When you are in high school, it can be difficult to picture what people actually do at work each day. An internship gives you the chance to see this up close. You can observe how tasks are assigned, how groups of people coordinate to complete them, and how projects move from planning to results.
If you’re based in LA, you’re in luck!
Los Angeles is home to a wide range of organizations and universities that accept high school students as interns. For students who already live in LA, local internships bring two important advantages. First, they save money since they do not need to travel or pay for housing. Second, they help you build connections in your own city, connections that may support you later.
Internships also let you test your interest in a subject. You may think you want to work in science, law, or media, but actually spending time in those settings gives you more certainty. Even if you decide the field is not right for you, you will still leave with experience that can be useful in another direction.
To help you explore your options, we’ve compiled a list of 15 internships in Los Angeles that are open to high school students!
15 Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles, CA
1. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies
Location: Remote (work from anywhere)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort — Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students can work 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internship Program is a selective, remote internship designed for high school students to work with high-growth startups across industries like AI/ML, health tech, marketing, consulting, journalism, and finance. You’ll be matched with a startup based on your interests and skills, and work on real projects using industry-specific tools such as data analytics platforms, CRM systems, and project management software.
Startups in the program are often backed by Y Combinator and led by professionals from companies like Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey. You’ll gain exposure to business operations, product development, and strategic decision-making in fast-paced environments where funding rounds and scaling challenges are part of daily work.
2. The Intern Project – Summer Internship Program
Cost: Free
Location: Los Angeles County
Application Deadline: Open January 6 and close March 15
Program Dates: 8 weeks during summer, typically mid-June to early August
Eligibility: Open to grades 10–12 in LA County public schools, with priority given to students from under-resourced communities
The Intern Project – Summer Internship Program places high school students in paid internships across Los Angeles County, including roles in business, engineering, technology, healthcare, arts, and media. If you’re placed in a business-focused internship, you’ll gain experience using tools like CRM platforms, budgeting software, and project tracking systems while working on real organizational tasks. Internships are either remote or on-site and include structured mentorship from professionals in the field. Upon completion, you receive college credit, making this program both professionally and academically beneficial.
3. UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Concussion Summer High School Research Internship
Cost: Free
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April
Program Dates: June 9–August 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors, with preference for students willing to mentor next year and potentially extend into the academic year
UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Concussion Summer High School Research Internship is a neuroscience-focused program where you’ll work directly with research scientists, clinicians, and medical students on studies related to adolescent concussion recovery. You’ll assist with patient recruitment, collect and enter research data, and participate in study protocols that include neuroimaging, blood sampling, autonomic nervous system testing, and cognitive assessments. You’ll attend weekly lab meetings with the BrainSPORT team, gaining insight into how multidisciplinary teams coordinate clinical research.
4. MOCA Teen Program
Cost: No cost. Participants are paid
Location: MOCA, Los Angeles
Application Deadline: June 1
Program Dates: September–following summer; meets Thursday evenings and some weekends.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with an interest in contemporary art
MOCA Teen Program is a paid, academic-year-long internship for high school juniors and seniors at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. You’ll work directly with museum staff and local artists to explore contemporary art and museum operations through hands-on projects. Your responsibilities include planning and producing Teen Night and Virtual Teen Night, managing social media content, and contributing to curatorial decisions and event logistics. You’ll meet weekly on Thursday evenings and occasionally on weekends, collaborating with peers and engaging in guided discussions on complex artistic themes.
5. Kaiser Permanente Summer Youth Employment Program
Cost: Free
Location: Kaiser Permanente medical centers in Southern California
Application Deadline: Varies by site; recruitment coordinated through community partners
Program Dates: 6–8 weeks, typically between mid-June and early August
Eligibility: Ages 16+, must reside near the medical center site; priority for 11th–12th graders (some sites accept 10th graders); must have U.S. work authorization; dependents of Kaiser Permanente employees or PMG physicians ineligible
Kaiser Permanente Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is a paid, part-time internship for high school students that runs for 6–8 weeks during the summer. You’ll work 20 hours per week in administrative and healthcare support roles at Kaiser Permanente facilities. Your responsibilities focus on operational functions such as scheduling, document handling, and patient service coordination. Weekly educational sessions introduce you to career paths in healthcare administration, finance, and public health systems.
6. Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program
Cost: Free with $500 scholarship
Location: Various medical facilities across Los Angeles and adjacent counties, and virtual
Application Deadline: Opens December–January; closes early February
Program Dates: Varies by facility; online programs run two weeks; in-person programs typically have full-day sessions for 1–3 weeks in summer
Eligibility: Current 11th–12th graders meeting facility-specific requirements; LA County or adjacent county residency; U.S. work authorization for in-person placements
Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program is a free, selective mentorship experience for high school juniors and seniors in Los Angeles and surrounding counties. You’ll be placed in either a virtual or on-site hospital setting, where you’ll interact with pediatricians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, radiologists, and therapists across specialties. In-person interns may shadow clinical staff, observe procedures, review imaging, and assist with administrative tasks. Virtual participants join live case discussions and structured Q&A sessions with healthcare professionals. You’ll complete an exit essay and receive a certificate of completion.
7. Aquarium of the Pacific Youth Volunteers Program
Cost: Free
Location: Long Beach, CA
Application Deadline: Accepting applications for Fall; summer deadlines vary
Program Dates: Summer commitment is 12 weeks, one 4-hour weekend shift per week (50+ hours total)
Eligibility: Open to students ages 14–16, typically in grades 9–11
Aquarium of the Pacific Youth Volunteers Program places you in active roles within the Education or Guest Services departments, helping you build communication, customer service, and operational skills in a high-traffic public venue. As a Guest Services Youth Host, you’ll assist visitors in exhibit galleries, the IMAX Theater, and entry areas, like developing strategies for public engagement and learning how to manage visitor flow and logistics. If placed in Retail, you’ll work in the ExploraStore, gaining experience in inventory handling, merchandising, and point-of-sale operations.
8. Los Angeles Philharmonic Composer Fellowship Program
Cost: Free
Location: Walt Disney Concert Hall and Beckmen YOLA Center, Los Angeles
Application Deadline: Applications open each spring, typically closing in early summer
Program Dates: October–early June
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 (Fall), residing in Greater Los Angeles; must have experience with classical notation and reliable transportation
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Composer Fellowship Program gives you a multi-year, tuition-free opportunity to study music composition with direct mentorship from professional composers and LA Phil musicians. As a fellow, you’ll write original works and hear them performed by ensembles such as the LA Phil, Lyris Quartet, Calder Quartet, American Youth Symphony, and Southeast Symphony.
You’ll participate in frequent reading sessions, attend over 20 LA Phil concerts annually, including the Green Umbrella new music series, and build a professional portfolio with access to composition software and high-quality recordings. Saturday workshops and concert events help you develop technical skills in orchestration, music engraving, and contemporary ensemble writing. You’ll also meet leading composers like John Adams, Caroline Shaw, and Ludwig Göransson, gaining insight into the creative process and the future of concert music.
9. Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement
Cost: Free, meals provided; transportation scholarship available
Location: USC University Park and Health Sciences campuses, Los Angeles
Application Deadline: March 3–April 14
Program Dates: June 16–July 3
Eligibility: High school students residing and attending school in Los Angeles County
Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement – USC is a free, three-week summer intensive for high school students in Los Angeles County. You’ll take part in college-level coursework focused on media, communication, and journalism, with a strong emphasis on civic leadership and public engagement. You’ll build skills in critical writing, public speaking, interviewing, multimedia production, and ethnographic research. Final deliverables may include published news stories, collaborative civic initiatives, and multimedia features.
10. Getty Museum Youth Programs
Cost: Free; paid opportunities available, and transportation and meals provided
Location: Getty Center and Getty Villa, Los Angeles
Application Deadline: Cycles open each February
Program Dates: Varies by program; summer internships, year-round workshops, and photography intensives
Eligibility: High school students in Los Angeles County; priority for those from communities with limited access to arts programming
Getty Museum Youth Programs offer high school students in Los Angeles County paid and unpaid opportunities to build professional skills in visual arts interpretation, public engagement, and photography. As a Teen Gallery Guide, you receive training in art history, interpretive dialogue, and visitor interaction, then lead gallery experiences for museum guests during the summer.
The Unshuttered initiative is a photography-based program where you receive technical instruction, work with teaching artists, and exhibit your work in Getty galleries and online platforms. You’ll explore social themes through photography and contribute to exhibitions that center on underrepresented perspectives.
11. The Huntington Teen Volunteer Program
Cost: Free
Location: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino
Application Deadline: Varies; interviews held three times per year- February, June, October.
Program Dates: Four-month terms; weekend shifts with up to three excused absences allowed
Eligibility: Current high school students
The Huntington Teen Volunteer Program places you in weekend roles across the gardens, library, and museum spaces, where you support visitor services and public programming. You’ll commit to a weekly two-hour shift for a four-month term, assisting with wayfinding, exhibit interpretation, and event logistics. The role emphasizes professional communication, consistency, and operational support in a large cultural institution.
12. Port of Long Beach High School Internship Program
Cost: Free, paid internship
Location: Port of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Application Deadline: January 13–March 14
Program Dates: Six weeks in summer; up to 30 hours/week
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors living in Long Beach or attending a school in the Long Beach Unified School District service area; GPA 2.5+; must have reliable transportation and U.S. work authorization
Port of Long Beach High School Internship Program gives you a paid, six-week summer placement in a Port department, where you’ll work up to 30 hours per week. You’ll gain direct experience in international trade and port operations while performing administrative and logistics-related tasks such as document handling, project tracking, and coordination across teams. The program includes Personal Enrichment Training led by Future LB, the City of Long Beach’s youth employment center. These sessions cover workplace ethics, financial literacy, and career planning.
13. Transportation Career Academy Program (TCAP)
Cost: Free, stipend awarded upon completion
Location: Downtown Los Angeles with virtual project sessions
Application Deadline: February 10–March 14
Program Dates: June 20–August 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors (ages 16–18) with a GPA of 2.5+; must live in LA County near a Metro rail station and attend a school near Metro’s rail expansion areas; U.S. work authorization required
Transportation Career Academy Program (TCAP) – LA Metro is a paid, seven-week summer internship that connects you with career pathways in public transportation, infrastructure, and transit policy. You’ll work on a team-based project focused on a transportation challenge, attend weekly in-person training sessions in Downtown Los Angeles, and participate in virtual meetings Monday through Thursday to collaborate and track progress. The program focuses on business-relevant skills like project planning, infrastructure operations, and policy analysis. You’ll be paired with a professional mentor from LA Metro and gain exposure to departments such as operations, maintenance, finance, and strategic planning.
14. Early Learning Center Volunteer & Internship Program
Cost: Free (volunteer position)
Location: Child Development Institute (CDI), Canoga Park, Los Angeles
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Flexible scheduling during center hours
Eligibility: High school, college, and community members; no prior experience required
Early Learning Center Volunteer & Internship Program – Child Development Institute (CDI) is a free, flexible opportunity for high school students, college students, and community members to gain hands-on experience in early childhood development and nonprofit operations. Based in Canoga Park, Los Angeles, the program runs on a rolling basis with scheduling during center hours. You’ll assist with play-based learning activities that support school readiness, and contribute to projects in event planning, landscaping, and social media management. Training includes child development principles, family engagement strategies, and activity design.
15. Pasadena Symphony & POPS Volunteer Program
Cost: Free, volunteer position; complimentary tickets provided
Location: Pasadena, CA. Primarily at the LA County Arboretum and public event venues
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Year-round opportunities, with peak activity during the Summer POPS concert series
Eligibility: High school and college students; must meet physical requirements for certain roles (e.g., ability to lift to 40 lbs. for venue assistance)
Pasadena Symphony & POPS Volunteer Program offers high school students paid and unpaid roles in concert operations, arts marketing, and public engagement. You can serve as a venue assistant, greeter, ticket taker, or usher at concerts held at the LA County Arboretum and Ambassador Auditorium. These roles involve setup, audience interaction, and logistics coordination. If you’re interested in marketing and outreach, you can assist at promotional tables, support development events, and help manage merchandise sales. Youth volunteers also participate in the Musical Instrument Petting Zoo, guiding hands-on activities for children and families.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, 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 – The Intern Project