12 Business Internships for High School Students in California
TL;DR
These 12 internship programs give California high school students exposure to financial analysis, communications, and organizational operations. Depending on the placement, students may analyze data, develop content, or support administrative projects, while broader programs introduce financial literacy and workplace leadership. Ladder Internships offers guided, fully virtual startup projects for students who want to explore business through hands-on work.
Why does one business idea find customers while another struggles to gain traction? The U.S. Small Business Administration explains that market research helps businesses understand customers and improve their ideas. A business internship gives high school students a way to explore how evidence, money, and people shape everyday organizational decisions.
We selected these programs for their California locations or online format, high school eligibility, and business-related work or learning.
For a wider view of local opportunities, explore these 13 internships for high school students in California. When you’re ready to plan your search, our guide on how to get a business internship in high school offers a practical starting point.
Why should you do a business internship?
A business internship can help you understand how organizations balance customer needs, limited resources, and practical constraints. That experience can make your interests in finance, marketing, or management more concrete. Explore guided startup work through Ladder Internships to put that curiosity into practice.
What skills can you pick up in business internships?
You can practice organizing information, interpreting numbers, and clearly explaining a recommendation. These skills help you connect evidence to business decisions and communicate your reasoning. Working with feedback and deadlines can also strengthen the attention to detail and reliability that teams need.
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!
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Program type |
Top programs |
Cost/Stipend |
Best for |
|
Virtual Programs |
Fee-based (financial aid available) |
Students interested in entrepreneurship or business strategy who prefer remote startup experience |
|
|
Municipal Administration |
Brentwood internship, Alameda summer internship, Antioch Springboard, Hemet City Manager internship |
Free; stipends $16.80-22.08/hr |
Students curious about how local government manages services, people, and public resources |
|
Economic Development and Marketing |
Free; stipends $17.27- 298/semester (max. $599/year) |
Students interested in local business growth, tourism promotion, or using data to understand communities |
|
|
Healthcare and Transit Administration |
Free; stipends $20-25/hr |
Students interested in the finance, staffing, and administrative functions behind essential services |
|
|
Career Exploration and Leadership |
Free; stipend paid |
Students seeking broader career exposure that includes financial literacy, leadership, or public-service interests |
1. California Academy of Science Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
Location: San Francisco, California
Stipend: Paid above minimum wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~16 interns
Dates: Year-round for 2–3 years; June entry through graduation
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Be enrolled full-time in grade 9 or 10 at an SFUSD school; maintain a GPA of at least 2.5 and C or higher in science and math; be able to obtain a valid work permit
You attend financial-literacy training while conducting fieldwork and leading science activities for museum visitors. You remain in this paid, year-round internship for two to three years through graduation. As you advance, you join research or environmental-action projects, contribute to exhibits and educational materials, and serve on the CiS Leadership Council.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore leadership and financial literacy alongside science communication, fieldwork, and environmental projects.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Online; available in California
Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10%; 70 places
Dates: Winter: eight weeks starting December 7; spring, summer, Summer II, and fall cohorts also offered
Application Deadline: Multiple cohort-specific deadlines; winter: November 15
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and gap-year students who can work for 5–10 hours per week for 8 weeks
You work on an interest-matched startup project, with business assignments that can include market analysis, pitch-deck research, business planning, or go-to-market strategy. You receive guidance from your host-company manager and a separate Ladder Coach, then present your final deliverable to the company.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore entrepreneurship, marketing, or business strategy by completing a startup project with mentor feedback.
3. City of Brentwood – L.A.U.N.C.H. Internship Program
Location: Brentwood, California
Stipend: $16.90 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 4 interns
Dates: Mid-January – early July
Application Deadline: Early November
Eligibility: Current high school students in the Liberty Union High School District
At L.A.U.N.C.H.’S Finance & Information Systems placement, you help prepare financial, accounting, budgetary, and statistical reports using financial software, spreadsheets, and data. You also help update and publish the City’s formal financial documents for the new fiscal year, including their visual presentation for the public.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore public finance, budgeting, accounting, and how local government communicates financial decisions.
4. City of Alameda – Paid Summer Internship for High School Students – Multiple Opportunities
Location: Alameda, California
Stipend: $17.76 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: June 8 – July 13
Application Deadline: May 7
Eligibility: High school students at least 16; live in Alameda or attend school there; be able to obtain a valid school work permit
You may support financial records, databases, human resources, or economic development, depending on your department. You complete a departmental project and present it to staff and fellow interns.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore finance, workforce administration, or real estate development within local government.
5. City of Carlsbad – Student Intern (Economic Development)
Location: Carlsbad, California
Stipend: $17.27 – $23.05 hourly
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 1 intern
Dates: Flexible depending on class schedules and intern assignments
Application Deadline: July 30
Eligibility: Enrolled in an accredited academic program or technical/trade school, or be a recent graduate; have proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools; undergo fingerprinting and a California Department of Justice criminal background check
You help analyze economic and demographic data, prepare dashboards, and create digital marketing content. You support Carlsbad’s Small Business Liaison Program by developing resources that help businesses navigate city processes and grow their operations.
Who is it best for: Students who want to combine economic analysis and digital marketing with practical support for local businesses.
6. San Francisco Public Utilities Commission / City and County of San Francisco – Project Pull Internship Program
Location: San Francisco, California
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school students from San Francisco
You explore public-service careers, including business, through work in city departments and weekly enrichment activities. Your internship pairs you with city employees for workplace mentoring. Your assignment depends on the department; previous placements have included digital communications and community-benefits projects.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore communications, administration, and public-sector operations through municipal workplace experience.
7. City of Antioch – Springboard Internship
Location: Antioch, California
Stipend: $16.80 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~30 interns
Dates: June – July
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors; live in Antioch or attend school there; be able to obtain a work permit
You support basic city-program functions, with Economic Development among the available departments. You are paired with a city employee mentor while taking part in professional training and community service.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore local economic development and public administration through city-department work.
8. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Menlo Park, California
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size unverified
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Be a sophomore when applying; be a full-year resident of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City; have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
You explore a large technology company’s operations through coding, financial literacy, and art and media sessions. You meet Meta employees and executives to hear about their career paths, alongside approximately weekly guest-speaker sessions.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore financial literacy, media, and careers within a technology company.
If you live outside Menlo Park 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. KP LAUNCH
Location: Northern California medical centers and business offices
Stipend: $25 hourly
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~290 interns
Dates: June 14 – July 30
Application Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: Be 16–19 by June 1; current high school students or graduating seniors, or have graduated the previous year without college experience; reside permanently in an eligible Northern California service area; have work authorization; not be a dependent of a Kaiser Permanente employee or physician; pass required drug, background, and employee-health checks; provide required work permits and vaccinations or exemptions
You complete office-related assignments in an assigned department and explore administrative careers such as finance, communications, human resources, or business analysis. You combine seven weeks of non-clinical work with weekly workshops, supervisor guidance, and mentorship.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore the administrative and business functions that support a large healthcare organization.
10. City of Hemet – Student Intern I/II – City Manager's Office
Location: Hemet, California
Stipend: $16.90–$22.08 hourly
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Assignments are temporary, part-time, and limited to 1,000 hours per year, typically 15–25 hours weekly
Application Deadline: August 17
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a high school academic or vocational curriculum for Intern I; maintain a 2.0 GPA; obtain a work permit if under 18; pass fingerprint/background checks and a medical examination; pass drug screening if required; hold an insurable California driver's license if the assignment requires it
You research and present reports, coordinate data and materials, and support administrative projects. You work directly with the City Manager's Office, with exposure to economic development, budgeting, strategic planning, and executive management.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore municipal management, economic development, and public budgeting through administrative project work.
11. Nevada County Economic Development Office – CTE Intern-Economic Development
Location: Nevada City, California
Stipend: Interns earning school credit through an educational program may be eligible for $298 per semester, capped at $599 per calendar year, upon completion of the internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: October – May; flexible placement lasting up to 26 weeks
Application Deadline: September 20
Eligibility: Students aged 14–18; enrolled in a Nevada Union or Bear River High School CTE program; have guardian-signed approval and the ability to secure a work permit
You may draft tourism social-media posts, update website content and tracking spreadsheets, and research material for the economic-development newsletter. You may also help organize Young Entrepreneur Pitch Week through outreach, scheduling, participant coordination, and event support.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore tourism marketing, entrepreneurship events, and local business outreach.
12. Bay Area Rapid Transit – BART Summer Internship
Location: Oakland and other Bay Area sites, California
Stipend: $20 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: No direct applications; hosted placements are filled through existing sponsoring partnerships
Eligibility: Students who meet the sponsoring organization's selection criteria; be at least 16 and enrolled in school, or have been enrolled within the preceding 12 months
You may work in administrative departments such as Finance or Human Resources, exploring how BART allocates resources or recruits staff. Your placement depends on an outside organization selecting and funding you through an established relationship.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore finance, human resources, or administration within a public transit agency.
Can a business internship help with your college applications?
A business internship can give you concrete examples of how you explored an academic interest through practical responsibility. You might discuss a decision you helped inform, a challenge you encountered, or feedback that changed your approach. Explain what you learned about organizations and your own interests, without treating participation as an admissions guarantee.
How do you apply for a business internship?
Start with each program’s official instructions and prepare the materials it actually requests. Relevant examples might include managing a club budget, organizing an event, analyzing information, or explaining why a business problem interests you. Leave time to gather any required school documents or references and complete the application before its published deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much technical preparation do business-focused placements expect?
Technical expectations depend on the placement. An economic-development role may require proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools. At the same time, school-linked tourism and communications work may treat social media or website experience as helpful rather than required.
2. Are these experiences focused on commercial businesses or public services?
Both settings are represented, and their priorities differ. Startup assignments can address market strategy and business planning, while government placements may support public budgets, local business development, or workforce administration.
3. How is compensation structured across these opportunities?
The list includes hourly pay and completion stipends, so compensation isn't always calculated the same way. The school-credit-linked stipend is conditional, while other placements pay for hours worked. For students weighing program fees, Ladder Internships offers need-based financial assistance through a competitive process.
4. How long would I need to commit?
Commitments range from short summer programs to participation throughout the school year or until high school graduation. The entries include six- and seven-week summer experiences, an eight-week startup program, a school-year placement lasting up to 26 weeks, and a year-round internship requiring two or three years.