If you’re a high schooler looking for a summer internship, consider one in your city or state.
Why? Local internships are more affordable than ones that require you to move or look for housing. They’re also much cheaper and allow you to engage directly with your community.
If you’re based in New York City, you can explore multiple summer internships that allow you to apply academic knowledge to practical projects, see how workplaces function, and start building skills. Internships also help you explore career interests, whether that’s law, healthcare, science, business, or the arts.
Many summer internships below also offer stipends, providing you with the opportunity to earn while you learn. You’ll gain mentorship, experience teamwork, and develop technical and communication skills that set you apart. In a city full of cultural institutions, research labs, and professional organizations, the options are wide-ranging.
To help you choose, we’ve rounded up 13 summer internships for high school students in NYC.
1. The New York Historical Society: Student Historian Internship Program
Location: The New-York Historical Society
Stipend: $700
Dates: July 8 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Grades 10–12; NYC metro area residents
As a Student Historian Intern, you’ll explore the museum, library, and digital humanities through research and project work. You will learn about the museum, library, digital humanities, and history fields, while collaborating with classmates to enhance your skills in historical thinking, communication, and digital media. Activities include tech workshops, field trips to other institutions, and peer exchanges. You’ll also tour museum galleries and learn how curators interpret history for the public. The program combines academic learning with community-building experiences.
2. Manhattan District Attorney’s Office High School Internship Program
Location: Manhattan District Attorney’s Office
Stipend: Paid minimum wage
Dates: June 30 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors residing in Manhattan
This program introduces you to the criminal justice system through workshops, discussions, and mock trial simulations. You will gain insight into topics like police practices, gender-based violence, and courtroom dynamics. Interns engage in activities that demonstrate how prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges handle cases. Additionally, you’ll meet professionals working in law and government. The program offers a mix of educational lectures and practical participation in legal scenarios.
3. Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program
Location: Various legal institutions across NYC
Stipend: $16/hour or more
Dates: 6–8 weeks starting March (varies by employer)
Application Deadline: January 13
Eligibility: NYC high school students interested in law
TMSLIP places you in law firms, nonprofits, corporations, or government offices for legal training and casework exposure. You’ll assist with documentation, research, and administrative tasks while observing real court proceedings. Professional development sessions are also part of the program. You’ll learn how lawyers build cases and prepare for hearings. The internship prepares you for academic or career paths in law.
4. Apollo Theater Academy Technical Theater Production Internship
Location: The Apollo, Harlem
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: April 7
Eligibility: Current 11th graders; NYC residents
As an intern, you’ll collaborate with Apollo’s production team on the technical aspects of live performances. You’ll gain experience in lighting, audio engineering, production design, and stage management. The program provides insight into how a major arts organization operates behind the scenes. You’ll also engage with entertainment industry professionals and assist in various event stages, from planning to execution. This experience gives you both technical and teamwork skills in a performing arts environment.
5. Memorial Sloan Kettering: Summer Student Program
Location: MSK research labs
Stipend: $1,200
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors; 3.5 GPA in science; age 14+; within 25 miles of NYC
At MSK, you’ll take part in biomedical or computational research under the guidance of a mentor. If accepted, you’ll be paired with a mentor in an MSK research lab, where you’ll develop technical skills, participate in lab meetings, and work on a self-directed research project related to your lab’s current work. Research areas encompass Immunology and Cancer Biology, as well as Genomics, Imaging, and Drug Development. The program also offers professional development sessions that cover translational medicine and research careers.
6. Alley Pond Park: Field Biology Internship (FBI)
Location: Alley Pond Park, Queens
Cost: $150 (financial aid available)
Dates: July 1 – August 6 (Tuesdays or Wednesdays)
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students, age 14+
The Field Biology Internship introduces ecology, sustainability, and experimental design. You will collect field data on plants and animals while exploring ecosystems across Queens, improving your skills in observation, data gathering, and analysis. You will also learn how environmental science contributes to conservation efforts. For students aspiring to careers in STEM or the environment, this internship can provide a solid foundation.
7. NYC School Construction Authority (SCA): High School Summer Internship
Location: SCA departments & partner companies, NYC
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Dates: 6 weeks (varies by host site)
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: NYC public high school students in good standing
The SCA internship exposes you to fields like architecture, construction, engineering, IT, and business. You will work four days a week at a host site and dedicate one day to educational workshops. The training covers OSHA construction safety certification and includes tours of SCA projects. You’ll also hear from professionals in panel discussions. The program strikes a balance between technical training and workplace experience.
8. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: CEYE Internships
Location: Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital
Stipend: Paid (amount unspecified)
Dates: July 1 – August 8
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: NYC high school students
The Center for Excellence in Youth Education (CEYE) at the Icahn School of Medicine offers a selective, paid Internship Placement (IP) summer program. Interns join one of four immersive tracks: Hospital Placement, Veterinary Sciences, Neurosurgery Scholars, or Cultivating Neurological Scholars, gaining in‑person experience, mentorship, and hands‑on engagement in clinical or research settings. Each student is paired with a mentor and takes part in weekly seminars, academic enrichment activities, and a final presentation or project.
9. DOROT Summer Teen Internship Program
Location: DOROT’s Manhattan offices
Stipend: None (unpaid)
Dates: Session 1 (June 23 – July 16) | Session 2 (July 23 – August 14) | Suffolk Y JCC (July 21 – August 14)
Application Deadline: Rolling (December – June)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
This program combines community service with intergenerational engagement. Interns become part of a group dedicated to fostering meaningful intergenerational connections with older adults. You’ll engage in activities such as discussion groups, tech coaching, arts projects, and legacy workshops, all while accumulating over 100 community service hours. The program also includes structured leadership training and team-building workshops.
10. The Met: Summer High School Internships
Location: The Met Fifth Avenue
Stipend: $1,100
Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: 10th–11th graders in NY, NJ, or CT
At The Met, you can join departments like marketing, conservation, or education, working under staff mentorship. You’ll engage in projects, assist the staff, and get behind-the-scenes access to the museum. The internship includes workshops, Career Labs, and peer collaboration that expose students to a wide range of creative professions. Interns develop professional skills while learning how a major cultural institution operates.
11. Columbia University Zuckerman Institute: BRAINYAC
Location: Columbia Laboratories
Stipend: Paid
Dates: January to August, starting with weekend training sessions in the winter and spring, then shifting to a full-time internship from June 30 – August 15
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: 10th–11th graders in partner programs; preference for Upper Manhattan & Bronx students
BRAINYAC offers an introduction to neuroscience through mentored lab placements, starting with weekend training sessions in winter and spring, then progressing to a full-time summer internship. You can delve into academic research across fields like neuroscience, psychology, molecular biology, computational neuroscience, and biochemistry. It emphasizes the development of professional lab skills, encourages scientific curiosity, and exposes participants to cutting-edge brain science. Each individual will be matched with a PhD student, postdoctoral researcher, or faculty mentor to design and execute a neuroscience research project.
12. Rockefeller University: Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: Rockefeller University labs
Stipend: Free; stipends for financial hardship
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors (16+)
Rockefeller University’s SSRP is a free, seven-week program for high school juniors and seniors that immerses students in advanced biomedical research. Interns work in small teams with research mentors, conducting experiments in fields like molecular biology, genetics, or computational science. In addition to lab activities, students participate in workshops, lectures, and networking events that enhance their scientific knowledge and professional abilities.
13. Museum of Arts and Design (MAD): Artslife Internship
Location: Museum of Arts and Design
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Dates: July 9 – August 16
Application Deadline: April 21
Eligibility: NYC public/charter high school sophomores & juniors
The Artslife Internship combines museum work, design projects, and leadership training. You’ll rotate through departments such as communications, education, and curatorial while also collaborating with visiting artists. Interns produce a podcast, lead peer tours, and participate in artist studio projects. Weekly activities foster teamwork and communication skills, including visits to cultural institutions around the city.
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 – Memorial Sloan Kettering logo