Top 23 Paid Internships For High School Students 2024 Apply Now!

Are you a high school student looking to learn and earn simultaneously? Paid internships for high school students allow you to gain experience and also a way to learn by doing and make some money. Consider turning your hobbies into practical skills that can shape your journey from high school to college. 

Let’s explore these cool opportunities and see how they can be the first step toward your exciting future.

Smithsonian High School Internships 2024

If you’re fascinated by the world of art, history, or business, the Smithsonian High School Internships provide a fantastic gateway. With various roles available in art history, business, and museum conservation, these internships offer students a chance to work within the prestigious Smithsonian network. 

Moreover, participants receive competitive stipends, making this opportunity both educational and financially rewarding.

Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program

For high school juniors and seniors intrigued by the mysteries of natural resources and environmental management, the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an exciting paid internship opportunity. 

This program aims to spark an interest in fisheries science among underrepresented groups. With mentoring and hands-on experiences, students gain insight into the field and build a valuable professional network.

Johns Hopkins CARES Summer Program

The Johns Hopkins CARES Summer Program is tailored for high school students who aspire to explore careers in science and health. This initiative targets underrepresented individuals, offering a variety of STEM-related disciplines.

Paid internships for High school students give students a special chance to visit university departments and meet professionals in their chosen fields. It also helps them explore potential career paths. The application details, timelines, and compensation differ depending on the program chosen. 

However, all programs take place during the summer. Johns Hopkins offers in-person opportunities for Baltimore-area high school students and virtual research opportunities nationwide.

Bank of America Student Leaders

The Bank of America Student Leaders program is perfect for high school juniors and seniors who love community service and leadership. This eight-week paid internship puts participants in nonprofits like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity.

It goes beyond just work; there’s also a one-week summit in Washington, D.C. This summit is a unique opportunity for networking and developing more skills. 

With a commitment of about 35 hours per week, the program shows how nonprofits, governments, and businesses work together for local needs. It gives students a complete view of collaboration in these areas.

Ladders for Leaders

Ladders for Leaders is a nationally recognized program providing exceptional high school and college students with paid professional summer internships. 

In partnership with leading corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies in New York City, this program offers participants valuable real-world work experience, the chance to develop professional skills, and an opportunity to build a strong network of contacts.

MITRE Early Summer High School R&D Internships

High school students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) can benefit from the MITRE Early Summer High School R&D Internships. The government funds these internships, requiring 40 hours per week.

Students work on artificial intelligence, biotechnology, health sciences, and telecommunications projects. They happen in person at MITRE’s facilities in McLean, Virginia, giving students a real experience in a professional research and development (R&D) environment.

Texas Tech Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

The Texas Tech Anson L. Clark Scholars Program caters to high school students interested in various fields, from Accounting to Theatre Arts. This intensive seven-week program, highly competitive with just 12 exceptional high school juniors or seniors chosen globally, offers hands-on, faculty-supervised research. 

Upon completing a project report, participants receive a tax-free stipend, making this program an educational and rewarding journey.

Plant Genome Research REU

If you’re interested in plant science research and bioinformatics, the Plant Genome Research REU is a fantastic opportunity. This internship, spanning seven weeks from June 27 to August 11, is a collaboration between Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI), Cornell University, and the USDA. It provides a platform for both undergraduate and high school students to gain research experience.

The focus is on advancing missions related to food security, environmental sustainability in agriculture, and making basic discoveries that enhance human life. Participants receive a competitive stipend paid biweekly throughout the internship.

Museum of Fine Arts Boston Teen Arts Council

If you’re a high schooler in the Boston area with a passion for the arts, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston Teen Arts Council offers a 12-month program. This initiative allows students to learn about museum professionals, develop leadership skills, and earn a respectable hourly wage.

Participants assist museum staff, engage in various art classes and workshops, and organize teen-focused events. The program not only provides valuable insights into arts leadership but also promotes a deep appreciation for the arts.

GeoSciences Bridge Program

The GeoSciences Bridge Program is an excellent chance for recent high school graduates interested in marine sciences. This six-week paid internship, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, happens the summer before the first year of college. 

It covers marine geology, physical oceanography, atmospheric science, marine biology, and marine chemistry.

Participants receive a $500 weekly stipend and are reimbursed for all travel expenses. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore program allows students to live and learn alongside their peers, promoting a collaborative and engaging learning environment.

Adler Planetarium Summer High School Internship

The Adler Planetarium Summer High School Internship is a seven-week paid opportunity for Chicago high school students. It lets them dive into STEAM fields: science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. 

Paid internships for High school students 2024 are a chance for personal growth and hands-on scientific experimentation. It connects students with peers from across the city. They take on different roles in the museum and participate in research and engineering projects. Overall, it’s an immersive and valuable experience for these students.

Expanding Horizons Internship

The Expanding Horizons Internship, started by the Constitutional Rights Foundation, helps first-generation, college-bound high school students in Los Angeles County. This four-month program has interactive seminars in spring and a paid summer internship. 

The internship can be at a law firm, corporation, government agency, or non-profit. The aim is to help students develop skills and grow personally. This prepares them for higher education, career, and civic life.

Asian Art Museum Art Speak Internship

The Asian Art Museum Art Speak Internship is an exclusive opportunity for high school students from the Bay Area in grades 10-12. Over ten months, participants explore the intersection of art, activism, and culture.

They experience Asian art and cultural traditions, learning from local artists and arts organizations. Additionally, students conduct interviews with museum staff and get hands-on experience to explore potential careers in the arts. 

From August to May, this ten-month program enables students to facilitate virtual arts activities and build leadership skills.

Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)

The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) offers an eight-week internship with research opportunities for high school students in science and engineering. Sponsored by the Department of Navy (DoN), this program provides a bi-weekly stipend and allows students to engage in diverse research projects. 

Annually, three hundred high school students passionate about pursuing careers in science and engineering participate in 35 DoN laboratories. The program is a valuable platform for hands-on learning and exploration in these fields.

Washington Performing Arts Paid internship for High School Students 2024

For students with an interest or background in the performing arts, the Washington Performing Arts Internship offers a 12-week opportunity. This internship helps participants build professional skills and understand arts management. 

Interns receive a small stipend for their time, working about 15 hours over 12 weeks, and are invited to attend many Washington Performing Arts performances for free.

Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program

The AFRL Scholars Program offers stipend-paid opportunities for upper-level and undergraduate and graduate high school students. This STEM-focused program provides students the chance to gain hands-on experience working with cutting-edge research and technology under the supervision of AFRL scientists and engineers. 

Available at various locations across the U.S., this program is an excellent way for students to explore their interests in science and technology.

Richard Louie Memorial Internship for High School Students

The Richard Louie Memorial Internship for High School Students provides an opportunity to work in the Smithsonian’s museums of Asian art, specifically the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Interns undertake a specific independent project within a departmental area of interest. 


To be eligible, students must be over 16 years old and enrolled in high school. Preferably, they should be fluent in an Asian language or have demonstrated an interest in Asian art and culture. Upon completing 200 internship hours, students are awarded a stipend.

Met High School Internship Program

Many programs like The Met High School Internship Program are fantastic paid internships for high school students nyc for rising juniors and seniors in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. 

This seven-week program allows students to observe, assist, and be mentored by a Met staff member, connecting them to the arts and creative professionals. 

Students are placed in a department according to their interests and experience. They receive a stipend in line with New York State minimum wage laws, with the internship spanning 10-20 hours a week.

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) Summer Internship Program

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) Summer Internship Program seeks to offer students meaningful on-the-job training and real-world leadership experience in STEM fields. Eligibility requires rising first-year college students to commit to 224 work hours over eight weeks. 

The internship is a paid experience with a weekly time commitment of 28 hours. Selected students work closely with a mentor, conducting research in one of nine areas, including data analysis, information technology, coding, and robotics.

University of Rochester Laboratory of Laser Energetics (LLE) Summer High School Research Program

Highly motivated high schoolers annually experience scientific research through the University of Rochester Laboratory of Laser Energetics (LLE) Summer High School Research Program. 

Paid internships for High school students assigns accepted students to a research project, and a staff scientist at the LLE supervises them. Students receive payment for their participation with a commitment of 40 hours per week.

Indiana University Cancer Center Summer Research Program

The Indiana University Cancer Center Summer Research Program offers exposure to biomedicine and behavioral science to students from underrepresented populations. 

This eight-week internship allows participants to undertake projects with a mentor, such as laboratory-based research, computer-based database research, or clinical research. 

Students will learn from faculty, fellow students, and researchers, gaining experience and knowledge in biomedicine and behavioral science. The internship is 40 hours a week, and students receive a paid stipend for their work.

Final Words

These 23 paid internships for High school students open doors to valuable experiences and opportunities. Whether you’re into art, science, technology, or performing arts, there’s something for everyone. Each internship combines education, hands-on experience, and networking.

So, don’t miss the chance to explore, learn, and grow through these exciting internship opportunities!

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