11 Business Internships for High School Students in Alabama
An internship gives high school students a chance to explore career paths before declaring a college major. By interning, you can develop soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork, and show colleges that you’re serious about your interest in business. It's also a good way to connect with professionals who can guide your future decisions and even give you a letter of recommendation for your college applications.
What business internships are available for high school students in Alabama?
Alabama has many strong internship options for high schoolers interested in business. The Retirement Systems of Alabama runs a summer internship program that allows you to contribute to clerical and administrative work in an office setting. Companies like Alabama Power and Mercedes-Benz U.S. International support youth workforce programs and apprenticeships that show you how corporate operations and management work. On the academic side, the University of Alabama and Auburn University offer summer institutes that work like internships, covering areas like finance, marketing, and leadership.
Here are 11 business internships for high school students in Alabama!
1. QuantHub Alabama Data Scholars
Location: Alabama, USA
Stipend: $1,200
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students 16+ enrolled in any Alabama high school
The QuantHub Alabama Data Scholars program is an 8-week paid summer internship that helps you explore careers in data science, analytics, and technology while still in high school. Through the program, you will be matched with Alabama-based companies to work on data projects and learn how data is used to solve problems in business contexts. You also receive training in skills like data analysis, visualization, and basic programming, along with guidance on teamwork, communication, and career planning. The program gives you hands-on work experience, professional support, and exposure to high-demand fields, helping you build skills and confidence for future academic and career opportunities.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, winter, spring, and fall
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school undergraduate and gap year students who can work for 10–20 hours/week, for 8–12 weeks
The Ladder Internship program pairs high school students with global startups for an eight-week, remote business experience. You explore core topics like marketing strategy, competitive analysis, and finance while working on real-world deliverables. Daily activities include conducting market research, attending weekly team check-ins, and preparing a final presentation for company leadership. Uniquely, the program offers a dual-mentorship structure, providing every student with guidance from both a startup manager and a dedicated Ladder Coach. This hands-on environment helps you develop skills in data-driven decision-making, project management, and corporate communication, offering an advantage for college and career paths. Apply now!
3. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Birmingham, AL
Stipend: Paid internship; all Summit expenses also covered
Dates: 8 weeks in summer
Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors; legally authorized to work in the U.S.; permanent resident of an eligible location; not previously selected for the program
The Bank of America Student Leaders program immerses high school students in the practical side of organizational management, bridging the gap between corporate responsibility and non-profit operations. The curriculum focuses on the intersection of the business, government, and civic sectors, teaching you how these distinct areas collaborate to drive economic and social change. Over eight weeks, you work as paid interns at a local non-profit, where they manage projects, analyze community needs, and execute marketing or operational strategies. A unique feature is the leadership summit in Washington, D.C., which facilitates networking with congressional leaders and corporate executives.
4. Birmingham Promise Internship Program
Location: Birmingham, AL
Stipend: $15/hour
Dates: Fall & spring semesters (part-time during senior year school week)
Application Deadline: Typically early April
Eligibility: High school seniors in Birmingham City Schools; 2.0+ GPA
The Birmingham Promise internship program offers you an opportunity to explore the business world through hands-on, paid work experience with local companies. In business-focused placements, you may help with tasks such as marketing and social media planning, customer service, basic accounting, data entry, and office operations. You may support project planning, assist with sales research, help organize events, and learn how businesses manage finances, teams, and daily workflows. These activities help you understand how real businesses operate while building practical skills in communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and professionalism.
5. Jones Valley Teaching Farm High School Internship
Location: Birmingham, AL
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not specified
Dates: Academic year or summer
Application Deadline: Varies by school site; typically early spring for summer/fall
Eligibility: Birmingham City Schools juniors and seniors
The Jones Valley Teaching Farm High School Internship operates as a hands-on micro-enterprise, teaching students the business mechanics of the food system. You explore topics such as sustainable supply chain management, inventory control, and direct-to-consumer marketing strategies within an active urban farm setting. Daily activities include harvesting produce for sale, managing financial transactions at the student-run market stand, and facilitating educational workshops for younger peers. A unique feature of the program is its "seed-to-sale" model, where you are fully responsible for the farm’s revenue generation and customer service rather than just agricultural tasks. Through this entrepreneurial immersion, you master essential skills in operations, public speaking, and small business management.
6. Alabama Power Internship Program
Location: Selma, Alabama
Stipend: $12/hour
Dates: One-semester duration (fall or spring)
Application Deadline: Varies by semester; typically August for fall, December for spring
Eligibility: High school seniors attending Selma High School
The Alabama Power Internship Program is a paid, part-time internship for high school seniors at Selma High School that gives you real-world work experience while building important career skills. During the program, you will work at the Edmundite Missions Center, where you learn workplace skills like communication, teamwork, leadership, time management, and problem-solving. You also gain experience in basic business and marketing tasks, preparing you for future jobs or further education. The internship pays a stipend, provides guidance and support from mentors, and helps you build confidence, professional skills, and a strong foundation for your career.
7. YES 251 (Youth Empowered for Success)
Location: Various City of Mobile departments and local business partner sites in Mobile
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Dates: June – July
Application Deadline: Typically, early April
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 16 and 24
The YES 251 (Youth Empowered for Success) program is a paid youth workforce experience offered by the City of Mobile that helps you gain real work experience and build career skills. Through the program, you are placed in paid internships with city departments, local businesses, and partner organizations where you work on real tasks and learn how professional workplaces operate. Depending on your placement, you might help with administrative work, customer service, communications, project support, community outreach, or other business-related duties. The program helps you develop job readiness skills like teamwork, time management, communication, and problem-solving while earning money and building your resume.
8. Shelby County (AL) CTEC Co-Op & Business Program
Location: Columbiana, AL (Center) / Partner business sites countywide
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Dates: Academic year + summer
Application Deadline: Typically February/March
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12; enrolled in Shelby County Schools
The CTEC Business program functions as a junior corporate training ground, shifting students from theoretical coursework to active employment. This program allows you to work paid shifts at local partner companies, such as insurance agencies, real estate firms, and retail management offices. The curriculum covers essential commercial pillars, including business law, accounting principles, and digital marketing strategy. You manage real financial transactions and inventory for school-based operations before advancing to external placements. Through this combination of classroom simulation and real-world employment, students master the hard skills of financial literacy and the soft skills of workplace adaptability.
9. Sidewalk Film Festival Youth Board
Location: Birmingham, AL
Stipend: None
Dates: Academic year (August – May) + summer festival duties
Application Deadline: June 30
Eligibility: High school students in the Birmingham metro area
While centered on cinema, this program functions as a live case study in media management and product curation. It also treats the film festival as an operation that requires strict quality control and market analysis. You serve as a programmer, where you are responsible for evaluating hundreds of film submissions to select the most viable products for the teen lineup. Daily activities include screening competitive entries, managing strict production deadlines for the group film project, and executing logistics during the festival weekend. You have a high level of autonomy; the board’s curatorial decisions are final and directly shape the public product offered to festival attendees.
10. NASA OSTEM High School Internships
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Paid, based on academic level and internship duration
Dates: Spring (16 weeks, mid-January to early May) | Summer (10 weeks, late May/early June to August) | Fall (16 weeks, late August/early September to mid-December)
Application Deadline: Spring: September 12; Summer: February 27; Fall: May 22
Eligibility: U.S. high school students who are 16 or older, enrolled full-time as a student, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships for high school students across NASA centers nationwide. You can pursue business-focused internships in areas such as finance, budgeting, procurement, project management, accounting, IT management, and program analysis. You work alongside NASA professionals on real projects, gaining hands-on experience while learning industry-standard workplace software and analytical tools. Each internship includes structured mentorship, professional development workshops, and exposure to large-scale organizational systems. For students interested in business, these internships show you how financial, operational, and administrative teams support scientific innovation, offering a unique perspective on business roles within one of the world’s most complex organizations.
11. EnergyMag Virtual Internship
Location: Virtual
Stipend: None
Dates: Flexible; quarter-time internships are available all year round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a GPA above 3.25
The EnergyMag Virtual Internship allows you to research and analyze companies, markets, and technologies in the renewable energy sector while working fully online. It helps you build strong business and research skills, including market analysis, strategic thinking, and professional writing. You will work independently with guidance from a mentor and learn how to turn research into clear, well-structured reports. After editing, your completed work is published on the EnergyMag website with your name credited, which helps you build a real writing portfolio. Through this experience, you will gain exposure to industry professionals and develop resume-ready skills that can support future internships and careers in business and energy.