Sociology helps you understand how people, groups, and systems function in real settings. If you are a high school student interested in studying society more closely, applying for paid sociology internships for high school students is one of the smartest steps you can take.
Paid sociology internships for high school students help you develop skills like data collection, interviewing, and analyzing social patterns. You might assist with surveys, work on community-based projects, or help organize research findings. These experiences show you how sociological work is carried out and how data is used to study real issues.
Why should you do a paid sociology internship?
Paid sociology internships for high school students give you direct experience with how research and fieldwork are done. You work on real tasks, follow structured methods, and understand how conclusions are formed.
Since these internships are paid, they also reduce financial pressure and make it easier to participate without an extra burden. At the same time, they give you work you can include in your college applications and resume, which adds a clear advantage.
To make your search easier, here are 15 paid sociology internships for high school students! If you’re looking for sociology research programs, you can find them here. You can also check out sociology summer programs for high school students here.
15 Paid Sociology Internships for High School Students
1. Youth Council Internship at Democracy Maine
Location: Portland, ME
Stipend: $900 for 5 hrs/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Only 3–4 high school interns are chosen per semester
Dates: Internships are available during the fall, spring, and summer
Application Deadline: September 19 (Fall Semester) | January 16 (Spring Semester) | May 15 (Summer)
Eligibility: Maine high school students can apply; students aged 15 or younger must obtain a Maine work permit before starting the internship
In the Democracy Maine’s Youth Council Internship, you’ll learn about active citizenship and develop organizing and facilitation skills. You’ll spend about five hours a week studying state laws and understanding how policies are created, including budget decisions that shape the economy. The work can include writing newsletters, planning awareness events, and creating classroom PSAs on topics like Ranked Choice Voting, Automatic Voter Registration, Miranda Rights, and burnout in organizing. You may also meet state leaders such as the Governor and Secretary of State. This internship also helps you understand sociological concepts by showing you how social and political systems operate. You’ll observe how communities and governments function, how young people are represented, and how laws are passed.
2. New York Historical Society’s Student Historian Internship Program
Location: New York Historical Society, New York, NY
Stipend: $700
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students are selected from more than 400 applications for the summer cohort
Dates: October 29 – June 24 (academic year session; tentative) | July 7 – August 13 (summer session)
Application Deadline: August 24 (academic year session; tentative) | March 29 (summer session)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 who have a valid employment certificate and live and attend school in the NYC metro area, including the five boroughs and nearby parts of New York State, Connecticut, and New Jersey
In the New York Historical Society Student Historian Internship Program, you’ll learn about American history and create digital projects for the public. You’ll work with the Society’s collections around the theme Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass’ America, with a focus on history and digital humanities. You’ll work with staff and other interns and learn about careers in history, museums, and libraries. You’ll improve your research, writing, communication, and digital work skills as well as analyze primary sources to create public projects. The experience also helps you understand sociology by showing how societies function and how social relationships and structures change over time. Through archival research and social history, you’ll examine past interactions, institutions, and cultural developments, and gain practical experience in analyzing social patterns and presenting them clearly.
3. Foodwise Teens Paid Youth Development Program
Location: The Academy – San Francisco @ McAteer, San Francisco, CA | John O’Connell High School, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Paid. Amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 80–100 students
Dates: Fall (10 weeks) | Spring (10 weeks) | Summer (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Applications open six weeks before each session start date
Eligibility: SFUSD students in grades 9–12 are eligible to apply, with priority for students who have been underserved, including BIPOC students and those who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch
The Foodwise Teens program is a paid youth development opportunity for local teens interested in building a more sustainable and equitable food system. You’ll gain hands-on experience in gardens, farmers’ markets, and kitchens as well as learn about food justice, career paths, and practical life skills. The program runs in three stages each year. Seed introduces the food system through after-school and market activities over 10 weeks in the fall or spring. Grow helps build skills and leadership through another 10-week session. Cultivate takes place over six weeks in the summer and includes job placements and mentorship. If you’re interested in sociology, this program will help you examine how food systems relate to inequality, community identity, and access. You’ll study barriers affecting community health, especially for youth of color, explore how social behavior and norms develop, and learn how food choices reflect larger economic and environmental systems.
4. Smithsonian’s Young Ambassadors Program at the National Museum of the American Latino
Location: Virtual; the training seminar takes place at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Stipend: $1,350
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Last year, 20 students participated in the program
Dates: June 21 – 27 (Washington Week Training Seminar) | July – October (virtual Making History Community Practicum Experience)
Application Deadline: February 23 – April 24
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are fluent in English, are eligible to work in the U.S., have a minimum 3.0 weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale, and plan to enroll full-time in an accredited college or university in the upcoming fall.
The Smithsonian’s Young Ambassadors Program is a national leadership and college-prep program focused on the humanities, arts, and sciences that allows you to learn about Latino communities, culture, and history. You’ll take part in a weeklong training seminar in Washington, D.C., where you’ll meet other students, explore career paths, and interact with professionals. The program also includes a 108-hour virtual community practicum, which you can complete from a local U.S. region or Puerto Rico. You’ll explore topics like immigration, discrimination, and community formation through seminars, museum collections, and discussions. The program helps you learn about sociology by showing how cultural identity, social structures, and history shape the experiences of Latino communities. It also gives you a clearer view of social dynamics and how cultural and historical forces influence different groups over time.
5. New York City Office of the Mayor Internship Program
Location: NYC Mayor’s Office, New York City, NY
Stipend: $17 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: October 20 – April 10 (Fall/Spring Term) | July 6 – August 28 (Summer Term)
Application Deadline: August 11 – August 31 (Fall/Spring Term) | February 23 – March 29 (Summer Term)
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old, live in New York City, and have valid working papers when applying
The NYC Mayor’s Office offers internships for high school students interested in city government and policy. You will apply to a department and, if selected, work there throughout the internship, collaborating with staff on tasks such as conducting research, handling inquiries, analyzing data, attending meetings, drafting briefs, and helping with events. You’ll take part in a biweekly Speaker Series with Commissioners, Deputy Mayors, and other senior staff, and may tour different Mayor’s Office facilities. You’ll also work on a service project focused on local communities during the program. If you’re interested in sociology, this internship offers insight into urban policy, community engagement, and government operations. Through projects and community-based work, you’ll examine social issues, learn how policies are developed, and learn how city systems and community efforts shape everyday life.
6. Sadie Nash Leadership Project’s Summer Institute
Location: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Newark
Stipend: $450
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 – August 13; you can check other important dates here
Application Deadline: March 13; rolling admissions till March 27
Eligibility: High school students in New York City or Newark who identify as young women or gender-expansive and have not previously completed the Summer Institute
In the Sadie Nash Leadership Project’s Summer Institute, you’ll participate in lectures, community activities, and field trips to develop your leadership skills. You’ll meet women and gender-expansive leaders, such as elected officials, business owners, and artists, who’ll share their experiences and work with you. The program includes sessions on education for liberation, the anthropology of gender, and art and activism in America, which will help you study how gender roles shape society and how culture influences social change. You’ll also take part in workshops on identity, social justice, and community organizing, where you’ll explore sociological concepts. Through these experiences, you’ll learn about social structures, power dynamics, and community building, and understand how society works and how change happens.
7. Memphis Bar Association’s Summer Law Internship Program
Location: Governmental agencies, law firms, and corporate legal departments across Memphis, TN
Stipend: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 1 – 26; orientation is held on May 29, and the closing ceremony takes place on July 10
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in good academic standing who live in or attend high school in Shelby County, TN, can apply. Past participants are not eligible.
The Memphis Bar Association’s Summer Law Intern Program gives you a chance to experience legal work in government agencies, law firms, or corporate legal departments. You’ll be placed with a mentor and supervisor, often a prosecutor, and complete about 60 hours of work over the summer. The program focuses on students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in law, and selection considers interest in legal careers, school or community involvement, work experience, and communication skills. You’ll also meet law students from the University of Memphis and observe real court proceedings. You’ll observe how the legal system interacts with social issues, which will help you understand sociological concepts. You’ll learn how background and access affect legal experiences, and how law works to manage behavior and maintain social order across communities.
8. Museum of History and Industry’s (MOHAI) History Lab
Location: Museum of History and Industry, Seattle, WA
Stipend: $150
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 6 students
Dates: July 27 – August 7
Application Deadline: May 22
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students
MOHAI History Lab is for students interested in local history and storytelling. You’ll build research skills and explore different ways to study and share the past by choosing a topic tied to the theme “the power of history and the history of power.” This theme will allow you to learn how power shapes historical research, how views of the past influence ideas about power, how narratives are created and revised, and what drives social and political change. You’ll explore these ideas through Seattle’s history and your own experiences by working in galleries, going on field trips, using museum collections, and spending time in local neighborhoods. The program also helps you understand sociology by examining how societies form, how social and cultural patterns develop over time, and how institutions change. You’ll also learn to share history online and publish a project on the Rainy Day History website using digital public history tools.
9. Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP)
Location: Government offices, law firms, and nonprofits across Atlanta, GA
Stipend: Interns earn $2,000 (stipends are either provided by the host organization or the Atlanta Bar Foundation)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 35 students
Dates: May 27 – July 17
Application Deadline: February 6 – March 19
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors studying in Atlanta high schools
The Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program is a paid opportunity for local students interested in law. You’ll be placed at a law firm, public office, or corporation. The program includes weekly All Intern Meetings on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., featuring guest speakers, discussions, and assessments. If you’re interested in sociology, this program offers you exposure to the legal system and social justice issues. You’ll work in different professional settings and interact with lawyers, judges, and staff, and gain insight into how the justice system affects communities. You’ll also complete short weekly assignments and finish with a 750-word essay on a U.S. Supreme Court case. This will help you learn how social structures and workplace environments influence legal outcomes and experiences.
10. Hearst High School Media Internship at The Paley Center for Media
Location: The Paley Center for Media, New York, NY
Stipend: Interns receive $17 per hour and travel reimbursement
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 6 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 2 – March 30
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. and have valid New York State working papers
The Paley Center for Media Hearst High School Media Internship is a paid five-week summer program for rising juniors and seniors. You’ll gain hands-on experience in media and entertainment and build skills, connections, and college readiness. Through media literacy, mentorship, and career development, you’ll learn how media shapes everyday life and what it takes to work in the industry. You’ll visit newsrooms, podcast studios, and TV sets, meet professionals, and learn with a college internship cohort. You’ll explore digital storytelling and media analysis and create an original podcast as a final project. You’ll also develop skills in public speaking, interviewing, research, writing, and audio production. If you’re interested in sociology, this program will help you learn how the media influences social norms, behavior, and culture, and how content shapes public perception and audience responses.
11. Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Location: Remote or in person at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: Both paid internships with need-based stipends and part-time unpaid options are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: February – April (Spring) | June – August (Summer) | October – December (Fall)
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by session
Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students who are authorized to work in the U.S.
The Foreign Policy Research Institute offers internships for students interested in international policy and law. You’ll be paired with a mentor, work with professionals, and gain hands-on experience at a think tank. Roles are available in research and administration & operations. You’ll also attend weekly seminars on foreign policy and career development led by guest speakers, and you may contribute to a research paper for FPRI’s Intern Corner. The experience also helps you explore sociology through topics related to international relations. You’ll study ethnic conflict, social trends, and political and cultural attitudes, including in regions like Europe and Eurasia. By studying these areas, you’ll learn how social, economic, and political forces shape societies and influence global interactions.
12. Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program
Location: Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, New York, NY
Stipend: Interns earn a minimum wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 30 students are accepted for the summer cohort
Dates: June 29 – July 31
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who live in Manhattan
The Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program is a five-week program that gives you a closer look at the criminal justice system through the work of the DA’s Office. You can apply by submitting a one-page resume and a 300-word essay explaining your interest in criminal justice. If you’re interested in sociology, this internship can help you explore areas like criminology and the sociology of law. You’ll also work with prosecutors and study real cases to learn how social norms, deviance, and legal systems influence communities and justice outcomes. You’ll take part in a mock trial, where you’ll learn about courtroom procedures and different legal roles. The program runs Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and includes workshops and discussions on civic engagement, criminal justice, leadership, and police brutality.
13. Internships at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Location: Remote or in person in Washington, DC
Stipend: Paid (amount varies by opportunity)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Over 100 students
Dates: Internships are available throughout the year (fall, winter, spring, and summer), and typically last anywhere from six weeks to one year, depending on the role
Application Deadline: Varies by opportunity; March 1 (summer session)
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and postgraduate students, as well as working professionals
The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage offers year-round internships in which you can explore fields such as history, linguistics, cultural anthropology, folklore, social media, videography, design, marketing, and library science. You’ll work on projects linked to Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, archival collections, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and education programs. You’ll typically work 15 to 20 hours a week, either part-time or full-time. If you study subjects like history, folklore, music, or library science, you may earn academic credit. The experience helps you learn about sociology by focusing on cultures, people, and communities. You’ll explore social dynamics, community life, and cultural expression through documentation, fieldwork, and storytelling, develop research skills, and understand how societies function.
14. University of Chicago’s Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab
Location: John Crerar Library at the University of Chicago, Hyde Park campus, IL
Stipend: $5,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 20–25 students, including both undergraduate and high school students
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school seniors from the Chicago area who plan to start college in the fall
The University of Chicago’s DSI Summer Lab is a paid research program for local students. You work with mentors across areas like social science, psychology, computer science, public policy, materials science, climate and energy, and biomedical research. As a research assistant, you’ll apply data science to topics such as public policy, social inequality, and urban issues, and learn research methods based on your lab’s focus. You’ll also attend sessions where researchers will share their career paths and explain how they use data to solve real problems. The program includes professional development sessions and concludes with presentations at a summer symposium, featuring talks and videos. It also introduces concepts like algorithm design, AI, systems, and machine learning. Through data analysis and real projects, you’ll study social patterns and challenges, as well as gain insight into sociology and how technology can be used to understand society.
15. Pathway Internship Programs at the U.S. Department of State
Location: Multiple locations across the United States
Stipend: Interns are paid, but the amount varies based on the position
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies based on the number of available positions
Dates: Internship dates vary by position. IEP internships align with the length of the academic program, while ITEP internships are offered year-round, including during school breaks
Application Deadline: Varies by location and opportunity
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens, are at least 16 by the application deadline, have a minimum 2.0 GPA, and remain eligible students for the entire internship
The U.S. Department of State’s Pathway Internship Programs offer paid opportunities to explore federal careers across government offices. You’ll gain hands-on experience in public policy, law, foreign affairs, and international relations by working with agencies such as the Office of the General Counsel, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of Structured Finance and Insurance, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The program provides a structured setting where you take on meaningful projects, work with professionals, and build skills for global careers. There are two options: the Internship Experience Program, which follows the length of your academic program, and the Internship Temporary Program, which lasts up to one year or until graduation, with possible extensions. Through tasks such as research, report drafting, and working with diverse teams, you’ll study social trends, cross-cultural communication, and political dynamics, and gain insight into sociology and international systems.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like sociology, 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 – University of Chicago