12 Business Internships for High School Students in Pennsylvania
TL;DR
This article brings together business internships and volunteer opportunities for high school students in Pennsylvania. Experiences represented include market analysis, administrative support, retail operations, and customer service. The list spans company, university, museum, government, and school-based settings. Ladder Internships offers remote startup placements where students work on real projects with a company manager and receive additional coaching.
How does a business know what customers need and what they will pay? The U.S. Small Business Administration identifies demand and pricing as key market research questions. Practical business experience can help students connect those questions to everyday organizational decisions. Working with products, customers, or office processes offers a concrete way to explore that interest.
We selected these options for high school eligibility, Pennsylvania access, and exposure to business functions through internships or volunteering.
If you’re still finding your starting point, our guide to getting a business internship in high school can help you build a search plan. To explore other fields too, take a look at these internships for high school students in Pennsylvania.
Why should you do a business internship?
A business internship can show you how workplace decisions connect to customers, resources, and organizational goals. Practical experience lets you test your interests while taking responsibility for meaningful work. To explore startup projects with manager guidance, you can apply to Ladder Internships.
What skills can you pick up in business internships?
Depending on your role, you may strengthen professional communication, task management, customer service, or financial literacy. These skills help you explain ideas clearly, organize work, and understand the people and numbers behind business decisions. Practice can also make classroom concepts easier to recognize in everyday organizational work.
How do you choose the right option?
Consider several factors before applying, including your grade level, location, academic background, schedule, and budget. Also check requirements related to citizenship, residency, coursework, or GPA, as these can vary significantly!
|
Program type |
Top programs |
Cost / Stipend |
Best For |
|
Virtual Programs |
Cost |
Students seeking remote startup experience with business project work and supervisor guidance |
|
|
Startup and Corporate Internships |
Coded by – Tech & Innovation Internship, SMART Start Internship Program |
Cost |
Students curious about entrepreneurship or specialized business functions within an established company |
|
Arts and University Internships |
Penn Museum / Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance – Bloomberg Arts Internship at the Penn Museum (host placement), WorkReady Summer Internship Program |
Cost |
Students interested in cultural organizations, museum marketing, or administrative careers in higher education |
|
Community Volunteer Programs |
Tower Health – Summer Junior Volunteer Program, Phoenixville Hospital, Care & Share Thrift Shops (nonprofit) – Care & Share Thrift Shoppes Volunteer Program, Kamin Science Center (Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh) – Kamin Science Center Teen Volunteer Program |
Cost |
Students drawn to nonprofit retail, healthcare service, or visitor experience through community volunteering |
|
School and Public-Service Placements |
Philadelphia Youth Network – PYNtern Program, City Charter High School – Mentored Internship Program, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania High School Internship Program, Wilson High School Internship Program |
Cost |
Students seeking structured career exploration, school-integrated workplace experience, or a path into public service |
1. Coded by – Tech & Innovation Internship
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stipend: $500 weekly stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~24 interns
Dates: June 22 – August 14; college cohort (includes current 12th graders): June 8 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Current 10th–11th graders (high school cohort) or current 12th graders (college cohort); continuing studies in Fall; Philadelphia-area students
You work in a startup team as a product manager, web developer, or UI/UX designer to identify a problem, validate a solution, and build a minimum viable product (MVP). If business is your focus, the product manager role and the full startup process, from ideation to pitching at the end-of-summer showcase, can help you develop skills in idea validation, team coordination, and presenting a business concept. You also meet mentors and visit industry partner offices, which can help you understand how tech companies operate and grow your professional network.
Who is it best for: Students interested in entrepreneurship and startups who want hands-on experience turning an idea into a product while working alongside designers and developers.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 25%; around 100 students per cohort
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 5–10 hours/week for 8 weeks
Ladder Internships is a virtual internship program that connects you with startups and nonprofits for project-based work over a defined eight-week period. You are placed with a host organization and complete assigned tasks remotely during the eight-week internship. Work varies by placement and may include research, market analysis, strategy support, operations tasks, or content development aligned with the organization’s needs. The internship is conducted remotely and includes regular check-ins with a supervisor from the host company. A Ladder Coach provides additional oversight and guidance throughout the program timeline. Internships are offered across multiple fields, including business-related functions, depending on available host organizations. Apply now!
Who is it best for: Students who want to try real startup work remotely, especially those curious about AI, software, finance, health tech, sustainability, consulting, or media, and who would enjoy building a project with a company coach.
3. SMART Start Internship Program
Location: Canonsburg, PA
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; roughly 10–15 students
Dates: Academic year
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors in Pittsburgh/Washington or Dallas/Fort Worth areas with a GPA of 3.0; at least 16 years old
You work 10–20 hours per week during the school year and are paired with a mentor and supervisor who provide guidance and feedback throughout the internship. Business-focused departments include finance, gas marketing, information technology, supply chain, communications, and human resources. You complete assigned tasks and contribute to ongoing workplace activities while participating in internal events focused on career preparation and professional networking.
Who is it best for: Students interested in natural gas industry careers who prefer workplace learning with individual mentoring, once another intake is confirmed.
4. Penn Museum / Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance – Bloomberg Arts Internship at the Penn Museum (host placement)
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stipend: $20+ per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 100 interns citywide across 53 sites
Dates: June 19 – August 14
Application Deadline: Typically, late February
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors attending Philadelphia schools
You work on an in-depth paid project directly with Penn Museum departments such as Exhibits, Education, and Marketing. A placement involving the Marketing department can give you insight into how a major museum promotes its exhibitions and engages audiences. Alongside your project, you join citywide professional development, college-readiness, and public-speaking sessions and visit other Philadelphia cultural institutions, which can help you develop workplace communication and organizational skills that carry into business settings.
Who is it best for: Students curious about how cultural institutions run behind the scenes, including marketing, audience engagement, and exhibition work, who want paid, hands-on experience in a professional museum workplace.
5. Tower Health – Summer Junior Volunteer Program, Phoenixville Hospital
Location: Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-competitive (first-come, first-served; placement not guaranteed); cohort size not stated
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: April 20; first-come, first-served
Eligibility: At least 16 years old; regularly scheduled weekly shifts; annual flu immunization proof, confidentiality agreement, and re-education; criminal background and child abuse clearances for volunteers 18+
You'll work regularly scheduled weekly shifts in non-clinical roles such as greeting visitors, running interdepartmental errands, and assisting hospital departments. Possible placements include the lobby gift shop and the hospital's Phoenixville Thrift Shop in downtown Phoenixville, as well as units such as the Emergency Department, Maternity, Endoscopy, and the Surgery Center. The retail and visitor-facing work can help you develop customer service and communication skills while giving you a practical view of how a community hospital and its retail operations run.
Who is it best for: Students interested in the business and service side of healthcare who want hands-on experience with retail, visitor services, and day-to-day hospital operations.
6. Philadelphia Youth Network – PYNtern Program
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stipend: Up to $1,500 depending on the hours and milestones completed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 400 opportunities yearly
Dates: Fall/Winter: October–December; Winter/Spring: January–March; Summer: June–August; experiences last 6–8 weeks
Application Deadline: Summer: March 31; Fall/Winter: Not specified
Eligibility: Ages 14–18; primarily rising 9th–12th graders (Junior PYNtern: rising 9th–10th; Senior PYNtern: rising 11th–12th); program serves Philadelphia high school students; in-person professional development sessions and worksite participation across Philadelphia
As a Senior PYNtern, you complete roughly 100 hours of paid, hands-on worksite experience across Philadelphia, along with weekly sessions on professional communication, time and project management, workplace technology, and financial literacy. Junior PYNterns focus on classroom-based career exposure through industry tours, guest speakers, and workplace tools to help you build foundational business communication, planning, and money-management skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want paid, structured exposure to the world of work and are interested in exploring business, finance, or entrepreneurship careers while building professional and financial-literacy skills.
7. Care & Share Thrift Shops (nonprofit) – Care & Share Thrift Shoppes Volunteer Program
Location: Harleysville and Souderton, Pennsylvania
Stipend: Qualifying seniors may apply for a $500 scholarship toward education after high school; three scholarships are awarded annually, with one recipient per school
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-competitive; cohort size not stated
Dates: Year-round ongoing volunteering during shop hours; flexible commitment
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Ages 8 and older; ages 8–14 accompanied by an adult, one adult per two children; children require a parent/guardian-signed activity participation agreement
Depending on your assignment, you may price and test donated merchandise, refurbish furniture, sort and process donations, or assist customers on the retail sales floor of a volunteer-driven thrift operation. This hands-on retail work can help you build customer service, merchandising, and pricing skills while showing you how a nonprofit retail business runs day-to-day.
Who is it best for: Students who want hands-on exposure to retail operations, customer service, and nonprofit business while giving back to their community through flexible, ongoing volunteering.
8. Kamin Science Center (Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh) – Kamin Science Center Teen Volunteer Program
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: Summer Session, summer months; School-Year Session, throughout the school year
Application Deadline: Summer Session: March 1; School-Year Session: August 1
Eligibility: Ages 14–18; at least 14 by the application deadline; required orientation and background checks
You greet guests, take tickets, help at the concession stand, and give visitors information and recommendations on which films to watch, which gives you direct exposure to front-of-house operations and customer service at a major science museum. You can also volunteer in the exhibit galleries, demonstration theaters, Buhl Planetarium, animal habitats, BNY Fab Lab, or summer camps, with full training provided and no science background required.
Who is it best for: Students interested in customer service, guest experience, and how a public attraction operates day-to-day, who also enjoy engaging visitors with hands-on science.
If you live outside Pittsburgh or don’t want to commute every day, consider Ladder Internships, which pair you with startups to work on real projects in a fully virtual format.
9. City Charter High School – Mentored Internship Program
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-competitive; cohort size not stated
Dates: One trimester, about 13 weeks
Application Deadline: Students do not apply competitively for an internship cohort; participation is a graduation requirement, and the Internship Managers arrange a placement
Eligibility: City Charter High School students only. Every student must complete the internship, generally during junior or senior year. The experience requires 130+ internship hours and a grade of C or above for successful completion/graduation
You spend one trimester working off-site every afternoon at a Pittsburgh partner organization matched to your career field choice, completing tasks and projects as a non-paid "authentic employee" while keeping daily journal entries on your goals and accomplishments. You are paired one-on-one with an approved adult mentor from the host organization, who shares insights into the profession and helps you gain practical work experience for academic credit. Building on your earlier Career Readiness, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship classes, the placement can help you develop business-ready skills such as time management, workplace communication, professional conduct, and initiative.
Who is it best for: Students who want to test a potential business or professional career through supervised, real-world work alongside a mentor before choosing a college or career path.
10. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania High School Internship Program
Location: Several Commonwealth agencies across Pennsylvania
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies
Dates: July 1 – June 30
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Pennsylvania high school juniors or seniors ages 16 or above with a school-issued letter of recommendation
You complete tasks under agency staff supervision, contributing to departmental operations and supporting ongoing projects. The program follows a schedule aligned with school requirements and legal guidelines for work hours and responsibilities for minors. Work is conducted during the academic year, with hours and duration determined by agency needs and state regulations. The program provides exposure to organizational processes and professional workflows within government operations.
Who is it best for: Students interested in public service who want supervised workplace experience coordinated with their school over much of the academic year.
11. WorkReady Summer Internship Program
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 40 interns
Dates: July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: Early June
Eligibility: Rising sophomores through graduating seniors who reside in Philadelphia
You explore topics like office administration, financial literacy, customer service, project management, and basic technology integration within a large institution. You will assist staff with data entry, handle budget administration tasks, organize internal department events, and resolve everyday student inquiries. The program pairs your hands-on office work with weekly off-campus professional development seminars led by the Philadelphia Youth Network.
Who is it best for: Eligible students who want to explore university workplaces while combining department-specific experience with weekly professional development.
12. Wilson High School Internship Program
Location: Wilson High School, West Lawn, PA
Stipend: Paid and unpaid options available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; limited cohort sizes
Dates: Academic year
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Wilson High School students entering junior or senior year
The program covers essential corporate topics like marketing, finance, business administration, and workplace communication. During your placement, you will meet with a supervising teacher, deliver a semester presentation, and assist your host company with daily operations. The program acts as a capstone course tailored specifically to your career interests within Wilson's various academies.
Who is it best for: Wilson juniors and seniors who want to explore a career through a placement integrated into their school schedule and academic credit.
Can a business internship help with your college applications?
Business experience can give you concrete examples of responsibilities, questions, and observations to discuss in a college application. Reflecting on what you learned can help you explain an informed interest in business and how you applied classroom knowledge. Focus on your actual contributions and insights when describing the experience.
How do you apply for a business internship?
Read official application instructions for eligibility, deadlines, and the materials requested for each opportunity. Prepare examples that show your interest in business, such as a club budget, a school project, or customer-facing experience. Allow time to gather any required documents and complete the process, since application requirements and school coordination vary.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I work on creating a venture rather than only supporting an existing business?
Yes, one option centers on developing a startup idea into a minimum viable product, with roles spanning product management, design, and development. Other entries focus on contributing to established organizations, so the list includes both venture creation and workplace support.
2. Can I explore specialized business departments rather than a general office role?
Yes, the listed placements include corporate departments such as finance, supply chain, communications, and human resources, as well as museum marketing projects. Other entries describe broader administrative work, so your business exposure depends on the department and placement.
3. Are these all short summer experiences?
No, the entries range from summer experiences lasting roughly six to eight weeks to school-year internships and ongoing volunteering. One school-based placement lasts about 13 weeks, while other opportunities follow an academic-year schedule or offer flexible volunteering throughout the year.
4. Will I present my work, or keep a record of what I do?
Some options include presentations, while others emphasize written records of your work. Entries describe end-of-summer pitching, semester presentations, and daily journals tracking goals and accomplishments. For real project work with a company manager, Ladder Internships offers remote startup internships.