Are you a high schooler based in NYC looking for career pathways? If so, consider applying for an internship in the city. Internships go beyond what you typically learn in school, giving you the chance to take part in actual projects, get mentorship, and understand how professional environments work day to day.
New York City is home to a wide range of organizations and universities that offer internships specifically for high school students across fields such as science, arts, business, law, and government. Choosing a local internship can also be a financially smart move if you live in NYC. Since you are already based in the city, you save on housing and travel costs that often come with programs outside your area.
To help you explore what’s available, we’ve gathered 15 internships in New York City that are open to high school students!
15 Internships for High School Students in NYC
1. Apollo Theater Academy Technical Theater Production Internship
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive
Location: Apollo Theater, New York, NY
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: Typically mid-April
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with an interest in arts or entertainment careers
Apollo Theater Academy Technical Theater Production Internship offers high school seniors a paid, six-week opportunity to train in stage production at one of the most legendary performing arts venues in the U.S. You’ll work alongside Apollo’s professional production crew to learn the technical elements of live and recorded theater, including lighting design, videography, audio engineering, carpentry, and production design. Each day, you’ll take on responsibilities that mirror real backstage operations, gaining practical experience that prepares you for college-level study or entry into the performing arts industry.
2. Brooklyn Museum Apprentice Program
Acceptance rate: Selective and competitive
Location: Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY
Stipend: $16/hour for first-year apprentices; $17.50/hour for returning program leaders
Dates: 8 months (November–June) or 2 months (July–August)
Application Deadline: School-year – Nov 1; Summer – May 11
Eligibility: NYC high school students ages 14–19
The Brooklyn Museum Apprentice Program introduces you to museum work through art, history, and education projects, offering a paid, yearlong opportunity for NYC high school students. You’ll meet weekly from November to June and work full-time three days a week during the summer, gaining hands-on experience in public engagement, lesson planning, and museum education. As an apprentice, you may lead gallery tours, assist with family programs like Art Explorers, or support curatorial and education teams.
3. Futures and Options Internship Program
Acceptance rate: Selective
Location: Corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies across NYC
Stipend: $15/hr
Dates: 15 weeks (school year) or 6 weeks (summer)
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Ages 16+; current 11th or 12th graders living in NYC
Futures and Options Internship Program places high school juniors and seniors in paid, mentored internships across industries like finance, marketing, healthcare, tech, and nonprofit management. You’ll work 5–10 hours per week during the school year or 20–30 hours per week in the summer, gaining hands-on experience tailored to your interests and career goals. Alongside your internship, you’ll attend career-readiness workshops that build skills in resume writing, interviewing, financial literacy, and workplace communication. You’ll also go on field trips to companies like BlackRock and Infor, expanding your understanding of professional environments.
4. Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Location: New York, NY
Stipend: $15–$21/hour
Dates: June 18 – August 28
Application Deadline: January 6
Eligibility: NYC public high school students; must live in one of the five boroughs
The Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program (TMSLIP) connects diverse NYC public high school students with paid summer internships in law firms, corporate legal departments, nonprofits, and government agencies. You’ll work 35–40 hours per week for 6–8 weeks, supporting legal teams through research, filing, data entry, and administrative tasks that reflect real-world legal operations. Before placement, you’ll complete a mandatory three-part Pre-Employment Training that covers resume writing, interview prep, and workplace readiness. Throughout the summer, you’ll attend professional development workshops, networking events, and panels on legal careers.
5. NYU Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) Program
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive
Location: NYU, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,000
Dates: 7 weeks, typically from early July to mid-August
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Current 10th or 11th graders (rising juniors or seniors) attending NYC high schools, and be at least 16 years old by program start
The NYU Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) Program is a free, highly selective summer research experience for current 10th and 11th-grade students who live in New York City. Hosted by the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, the program runs for seven weeks and places you in one of over 30 participating NYU faculty labs across fields like biomedical engineering, machine learning, chemical engineering, anthropology, and aerospace engineering. You’ll begin with two weeks of workshops focused on scientific ethics, research methods, lab safety, and college readiness. Then, you’ll spend five weeks conducting research alongside graduate student mentors, contributing to real lab projects and building skills in data analysis, presentation design, and scientific writing.
6. Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)
Acceptance rate: Highly selective, admitting only 14 students annually
Location: Columbia University Labs
Stipend: Provided
Dates: January to August, including spring training sessions and a 5-week summer lab placement
Application Deadline: Applications open in the fall
Eligibility: Grades 10–11; NYC residents (preference for Upper Manhattan and South Bronx)
Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC) offers a highly selective, immersive neuroscience research experience for high school sophomores and juniors in New York City. You’ll begin with weekend training sessions in the winter and spring, then spend 6–8 weeks in the summer working full-time in a Columbia University neuroscience lab. You’ll conduct experiments, analyze data, and contribute to active research projects in fields like molecular biology, psychology, and computational neuroscience.
You’ll also attend workshops on lab safety, ethics, and scientific communication, and take part in field trips and networking events that connect you with professionals and peers. After the summer, you can apply for a paid Merit Fellowship to continue your lab work during the academic year or return as a paid intern in future cycles.
7. New York City Office of the Mayor Internship
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Location: New York City, NY
Stipend: $15 –$18/hour, depending on role and experience level
Dates: June 10 – August 9
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Ages 16+; high school students or accepted undergraduates; NYC residency required for Fall/Spring terms
The NYC Office of the Mayor offers placements across different departments, giving you insight into city government and policy. You could work on research, attend meetings, manage inquiries, or prepare briefing documents. You’ll work alongside full-time staff while contributing to projects that affect New Yorkers directly. The internship includes a bi-weekly Speaker Series with senior city officials, such as Deputy Mayors and Commissioners. You’ll also collaborate with fellow interns to design and run a service project for the community. This program is ideal if you’re interested in public service or policy-making.
8. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center HOPP Summer Student Program
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Location: New York, NY
Stipend: $1,200
Dates: June 27 to August 22
Application Deadline: February 9
Eligibility: Students must be current high school juniors, age 14+ by June, with a 3.5 GPA in science, and live within 25 miles of MSK’s Manhattan campus
At MSK’s Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, you’ll take part in laboratory or computational research projects in cancer science. Each student is paired with a mentor, such as a postdoctoral fellow or graduate student, for guidance. You’ll participate in lab work, journal clubs, facility tours, and networking sessions with scientists. The program ends with you presenting your findings in a poster session. Additional activities include luncheons with principal investigators and team-building events.
9. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive
Location: NASA centers nationwide
Stipend: Varies by academic level and session length
Dates: Spring (Jan–May), Summer (May–Aug), Fall (Aug–Dec)
Application Deadline: May 26 (Fall), Aug 30 (Spring), Oct 20 (Summer)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens; GPA 3.0+; full-time students; ages 16+
The NASA OSTEM High School Internship Program lets you contribute to projects in space exploration, engineering, and technology. You could work on robotics, software, satellite communication, or aerospace systems. You’ll apply classroom knowledge to real technical challenges while collaborating with NASA teams. Mentorship and skill-building are central to the program, helping you develop both technical and problem-solving abilities. The internships are available at various NASA locations, so placement depends on the project focus.
10. NYU High School Medical Ethics Internship
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Location: New York, NY
Stipend: Paid. Past stipends have ranged from $640 to $1,000
Dates: July 8 – 19
Application Deadline: Typically open in early spring
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
This two-week internship focuses on ethical questions in healthcare, public policy, and biotechnology. You’ll attend discussions, talks, and workshops led by professionals from public health, law, and patient advocacy. You’ll explore complex bioethics topics and write a final paper based on your reflections. The program encourages critical thinking about real cases and current issues in healthcare. You’ll also have opportunities to connect with mentors who can guide you beyond the internship.
11. Metropolitan Museum of Art School-Year and Summer High School Internships
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Location: New York, NY
Stipend: Based on NY State minimum wage
Dates: January–June (school year) and July–August (summer)
Application Deadline: Varies. School-Year Internship: Late October; Summer Internship: Early March
Eligibility: Grades 10–11 or equivalent; residents of NY, NJ, or CT
The Met’s internships offer roles in areas like curatorial work, conservation, marketing, and research. You’ll work closely with museum professionals and learn about different aspects of the institution. You’ll participate in small-group sessions, guided projects, and direct mentorship with staff. If you’re from a historically underrepresented background in these fields, you’re encouraged to apply. The program gives you insight into how a major cultural institution operates.
12. Student Historian Internship Program at the New York Historical Society
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Location: New York, NY
Stipend: Provided for eligible Title 1 students; otherwise unpaid with credit/service hours
Dates: October – June
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Grades 10–12; NYC metro area residents
This program combines historical research with digital media projects. You’ll use the Historical Society’s archives and collections to create original content. You’ll work in teams to develop projects that explore American history through the lens of a chosen theme. Staff-led workshops help you build skills in research, writing, and digital presentation. The program also provides exposure to museum and library careers. Students from Title 1 schools or with financial need can receive a stipend.
13. Mount Sinai Center for Excellence in Youth Education – Medical and Scientific Exploration Program
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Location: New York, NY – Virtual and in-person components
Stipend: Paid
Dates: July 1 – August 9
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: NYC public/charter school students; underrepresented minority and/or economically disadvantaged; interest in biomedical sciences
This program is designed to expand your understanding of biomedical sciences through lab and clinical department rotations. You’ll participate in activities in cellular and molecular biology and explore different medical specialties. You’ll also take part in sessions on health disparities, leadership, and college readiness. Mentors from Mount Sinai guide you through both scientific and career-oriented learning. The mix of hands-on activities and academic sessions prepares you for future science studies.
14. American Museum of Natural History – Science Research Mentoring Program
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Location: New York, NY
Stipend: $2,500
Dates: August – June
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Grades 10–11; must meet specific program/course participation or school partnership criteria
The SRMP places you in a year-long research project with a Museum scientist. Projects span biology, astronomy, anthropology, and more. You’ll learn lab techniques, data analysis, coding, and how to read scientific literature. The program requires about four hours per week during the school year. Mentorship is a key element, with scientists guiding your work and helping you develop research skills. You’ll finish by presenting your project.
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 – American Museum of Natural History