15 Internships for High School Students in Bellevue
Looking for a way to gain experience before graduating from high school? Internships can be a great step for students who want to build their resumes, explore career paths, and strengthen college or job applications. Whether you're interested in science, tech, business, or public service, internships allow you to develop skills and understand how your interests play out in a professional setting. For students in Bellevue, Washington, there are a variety of programs–both in-person and virtual–that offer meaningful exposure to different industries. From research labs to local government offices to tech startups, there’s something for nearly every interest area!
In this blog, we’ve curated a list of 15 internships for high school students in Bellevue to help you get started.
1. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Stipend: Offered upon completion
Dates: March 31
Application deadline: June 23–August 15
Eligibility: Open to high school students entering their senior year or final term after the summer with a strong science background.
If you're curious about biomedical research, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center’s Summer High School Internship Program is a solid option. This eight-week paid internship is designed for students from underrepresented backgrounds and begins with two weeks of foundational lab training, where you’ll learn techniques like PCR, gel electrophoresis, tissue culture, and DNA isolation in a controlled setting. For the remaining six weeks, you’ll be paired with a mentor in a Fred Hutch lab, participating in research tasks such as preparing culture plates, attending lab meetings, and observing experiments. You’ll also join group activities on topics like research ethics, health disparities, biostatistics, and scientific presentation skills. Weekly professional development workshops include discussions on college admissions, science careers, and data visualization, and the internship for high school students in Bellevue wraps up with a final presentation summarizing your lab experience.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type (financial aid available)
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on 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 a remote program where high school students are placed with startups for approximately eight weeks. These startups span fields including artificial intelligence, health technology, marketing, journalism, and consulting. As an intern, you’ll take on tasks under the guidance of both a startup manager and a dedicated Ladder Coach, working on projects that contribute directly to company goals. Many participating startups are in growth stages, often having secured over a million dollars in funding. You’ll also showcase your work to company leadership, gaining both project experience and presentation skills in the process.
3. Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Redmond, WA
Cost: Free, stipend amount is unspecified
Dates: July 7–August 1
Application deadline: Applications open in February and are reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to rising first-year students of a bachelor’s degree program (graduating high school seniors) who live around Redmond, WA, and have completed pre-calculus or an equivalent course by the start of the program.
The Microsoft Discovery Program is a four-week internship for high school students in Bellevue who are curious about technology careers but may not have prior technical experience. You will be placed on a small team, called a pod, and assigned to a specific product group where you’ll work on a project centered on customer needs, product design, and the early stages of tech development. Through this process, you’ll explore areas such as software engineering, product management, and user experience (UX) design. Your team will analyze problems, identify user pain points, and develop solutions through collaboration and mentorship from Microsoft professionals. In addition to the main project, you’ll also participate in sessions that highlight different Microsoft technologies and company values, including diversity, inclusion, and customer focus.
4. Seattle City Light
Location: Seattle, WA
Cost: Free, stipend is awarded
Dates: Mid-June/early July to end of August
Application deadline: Rolling (Internship opportunities are posted in early April each year)
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 16 with a minimum GPA of 2 who are U.S. citizens or have a legal work permit
Seattle City Light’s high school internship is an eight-week paid summer program that introduces you to the inner workings of a public utility. As an intern, you will support administrative tasks and contribute to projects that highlight how electricity is produced and distributed across the city. You’ll take part in site visits, meet with utility leaders, and attend workshops focused on career development and workplace skills. The program also includes discussions on equity and social justice, helping you understand how these values shape public service. Throughout the internship, you’ll be guided by mentors and staff, and by the end, you’ll deliver a presentation summarizing your experiences.
5. Clean Water Ambassadors Internship
Location: Downtown Seattle, WA
Cost: Free, stipend is provided
Dates: July 7–August 7
Application deadline: April 1–21
Eligibility: high school youth at least 16 years old by program start date
The Clean Water Ambassadors Internship is a paid summer program where interns explore environmental issues related to clean water and gain exposure to careers in sustainability and public service. Over the course of the internship, students take part in field trips, workshops, and community events that focus on water systems, environmental justice, and regional challenges related to clean water management. You will also build communication skills by helping lead educational activities for younger students and by presenting your learning at the end of the program. The program is a collaboration between King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division and organizations like Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, IslandWood, and Nature Vision, giving you perspective on environmental education and advocacy.
6. Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship & Internship
Location: Amazon headquarters, Seattle, WA
Cost: Free; students can receive scholarships of up to $10,000 per year
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer (exact dates unspecified)
Application deadline: Applications typically close mid-December
Eligibility: High school seniors who plan to major in computer science or related fields, should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3/4.0, U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or authorized to work in the U.S., and demonstrate financial need are eligible to apply
The Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship and Internship program supports high school seniors planning to pursue a degree in computer science or engineering. If selected, you could receive up to $40,000 in scholarship funding over four years, based on your financial need, along with a guaranteed paid internship at Amazon following your first year of college. During the internship, you’ll join a technical team to work on projects that may involve Amazon Web Services, Alexa, or core retail systems. You can contribute code that ships to production! You’ll also receive mentorship from Amazon engineers and gain experience with industry tools and workflows.
7. American Psychological Association (APA) – Remote Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: No cost
Dates: Internships are offered all year round
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all high school students eligible to work in the U.S. (as verified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s eVerify service) and residing in one of the states where APA is already registered as an employer.
The American Psychological Association’s Remote Internship Program gives you the chance to explore applications of psychology while working from home. You are placed in one of APA’s departments–such as research, education, communications, or policy–where you get to assist with projects like drafting briefs, analyzing behavioral data, developing educational content, or supporting organizational initiatives tied to APA’s mission. You'll apply psychological concepts in a professional setting while being guided by a dedicated supervisor. Depending on your placement, your daily tasks may range from writing and editing to helping with digital resources or policy-related work. You also have optional access to virtual workshops, peer discussions, and networking sessions that provide broader insight into psychology-focused careers.
8. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free; virtual interns are provided a $500 stipend
Dates: 5 weeks (June to August)
Application deadline: December 1–March 1
Eligibility: Open to U.S. high school juniors and seniors
JHIBS engages high school juniors and seniors in a five-week summer experience focused on neuroscience and research. As an intern, you’ll participate in sessions on brain science topics, receive mentorship from professionals in the field, and participate in workshops that introduce basic lab techniques and experimental design. The program also includes professional development training, helping you build skills relevant to both academic and research careers in STEM. Your participation culminates in the completion of a mentored research project, with opportunities to present your findings in an academic setting. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion.
9. CLA High School Intern - Summer 2025
Location: CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) Bellevue office
Stipend: $18–$20/hour
Dates: June 16–July 17
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors or seniors who are 16 years of age or older at the start of the internship
High school interns at CLA’s Bellevue office spend four weeks getting exposure to the accounting and professional services field. You’ll dive into business scenarios through case studies, assist with internal projects, and observe how teams serve clients across different industries. Your experience will include job shadowing professionals at various levels, attending meetings, and participating in community impact events tied to CLA’s work. In addition to contributing to documentation and operational tasks, you’ll learn how accounting supports broader organizational goals and decision-making. The internship also emphasizes CLA’s core values–curiosity, collaboration, transparency, inclusion, and reliability–through day-to-day activities and mentorship.
10. CS@Mines Virtual Computing Internship
Location: Remote and in-person options available
Cost: $100 (financial aid available)
Dates: 6 weeks during summer (exact dates unspecified)
Application deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Open to community college students with a strong interest in learning computer science
The CS@Mines Virtual Computing Internship allows you to spend six weeks working remotely on computing projects, including those on social impact, as part of the "Computing for the Good" (C4G) track. As a high school intern, you’ll be placed on a small team with peers and mentored by a current Mines undergraduate student while tackling problems in areas like data science, app development, or socially relevant algorithms. You’ll gain experience with coding, collaboration, and project planning, even if you’re still new to computer science. You’ll also participate in research discussions, technical development, and possibly work on prototypes or tools aimed at solving challenges.
11. Veritas AI Internship
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type (financial aid available)
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on cohort
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program.
The Veritas AI Internship is an eight-week remote program that pairs students with venture-backed startups to contribute to applied projects in artificial intelligence and machine learning. This experience is intended for students with prior knowledge in AI/ML and focuses on learning within a professional startup environment. Throughout the program, you'll collaborate with industry experts and mentors affiliated with organizations like Google, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and top academic institutions. You’ll engage with startup teams, gaining insight into product development, technical implementation, and the business side of innovation. At the end of the program, you'll receive a completion letter from your host organization and develop connections that can support future academic or career goals.
12. The Port of Seattle Internship Program
Location: Seattle, WA
Cost: Free, stipend is provided
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer, 10 weeks in the winter
Application deadline: Applications open in May every year
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 16-18 who are authorized to work in the U.S.
If you’re a Bellevue student looking to explore public sector careers, the Port of Seattle Internship Program is a paid opportunity to gain experience across areas like aviation, maritime operations, community engagement, and environmental sustainability. Over the summer, you’ll work on meaningful projects, and not just clerical tasks, that contribute to the Port’s daily operations and long-term goals. You'll also build skills in project management, communication, public speaking, and leadership, while learning about diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The internship includes mentorship, resume-building workshops, and tours of Port facilities like the Seattle waterfront and SEA Airport, giving you a close-up view of how a large public agency functions. You are introduced to corporate tools and standards, including the Port’s Code of Conduct and internal communication systems.
13. CodeDay Labs – Open-Source Software Internship
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Dates: June 20–August 25
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all high school students (varies by track)
CodeDay Labs’ Open-Source Software Internship pairs you with an industry mentor and a small team of students to build or contribute to software projects over the summer. You’ll work on tools and technologies like setting up a GraphQL backend in TypeScript or exploring Kubernetes while developing coding and collaboration skills. The program includes daily tech talks, career panels, and support sessions to help you understand how engineers solve problems, navigate technical interviews, and build products. Depending on your experience, you’ll be placed in one of several tracks, including an option for high school students with hackathon experience or prior independent projects.
14. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) by the Department of Navy
Location: Varies based on lab locations. There are 2 locations in Washington, Keyport, and Bremerton, about an hour from Bellevue.
Stipend: $4,000 (new participants) | $4,500 (returning participants)
Dates: June–August (8 weeks)
Application deadline: Applications open in August and close on November 1 every year
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 10-12 who are 16 years old by the start of the program and are U.S. citizens
For those looking for a stint with a federal agency, SEAP gives high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors the chance to spend eight weeks working in a Department of the Navy research lab. If selected, you’ll be assigned to a naval facility where you’ll assist with scientific or engineering projects under the guidance of researchers. Depending on your placement, your work could involve areas like materials science, computer modeling, robotics, or environmental engineering, giving you a view of defense research. You’ll contribute to tasks, learn technical skills, and gain field exposure to lab environments.
15. ISB’s High School Summer Internship
Location: Seattle, WA
Cost: Free; stipend of $5,000 is awarded in 3 splits
Dates: June 30–August 22 (tentative)
Application deadline: March 14
Eligibility: U.S. residents currently enrolled in 11th grade
ISB’s High School Summer Internship is a paid, 8-week research program aimed at current 11th graders interested in studying systems biology in a lab environment. You’ll work full-time alongside scientists on projects related to computational biology, microbial evolution, bioengineering, systems medicine, or other ongoing research at the Institute for Systems Biology. You’ll get to apply and build skills in coding, data analysis, scientific reasoning, and experimental design while also participating in professional development activities such as interviewing ISB staff, contributing to curriculum development, and creating a website to document your project.