13 Business Internships for High School Students in Idaho

High school internships are a great way apply what you've learned in the classroom in a professional setting. Doing an internship can help you develop new skills and build a resume that stands out to colleges and employers. For students interested in business, internships offer an early look at how companies operate, make decisions, and grow.

What business internships are available for high school students in Idaho?

Idaho has a range of internship options for high schoolers, from local businesses and startups to nonprofits, government agencies, and university-connected programs. You can work in areas like marketing, operations, finance, data entry, and project management, especially in growing areas like the Treasure Valley. These programs give you a chance to explore your interests within business and build transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.  

We picked out 13 business internships for high school students in Idaho that focus on skill development and mentorship, with in-person and online options.

1. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) High School Internships

Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho (Primary campus)
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size varies annually
Dates: 6–8 weeks in summer (typically mid-June to August)
Application Deadline: Generally, late February
Eligibility: Rising junior, senior, or recent high school graduate; 16+ by program start; U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident; minimum 3.0 GPA

As a high school business intern at INL, you’ll step directly into the operations that keep this massive research facility running. This program introduces you to essential topics like finance, supply chain logistics, and corporate communications in a high-stakes environment. You will analyze operational data, draft internal reports, and support project managers with daily logistics. It’s a unique opportunity to experience life inside a secure Department of Energy lab before you even graduate. You’ll walk away with sharpened professional communication skills and a clear understanding of how large organizations function.

2. Ladder Internship Program 

Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world

Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend

Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)

Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks

Through the Ladder Internship Program, you are placed in an eight-week remote internship with a startup or growing company. Your work focuses on real business needs, which may include research, operations support, consulting tasks, or data analysis. You collaborate directly with company teams while receiving ongoing guidance from a dedicated Ladder Coach. One-on-one coaching sessions help you improve professional communication, time management, and workplace expectations. The experience concludes with a final presentation where you share your project outcomes with the host company. Here is the application form.

3. Real World Immersion for Student Excellence (RISE) Program

Location: Treasure Valley
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very competitive; ~ 10 students
Dates: One month in the Summer (May – June)
Application Deadline: Early April
Eligibility: Idaho high school students 

The RISE Program gives you hands-on exposure to Idaho-based companies while exploring potential education and career pathways. Over the course of the program, you will rotate through multiple Treasure Valley organizations such as J.R. Simplot, Idaho Power, Micron, and Clearwater Analytics, spending time at each site. You observe professionals at work, participate in job-shadowing, and hear directly from executive leaders about how businesses operate. The experience also includes resume workshops, facility tours, career fairs, and group activities focused on pitching a business idea. You work alongside peers from across Idaho, building connections and professional awareness.

4. Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) High School Student Program

Location: On-site at select Idaho high schools (e.g., Mountain View, Thunder Ridge, Owyhee)
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Acceptance varies by school; typically, 5–10 students per school
Dates: Academic school year (August – May)
Application Deadline: Typically, spring for the following school year
Eligibility: Students who attend the specific high school hosting the branch; 16+

Imagine walking into your high school but clocking into a professional job at a fully functioning credit union branch right on campus. In this program, you serve as a Member Service Specialist, mastering essential business topics like transaction compliance, financial security, and customer relations. Your daily routine involves processing cash deposits, opening new accounts for classmates, and balancing your cash drawer with precision at the end of a shift. Your customers become your peers, creating an authentic business environment within your school walls. By the end, you walk away with concrete skills in cash handling, professional communication, and operational accuracy.

5. Idaho Youth Ranch "YouthWorks!" Program

Location: Treasure Valley (Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell) & North Idaho (Coeur d'Alene area)
Stipend: $720
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; small groups per store
Dates: 8-week sessions year–round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students aged 14–24; must have an ID (School ID/State ID) and a Social Security Card

YouthWorks! is a structured workforce development program that teaches you the fundamentals of retail business. You will cover essential topics like inventory logistics, customer service standards, and workplace ethics. Your daily routine involves evaluating donation quality, pricing merchandise for resale, and operating the point-of-sale system. The program’s unique value lies in its mentorship model, where a dedicated job coach guides your professional growth rather than just managing tasks. You will leave with concrete skills in cash handling, time management, and professional communication that make you immediately employable.

6. Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area Student Operations

Location: Boise, Idaho (Mountain Campus & Downtown Sales Office)
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive; large cohorts
Dates: Winter: Late November – Mid-April; Summer: June – August
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: High school students 16+ who have reliable transportation

At Bogus Basin. You will manage the daily logistics of a high-volume non-profit business. You will explore operational topics like inventory control, transaction management, and frontline customer service strategies. You may operate point-of-sale systems for ticketing, coordinate the efficient flow of equipment rentals, or de-escalate guest service issues. The unique value of this experience is the level of autonomy you receive, allowing you to directly impact the revenue and reputation of a major regional attraction. By the end of the season, you will have developed professional communication, operational efficiency, and the ability to solve problems under pressure.

7. Roaring Springs Water Park Leadership Roles

Location: Meridian, Idaho
Stipend: Hourly wage paid, rate not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive; ~500+ seasonal staff
Dates: Summer (May – September)
Application Deadline: Early March
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18

At Roaring Springs, you will tackle core management topics like personnel supervision, safety compliance standards, and operational efficiency. Your daily activities will involve training new hires, coordinating shift rotations for optimal coverage, and de-escalating customer complaints to protect the park's brand. The program entrusts authority; you are not just shadowing a supervisor, you are often managing your own peers in real-time. This experience forces you to master conflict resolution, decisive problem-solving, and team motivation, giving you a management resume before you even finish high school.

8. SparkCampus Internship Program

Location: Online
Stipend: Paid (commission-based)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; over 150+ interns across various school chapters
Dates: July 6 – August 10
Application Deadline: July 4
Eligibility: All high school students 

The SparkCampus Internship is a virtual entrepreneurship program designed for high school students to gain hands-on experience in the apparel and startup industries. In this program, you collaborate with SparkPrintz, a student-founded custom merchandise startup. The program combines weekly workshops on sales, marketing, and business operations with project work. You use what you learn to support real company initiatives related to growth, client engagement, and operations. Guest speakers regularly join sessions to discuss entrepreneurship and small business management. Interns work in teams and maintain consistent communication with mentors to review progress.

9. Two Birds (One Stone) Summer Internship

Location: One Stone Campus (Downtown Boise) & remote
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; typically 5-15 students per summer cohort
Dates: Summer session (typically June – August)
Application Deadline: Late spring
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students

At Two Birds, you step into the role of a creative professional at a functioning design agency. You will explore business-critical topics like brand strategy, human-centered design, and client relationship management. Your daily work involves consulting with paying clients, pitching creative campaigns to stakeholders, and iterating on digital assets based on feedback. You possess full creative autonomy, delivering actual market-ready products for local companies instead of doing busy work. You will develop mastery of industry-standard design tools and the professional confidence to manage complex client expectations.

10. Micron Technology Job Shadow Program

Location: Micron Headquarters, Boise, Idaho
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; typically small groups paired with mentors
Dates: One-day sessions (typically offered in spring/fall)
Application Deadline: Rolling/seasonal
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12

At Micron, you get a backstage pass to how a Fortune 500 company actually operates on a global scale. This job shadow allows you to explore the business side of tech, covering critical topics like supply chain logistics, project management, and corporate strategy. You will sit in on team meetings, observe problem-solving, and interview professionals about their daily workflow and career paths. You will witness how massive business decisions drive engineering innovation right here in Boise. You will leave with a clearer picture of corporate structure and the professional networking skills needed to navigate a large organization.

11. Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County Junior Staff Program

Location: Various Club Sites (Garden City, Meridian, Kuna, Boise)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size varies by club needs
Dates: Year–round (after school and summer sessions)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18 who are Club Members

As a Junior Staff member, you are an apprentice learning the daily business of running a busy non-profit center. This program covers essential workforce topics like professional reliability, program logistics, and member engagement strategies. On your shifts, you will assist directors with activity planning, manage equipment inventory, and supervise younger members to ensure safety and participation. The program features a career pipeline; this role is specifically designed to train you for a future paid position within the organization. You will develop strong organizational habits, leadership confidence, and the workplace etiquette needed to succeed in any professional environment.

12. Discovery Center of Idaho Teen Volunteer/Intern Program

Location: Discovery Center of Idaho, Boise, ID
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive; cohort size varies
Dates: Year–round

Application Deadline: Rolling basis

Eligibility: High school students aged 14+ 

This program provides a direct introduction to the business of customer experience and non-profit operations. You will explore critical topics like visitor engagement, public communication strategies, and floor management logistics. During your shifts, you will demonstrate exhibits to crowds, manage visitor flow during peak hours, and troubleshoot operational issues with the exhibits. The program features a high volume of public interaction, which forces you to constantly adapt your communication style for children, adults, and donors alike. You will finish the program with sharpened public speaking skills, professional adaptability, and the ability to represent an organization's brand effectively.

13. VenturEd High School Fellowship

Location: Online
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: 6–8 weeks (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Rolling acceptance
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18

VenturEd connects you with an early-stage startup through a six-to-eight-week remote fellowship experience. Based on your interests and skills, your work may focus on marketing, operations, product design, or data analysis. You receive mentorship from entrepreneurs and professionals who provide regular feedback on your contributions. Weekly sessions supplement your internship work by addressing workplace readiness and startup culture. The program is structured to support students as they take on professional responsibilities. VenturEd places particular emphasis on expanding access for students from underrepresented backgrounds in business and technology.