If you are a high schooler in the Bay Area looking for mentorship, hands-on experience, and professional exposure, consider a summer internship!
Summer internships give you the chance to work on real projects, develop practical skills, and learn directly from professionals in your field. These internships are usually shorter than full-year programs and are highly focused on one area, such as technology, business, science, or the arts. You’ll get to take on responsibilities, work with mentors and peers, and gain experience that can strengthen your college applications and CV.
The Bay Area is home to many companies, startups, research labs, and nonprofit organizations that offer internships to high school students each year. Opting for a local internship can also be a financially smart choice, reducing travel and housing costs while giving you access to top professionals and resources in your field.
With that, here are 15 summer internships for high school students in the Bay Area!
15 Summer Internships for High School Students in the Bay Area
1. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by the program. Financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students.
Ladder Internships is an 8-week remote program where you work with a fast-growing startup in fields like AI/ML, health tech, journalism, marketing, or consulting. After you’re accepted, you’ll be matched with a startup and take on a real project, sometimes working directly with the founder or a small team. You’ll also get support from a Ladder Coach, who helps you stay on track and prepare to present your final project to the company. Most of the startups are venture-backed and have raised over a million dollars, so you get a close look at how young companies scale.
2. The Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford (GRIPS)
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California
Cost: Free; need-based scholarships are provided for students needing financial support to participate
Dates: June 16 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16, have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.0, and live in Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Santa Cruz counties
The Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford (GRIPS) is an eight-week summer program where you explore computational genetics and genomics through hands-on research. Hosted by Stanford’s Department of Genetics, the program places you in an active research lab and pairs you with a mentor who guides your project work. You’ll spend about four hours a day, five days a week, usually from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on tasks like data analysis, literature review, and lab work. Alongside research, you’ll take part in seminars, career panels, and regular mentor check-ins.
3. Science and Health Education Partnership’s High School Intern Program
Location: University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Cost: Free. A stipend of $3200 for 25 hours per week and $4500 for 35 hours per week (provided at the end of the internship)
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: January – March 2
Eligibility: Rising senior from an SFUSD high school or SF charter schools
The Science and Health Education Partnership’s High School Intern Program (HIP) at UCSF is an eight-week paid summer internship for rising seniors from San Francisco public or charter schools. If selected, you’ll be matched with a UCSF scientist who will mentor you through a biomedical research project. You’ll learn lab techniques, explore scientific literature, and gain hands-on experience in areas like infectious disease, neuroscience, molecular biology, immunology, cancer, and stem cell research. Alongside your research, you’ll participate in group discussions with other interns to share insights and learn about their projects.
4. The Lawrence Hall of Science Teen Internship Program
Location: The Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, California
Cost: Free. A stipend of $3500 ($72 will be deducted for every day you miss)
Dates: June 2 – August 15 (workshops are conducted in May)
Application Deadline: December 17 – January 15
Eligibility: Students entering 11th or 12th grade who can commit to the entire program, plus the workshop trainings in May and the summer trainings before the program
The Lawrence Hall of Science Teen Internship Program is a full-time summer opportunity for high school students entering Grade 11 or 12 who are passionate about science and enjoy working with younger learners. As an intern, you’ll team up with adult staff to design and deliver hands-on science lessons that use multiple teaching styles and connect across disciplines. You’ll learn how to make science engaging and accessible, while building skills in communication, leadership, and classroom management.
5. Asian American Stories Summer Internship Opportunity for Students
Location: Silicon Valley Community Media, Santa Clara, California
Cost: Free
Dates: June 23 – August 3
Application Deadline: Early June
Eligibility: High school students in the Bay Area with an interest in promoting Asian American stories
The Asian American Stories Summer Internship is a six-week, unpaid program for high school and college students in the Bay Area who want to support Silicon Valley Community Media’s annual 1-Minute Video Contest. Building on past campaigns like “All of Us Belong Here” and “My Gift to America,” this internship gives you the chance to help amplify AAPI voices through storytelling and media outreach. As an intern, you’ll work on recruiting participants for the contest, creating and publishing social media content about the AAPI community, and contributing to event promotion. You may even choose to participate in the contest yourself. By the end of the program, you’ll have experience in community engagement, digital media, and event support.
6. BART Student Internship
Location: BART Headquarters, Oakland, California
Cost: Free
Stipend: $20/hr for high schoolers
Dates: June 23 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: High school and college students who are at least 16
The BART Student Internship Program is a six-week, project-based summer program where you gain hands-on experience within the Bay Area Rapid Transit system. You’ll be placed in a core department such as planning, sustainability, finance, human resources, or operations, and work on real projects with guidance from BART staff. During the internship, you’ll build skills in communication, project planning, research, and tools like Microsoft Office. You’ll also attend seminars and workshops that introduce you to transit careers and public service.
7. Summer Researchers in Global Health
Location: Multiple campuses within the University of California (UCSF, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Merced)
Cost: Free; Stipend: $2000
Dates: June 9 – July 18
Application Deadline: April 20
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in the Bay Area; should live a maximum of one hour away from one of the UC campuses mentioned in the location
The Summer Researchers in Global Health (SRGH) program is a six-week, paid internship for rising high school seniors in Northern California who want to explore careers in global health. Hosted by the UC Global Health Institute in partnership with campuses like UCSF, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Merced, the program lets you work on real research projects led by university scientists. As an intern, you’ll work with researchers on topics such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, reproductive health, planetary health, and emerging infectious diseases. You’ll take part in weekly case discussions, group activities led by graduate students, and mentorship sessions with global health professionals.
8. Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various Department of the Navy (DoN) laboratories
Cost: Free. Stipend: $4000 for new participants and $4500 for returning participants
Dates: 8 to 10 weeks (exact dates vary by individual lab)
Application Deadline: August 1 – November 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grade 9, who are at least 16, and have US citizenship; graduating high school seniors can also apply.
The Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is an eight-week summer research experience for high school students interested in STEM and defense-related careers. Hosted across more than 38 Department of the Navy (DoN) laboratories nationwide, SEAP gives you the chance to work on real Naval research projects under the mentorship of professional scientists and engineers. As a SEAP intern, you’ll contribute to active research in fields like engineering, cybersecurity, robotics, chemistry, and environmental science. You’ll gain hands-on experience, learn technical skills, and explore how science and technology support national defense.
9. KP Launch’s High School Program
Location: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center or business offices closest to your home address
Cost: Free. A stipend of $23 per hour
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: November 18 – January 6
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 16 and 19 as of June 1 who live in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area and can legally work in the US
KP Launch’s High School Program is a paid summer internship hosted by Kaiser Permanente for high school students in Northern California. You’ll support administrative and operational tasks while learning about the broader healthcare system. You’ll work part-time for six to eight weeks, typically in departments like human resources, IT, finance, or community health. You’ll also take part in weekly professional development sessions, mentorship meetings, and career exploration activities.
10. SF YouthWorks Summer Internship
Location: Multiple San Francisco public department offices
Cost: Free; Stipend: $19.18 per hour
Dates: June 16 – August 3
Application Deadline: February 14 – April 11
Eligibility: 11th and 12th-graders enrolled in a San Francisco-based school
The SF YouthWorks Summer Internship is a paid program for high school students in San Francisco who want to gain experience in city government. You’ll be placed in departments like the Public Utilities Commission, Public Library, SF International Airport, or one of more than 30 other city agencies, taking on real responsibilities while building skills in communication, organization, and teamwork. Beyond your day-to-day work, you’ll receive mentorship, career guidance, and support with college planning. You’ll attend workshops, meet with supervisors, and get an inside look at how public service careers operate.
11. Stanford Young Investigators
Location: Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford, California
Cost: Free
Dates: Third Tuesday in June to First Thursday in August
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 15
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least one year of high school and live within a 25-mile radius of the campus
The Stanford Young Investigators Program is a hands-on summer internship for high school students interested in sustainability, Earth systems, and environmental science. Hosted by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the program places you in an active research group on campus, where you work alongside graduate students, postdocs, and lab managers. You’ll contribute to real projects in areas like oceans, environment, and Earth systems, studying climate change, ocean health, and environmental shifts.
You can also work in Earth and planetary sciences to explore geological processes, or in energy to investigate sustainable technologies and resource management. Other options include social science research on how human behavior and policy affect sustainability, fieldwork at Stanford’s educational farm, or studying mass extinctions and biodiversity in the History of Life group.
12. Experiences in Research (EinR)
Location: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California
Cost: Free. A stipend of $500 per week is provided
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: Early February – March 23
Eligibility: 10th- to 12th-grade students enrolled in a school in Northern California, and at least 16
The EinR program is designed for high school students who want to pursue a career in the STEM field. It pairs you and another participant with a Berkeley lab scientist to work on a project. Some of the project areas offered by EinR include administration and communications, data science, coding, experimental research, and data collection. You will also gain technical skills, such as coding in Python, through a free bootcamp before the internship, as well as the soft skills required to excel in a STEM career.
13. Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS)
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California
Cost: Free; Stipend: $3000 for students with financial difficulties
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Rising junior or senior in high school students who are at least 16, living in one of the listed counties in Northern California (see list here), and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
The Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS) is a six-week summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors in the Bay Area who want to explore careers in medicine, biology, or research. As a PIPS intern, you’ll work closely with Stanford faculty, postdocs, and students to learn research techniques and complete a project in pediatric science. You’ll also take part in seminars, group discussions, and mentorship sessions that help you build skills and understand what working in medical research looks like.
14. JFCS Shmunis Internship Program
Location: Multiple locations in the Bay Area
Cost: Free; Pays a stipend (varies by internship)
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: Opens December
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10, 11, and 12 in the fall
The JFCS Shmunis Internship Program is a paid, six-week summer program for high school students in the Bay Area who want to gain work experience while exploring their values, identity, and career goals. You’ll be placed at JFCS offices or partner organizations in areas like healthcare, business, education, tech, or environmental advocacy, depending on your interests and availability. Alongside your placement, you’ll attend weekly workshops on professional development and personal growth. You’ll learn skills like resume writing, interviewing, workplace communication, and ethical leadership.
15. East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Multiple worksites in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, East Bay
Cost: Free; paid internship (stipend varies per year)
Dates: 6 weeks, June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: Early spring (final notifications sent May 19)
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who live within the EBMUD service area and have not previously participated
The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) High School Summer Internship Program is a six-week, paid program for high school students in the East Bay who want hands-on experience in public service and environmental work. You’ll be placed in departments like engineering and design, water and natural resources, laboratory services, finance and budget, customer service, IT, human resources and legal, operations and logistics, or trades. You’ll be matched with a mentor, complete real projects, and take part in weekly enrichment sessions that focus on career exploration and skill-building.
Bonus – 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!
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 – Stanford University