long Beach, around 27 miles from Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 22 – July 30
Application Deadline: January 5 – February 20
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors with a minimum 2.5 GPA who live in Long Beach or attend school in the Long Beach Unified School District area
The Port of Long Beach High School Internship Program gives you paid, real-world experience and allows you to explore careers in international trade and business. You work up to 30 hours a week for six weeks in different departments and learn how global logistics and supply chains operate. You’ll gain exposure to office culture, professional communication, and how departments like communications, finance, and community relations function. You will also attend Personal Enrichment Training through Future LB on financial literacy, work ethics, career exploration, and life skills. By working with Harbor Department staff and interacting with mentors, you’ll develop practical business knowledge and skills useful for future careers in trade and business.
7. Futures and Options Internship Program
Location: Remote, in-person, or hybrid internships at multiple locations in New York City, NY | In-person workshops are held at the Futures and Options office, Manhattan, NY
Stipend: Interns earn $17 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: This year, more than 190 students interned at nearly 100 organizations
Dates: 6 weeks between July and August
Application Deadline: January 23
Eligibility: New York City high school juniors and seniors with a valid work card who are legally allowed to work in the United States can apply, with preference given to graduating seniors and students without prior internship experience
The Futures and Options Internship Program places you in roles at small businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, or large companies based on your interests and skills. You can explore areas like finance, marketing, or business operations while working 20 to 30 hours a week for a total of 100 to 150 hours. Before starting, you attend two orientations, and during the program, you take part in six weekly workshops on communication, resumes, interviews, and financial literacy. You’ll also join field trips to companies like Infor, BlackRock, and UpSlide to learn about business and finance careers. This internship will help you build practical skills, understand financial markets and risk, and grow your confidence in a professional setting.
8. DPR Construction’s Build Up Internship in Construction Management
Location: Various active construction sites across the U.S.
Stipend: Interns earn hourly pay each week and receive transportation stipends ($21 – $27 per hour)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 35–40 students
Dates: Eight weeks during the summer, with exact dates depending on the placement
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates from families earning below the HUD Median Family Income for their area who are legally eligible to work in the U.S.
DPR Construction’s Build Up Internship in Construction Management allows you to work on an active commercial project with a team for 35 to 40 hours a week. Over eight weeks, you learn how large projects are planned, scheduled, and managed, and how design and technology are used on-site. You work on tasks such as site planning, document management, scheduling, quality checks, subcontractor coordination, and safety training. The program ends with a presentation where you build communication skills and get feedback. You’ll interact with mentors in architecture, engineering, and construction. You’ll also gain hands-on experience in project management and understand how large-scale projects are run from start to finish.
9. The Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) Summer Internship
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Stipend: Information about a stipend is not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 150 students
Dates: The program lasts at least 8 weeks during the summer, starting in May or June, with exact dates set by the partner company
Application Deadline: September – Early January
Eligibility: High school seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA who will be 18 or older before the internship starts, plan to attend a four-year accredited college in the United States, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Emma Bowen Foundation Internship allows high school seniors to explore careers in media and tech and gain business experience. You may work with companies like Forbes, Discovery, Spectrum, Hearst, Comcast, or TVB Local Media Marketing Solutions, with schedules set by each partner. You’ll take part in a summer conference, panels, workshops, and networking sessions with industry professionals. You’ll learn how companies operate, grow, and market their work as well as hear from executives across teams. In business-focused roles, you may work in strategy, marketing, finance, or sales, building analytical and problem-solving skills. You’ll also receive mentoring, career support, and interview preparation through the Launch Program.
10. Teach Democracy’s Expanding Horizons Institute (EHI)
Location: Various locations across Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 15 – July 27
Application Deadline: February 28; the first round of interviews takes place on March 6 and 7, followed by second-round interviews at job sites in April
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors in Los Angeles County who attend a Title I school, have parents who did not graduate from a four-year college, and are authorized to work in the U.S.
The Expanding Horizons Institute, run by Teach Democracy, helps local students build skills for college, civic life, and careers through a mix of seminars and a paid summer internship. You start with interactive sessions on communication, leadership, collaboration, and professional skills, then move into an internship at a government office, corporation, law firm, or nonprofit. This experience will help you gain firsthand exposure to business environments, learn how organizations operate, and explore different career paths. You’ll meet professionals, receive mentoring, and get guidance on college admissions. You’ll also develop confidence, independence, and a better understanding of real-world work and career development.
11. Brooklyn Navy Yard Internship Program
Location: Multiple locations within the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: Interns earn $17 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: 8-week sessions run in the spring, summer, and fall; the upcoming summer session will run from June 15 to August 7
Application Deadline: Varies by opportunity; the upcoming deadline for the summer session is February 27
Eligibility: College-bound high school seniors who live or attend school in Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Internship Program offers paid internships to Brooklyn high school seniors with businesses like creative agencies, manufacturers, and tech startups. Your placement is based on your skills and interests. You’ll work about 35 hours a week on tasks such as inventory management, admin work, marketing support, or client support. You can explore areas such as business administration, management, IT, engineering, marketing, and more, and gain experience in operations, market research, and basic financial reporting. You’ll develop communication, teamwork, and project coordination skills with help from professionals. You’ll also receive mentoring, attend workshops, interact with local business leaders, and gain insight into different industries.
12. LA Promise Fund’s The Intern Project (TIP)
Location: Various locations across Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 115 students participated last year
Dates: June 17 – August 9
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 to 12 from LAUSD and LA County high schools
The Intern Project from the LA Promise Fund connects local students with paid internships across LA County in areas like business, tech, media, finance, and nonprofits. During the 8-week program, you gain hands-on experience, work on small projects, attend workshops, and take part in informational interviews. If you’re interested in business, you can be placed in fields such as business administration, sports, or entertainment, with partners like the LA Rams or Illumination. You also learn skills like project management, communication, planning, and basic software use. Mentorship and networking opportunities will help you build confidence, professionalism, and workplace skills. You’ll also complete work readiness training on communication, networking, and workplace culture.
13. Bossgirls Summer Program
Location: The City College of New York, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 39 students participated in last year’s program
Dates: June 29 – July 30
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school girls and nonbinary students in grades 9 to 12 who live in the tri-state area and can commute to the CCNY campus
The Bossgirls Summer Program at the Zahn Innovation Center at The City College of New York is a 5-week entrepreneurship program that teaches you how to turn ideas into real businesses. Working in teams, you identify a problem, create a solution, analyze competitors, research the market, set pricing, build a prototype, and develop a brand. You’ll use a human-centered design approach that focuses on customer needs and learn how to think through problems and spot opportunities. You’ll also interact with entrepreneurs and receive mentorship from experts at Standard Chartered. The program ends with pitching your idea, which will help you build skills in business planning, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
14. Internship with Project Pull – SF.gov
Location: Various city departments across San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Interns earn $23 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 13 (regular) | February 16 (extended)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and college freshmen who live or attend school in San Francisco and have a minimum 2.75 GPA from their most recent semester
Project Pull, run by the San Francisco government, offers a paid summer internship that provides real-world experience in public-sector business and administration. You commit to 20 hours a week for eight weeks and work with city employees. You’ll complete hands-on tasks that expose you to office operations, project management, and professional environments. Through mentorship, you’ll explore careers in the city and build skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and networking. You also learn about areas such as community outreach and internet marketing, which connect to business development. The program helps you understand how government organizations operate similarly to large companies and develop practical workplace skills.
15. Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.; the National Pitch Competition takes place in Frisco, TX
Cost: $20 application fee; the tuition fee varies by location, and competition tickets typically range from $200 to $1,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Each academy typically enrolls about 20 to 30 students per year
Dates: The year-long program runs from September to May (24–30 weeks); the National Pitch Competition takes place from June 10 to 13
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the location
Eligibility: Middle school and high school students
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a nonprofit program that teaches students in grades 6–12 how to start and run a real business through local community chapters. During the program, you move from brainstorming an idea to launching a business or social venture by researching your market, writing a business plan, and pitching to investors. You build your company by creating a website and logo, opening a bank account, managing finances, and selling at a trade show. You’ll also meet entrepreneurs, professionals, and media representatives and learn about taxes, business structures, and social entrepreneurship. Top students compete for scholarships and funding at a national pitch competition, and many ventures gain media attention.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image Source: Emma Bowen Foundation