15 Business Internships for High School Students in New Mexico
If you are a high school student interested in business, an internship can be a worthwhile way to explore the field. Completing an internship in high school helps you move beyond classroom learning by adding experience to your resume and providing early exposure to professional expectations. You can build practical skills such as communication, time management, and teamwork while evaluating whether a career path aligns with your interests before college. Internships also demonstrate to employers and colleges that you have experience working in structured environments. Business internships for high school students introduce you to how different business roles, such as administration, finance, marketing, and customer service, work together to support an organization.
What business internships are available for high school students in New Mexico?
The internships featured in this list include opportunities in public administration, finance, accounting, hospitality, entrepreneurship, marketing, and office support. You’ll find opportunities that place you in city and county departments, university offices, local businesses, startups, media organizations, and community-based nonprofits. Across these roles, you will develop skills in professional communication, basic financial and administrative processes, customer service, project coordination, and workplace accountability. Many internships also include mentorship, job shadowing, or employability training, helping you understand how businesses operate across different sectors in New Mexico.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 business internships for high school students in New Mexico.
1. Sandia National Laboratories Internships
Location: Sandia National Laboratories site in Albuquerque, NM
Cost/Stipend: $17.75/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Internships are available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship
Eligibility: Current high school students who are at least 16 years old | required minimum cumulative GPA is 3.0 out of 4.0 | some internship positions may only be open to U.S. citizens
Sandia National Laboratories offers paid internships at its New Mexico site that allow high school students to work on projects in both technical and business-related roles. You can participate through summer or year-round internships, with schedules ranging from full-time during school breaks to part-time during the academic year. Interns are placed in project teams and work under the guidance of a Sandia mentor, contributing to real projects that support national security and laboratory operations. Depending on your placement, you may gain experience in professional communication, project coordination, data analysis, or supporting research and engineering teams. The program also includes technical seminars, tours, and workshops that provide exposure to Sandia’s facilities, research environment, and workplace culture. Depending on performance and organizational needs, some internships can lead to continued opportunities for future employment.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote (you can work from anywhere in the world)
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type | full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 10% | cohorts of 70 - 100 students
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: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 8 - 12 weeks, devoting 10 - 20 hours/week
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students where they work with high-growth start-ups across a variety of industries, such as tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies that have raised over a million dollars on average. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company at the conclusion of the internship, which is usually 8 weeks long. Apply now!
3. Los Alamos National Laboratory High School Internships
Location: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
Cost/Stipend: $16.89/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Internships are available year-round, including fall, spring, and summer
Application Deadline: August 1 - September 30 (fall) | December 1 - February 13 (spring) | January 12 - April 15 (summer)
Eligibility: High school seniors who are at least 16 years old | required minimum GPA is 2.75 | must attend a NM high school
Los Alamos National Laboratory offers high school internships that place students in on-site roles supporting business, customer service, administration, technology transfer, and community outreach. You will work under the guidance of a designated mentor while contributing to projects such as inventory and records management, licensing and compliance tracking, program coordination, and office administration. Some placements include direct interaction with customers or community partners, such as supporting STEM outreach events or assisting with internal service operations. Depending on the department, you may develop skills in professional communication, data organization, spreadsheet tracking, and process improvement using common office and inventory systems. Internships may be part-time during the school year or full-time during the summer, with opportunities ranging from several weeks to year-round placements. This allows you to gain insight into how business and administrative functions support scientific and technical work within a national laboratory environment.
4. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Local nonprofit organizations across the country, including Bernalillo and Sandoval in New Mexico | students are also expected to attend a mandatory national Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided, but the exact amount may vary
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective, with around 300 students from around the country selected each year
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer (exact dates may vary based on the internship) | the national Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., is from July 21 - 26
Application Deadline: October 14 - January 15
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors with good academic standing | must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. | must be a permanent resident of one of the eligible locations | Bank of America employees or immediate family members are not eligible to apply | check here for more details
As a participant in the Bank of America Student Leaders Program, you will complete a paid, eight-week internship with a local nonprofit organization supporting day-to-day operations. Interns will work alongside nonprofit staff to manage projects and partnerships, gaining insight into how organizations operate and respond to community needs. The program also includes a mandatory national leadership summit in Washington, D.C., where you learn how government, business, and nonprofit sectors collaborate to address public challenges. Through these combined experiences, you will build skills in professional communication, teamwork, and leadership, while gaining practical, real-world experience.
5. Santa Fe Public Schools' (SFPS) Work-Based Learning (WBL) Program
Location: Businesses and organizations across Santa Fe
Cost/Stipend: Exact amount may vary depending on the internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Exact dates may vary based on the internship
Application Deadline: Varies based on the internship
Eligibility: SFPS high school juniors and seniors
The SFPS’s WBL Program places high school juniors and seniors in paid internships with local employers across industries such as hospitality, retail, business operations, government, creative arts, healthcare, and technology. Depending on the placement, you may work on customer service, marketing and social media support, finance and accounting assistance, inventory and logistics, and front-desk or administrative operations. The program emphasizes building professional skills such as workplace communication, time management, and teamwork, while providing hands-on experience in active business and service roles. WBL staff will offer ongoing support through site visits and check-ins. You will document your learning experience in a capstone career portfolio, which you will present at an internship showcase event, gaining experience in professional presentation and self-assessment.
6. New Mexico Public Education Department’s Summer Enrichment Internship Program
Location: Internships are available across multiple counties in New Mexico
Cost/Stipend: Exact amount may vary based on the internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 3,000 paid internships are available
Dates: Vary based on the internship
Application Deadline: Varies based on the internship
Eligibility: New Mexico high school students
The New Mexico Public Education Department’s Summer Enrichment Internship Program is a paid summer internship that places high school students in county, tribal, and municipal agencies across New Mexico. Depending on your placement, you may work in business and operations-focused roles such as bookkeeping, business analysis, marketing, office administration, technology support, or community outreach. You will participate in a required cohort orientation and follow a structured six-week curriculum covering workplace culture, professional communication, feedback, self-management, and interviewing skills. Through daily work, you will collaborate with agency staff and community partners while supporting real projects that support public sector services.
7. New Mexico State Personnel Office Student Internship Program
Location: Internship positions are available throughout New Mexico, including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and more
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Internships are available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship
Eligibility: Open to high school students
This paid internship places high school students in New Mexico state agencies, where they support day-to-day government operations through general office support and administrative work. You may assist agency staff with tasks such as customer service, scheduling, and supporting internal workflows, gaining exposure to how public sector organizations function. The program follows a structured, multi-level learning model focusing on building skills in professional behavior, communication, critical thinking, and workplace relationships across multiple sessions. Interns also receive mentorship and engage with a peer network that supports career exploration and helps them understand potential pathways in public service and administrative careers.
8. The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship
Location: Various media companies across the U.S., including New Mexico
Cost/Stipend: Exact amount is not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 150 interns selected from over a thousand applicants
Dates: Minimum of 8 weeks in the summer, starting in May or June
Application Deadline: September - early January
Eligibility: High school seniors who are planning to attend a four-year accredited U.S. college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, authorized to work in the U.S., and at least 18 years old
The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship places high school students in paid, full-time summer internships with partner companies in media and technology. You can select from three tracks, including the business track, where you will gain experience in sales, public relations, marketing, and human resources. You will work 35 - 40 hours per week for a minimum of eight weeks, while contributing to real projects within your assigned department. The program includes one-on-one career coaching and mentorship, where you will receive structured guidance on professional expectations and career planning. The program is designed as a multi-year pathway, allowing selected fellows to return for paid internships each summer throughout college.
9. City of Albuquerque Internships
Location: Various departments in the City of Albuquerque
Cost/Stipend: Exact amount is not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Internships are available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies based on the internship
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The City of Albuquerque offers paid internships for high school students across city departments throughout the year. Depending on your placement, you may contribute to public service while gaining experience in office administration, human resources, park management, or IT. Throughout the internship, you will be supervised by a staff member within your assigned department. The entire experience is structured to give you an idea of the daily responsibilities involved in a public sector job, helping you evaluate if public service aligns with your long-term career goals or not.
10. Future Founders: Be Your Own Boss Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Exact amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students from public and charter schools
The Future Founders’ Be Your Own Boss Internship places you in a paid entrepreneurship program to work in teams to develop and pitch an original business idea. You will collaborate with peers to research markets, outline a basic business model, and build a simple app or product prototype as part of a structured group project. The program is led by entrepreneurs and business professionals who provide guidance and feedback on how startups operate. Through group activities and networking sessions, you will build professional connections with peers and industry mentors. The internship concludes with a virtual community showcase where you formally present your business pitch to an audience, helping you gain hands-on experience in professional communication and presentation.
11. The University of New Mexico (UNM)’s Youth Summer Worker Program
Location: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Cost/Stipend: $12/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 2 - August 2
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current high school students who are at least 15 years old
The UNM’s Youth Summer Worker Program offers high school students paid summer placements in university departments, where they support general office and clerical operations. You may assist staff with tasks such as document organization, data entry, scheduling support, and front-office coordination, gaining exposure to how administrative teams function on a college campus. Interns may work alongside university employees, allowing them to observe professional workflows and workplace standards within an academic institution. The program is designed to introduce you to potential career pathways in administration, business support, and public-facing roles.
12. City of Albuquerque’s Job Mentor Program
Location: Schools across Albuquerque | summer internship placements are available through JMP at city, government, or non-profit organizations in Albuquerque
Cost/Stipend: $12/hour for the summer internships (also offers paid job shadowing sessions with stipends starting at $70 for 10 hours of job shadowing)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 121 interns
Dates: JMP programs take place during the school year | internships are generally held in the summer for 7 weeks
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Albuquerque Public School high school students aged 14 - 18 years old
Through the City of Albuquerque’s Job Mentor Program, you can participate in a combination of school-based career training, job shadow experiences, and a paid summer internship to understand how public organizations operate. During the academic year, you may enroll in an elective course where you explore career paths, practice professional communication, and complete community service through job shadow placements at local government and nonprofit workplaces. In the summer, you may work in a city, government, or nonprofit office, supporting tasks such as front-desk operations, data entry, filing, and program coordination under staff supervision. These placements introduce you to different workplace routines such as scheduling, record-keeping, and interacting with the public in professional environments. You may also learn how different departments collaborate to deliver services and manage daily operations. The program’s year-round structure allows you to build practical workplace skills while learning how public sector organizations collaborate to deliver quality results.
13. CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) High School Internship Program
Location: CLA offices across the U.S., including New Mexico
Cost/Stipend: Exact amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 17 - July 19 (tentative; based on previous years)
Application Deadline: Applications open in March
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 - 18 years who are authorized to work in the U.S.
In the CLA High School Internship Program, you will explore how a professional services firm operates while working on business and accounting-focused projects. The program may introduce you to areas such as client services, internal operations, and basic financial processes through hands-on tasks and interactive case studies. You may collaborate with staff across different roles, which helps you understand how teams coordinate to support client requirements and manage projects. You may also get an opportunity to shadow professionals and observe internal or client meetings, gaining insight into workplace communication and decision-making. The internship is designed to give you a practical overview of how accounting and business services are delivered in a professional environment.
14. Curry County High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Various employers and organizations throughout Curry County
Cost/Stipend: Exact amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 120 interns
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students, as well as graduating high school seniors, from Curry County | must be at least 16 years old
In this program, you will work as interns at a local business or community organization and support day-to-day operations across different roles such as administrative support, customer service, marketing, IT support, or sales. You may work under the guidance of on-site supervisors, completing practical tasks that support the daily functioning of your host organization. Alongside your internship, you will attend weekly employability training sessions that focus on communication, workplace expectations, and professional conduct. The program provides a structured way to explore different career paths while building transferable business and office skills in a local work environment.
15. Future Focused Education’s X3 Internships
Location: Local businesses across New Mexico
Cost/Stipend: Exact amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Internships are available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Future Focused Education’s X3 Internships offers paid, 13-week placements with a local employer, allowing high school students to work on real business and administrative tasks while building professional experience. You will typically spend about 12 hours per week in an individual internship or 3 - 6 hours per week in a group placement, where you collaborate with peers and meet regularly with an assigned X3 coach. The program combines on-site work with onboarding, orientation, and ongoing mentorship to build professional communication, time management, and problem-solving skills. In your placement, you will gain practical exposure to the daily operations of a local business while building a resume-ready work experience. The internship also emphasizes professional conduct, timely communication, and collaboration with supervisors and mentors, helping you navigate workplace expectations in a real business environment. Dhruva Bhat is one of the co-founders of Ladder and a Harvard College graduate. Dhruva founded Ladder Internships as a DPhil candidate and Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, with a vision to bridge the gap between ambitious students and real-world startup experiences.
Image source - Sandia National Laboratories logo