13 Business Internships for High School Students in Wisconsin
Doing an internship in high school can change your college admissions profile and how confident you feel about future career choices. It gives you practical experience, helps you build workplace skills, and shows colleges and employers that you’ve explored your interests beyond the classroom. If you are interested in business, internships allow you to see how marketing, finance, operations, or entrepreneurship work. They also help you figure out if you would enjoy specific careers. If you’re curious about business, starting early through business internships for high school students can make college decisions and long-term career planning much clearer.
What business internships are available for high school students in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin offers a mix of business-focused internships for high school students, ranging from local, in-person placements to remote startup roles and structured pre-college programs. You’ll find opportunities tied to nonprofits, government offices, startups, and universities, many of which focus on practical responsibilities rather than shadowing. Large organizations like Northwestern Mutual, American Family Insurance, and Associated Bank frequently offer opportunities for high schoolers to explore careers in finance and corporate strategy. Some programs are focused on mentorship and professional skill-building, while others center on project-based work in areas like marketing, operations, finance, or entrepreneurship. Working with established entities such as Madison Gas and Electric or Sentry Insurance helps you develop essential soft skills like professional communication and time management, which look great on college applications and give you a head start in your future career.
To help you with your search, we have listed 13 business internships for high school students in Wisconsin that provide defined roles, organized learning structures, and exposure to business settings.
1. Beaver Dam Enhanced Internship Program
Location: Beaver Dam
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 15–25 students per summer
Dates: Typically mid-June to late August
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore year or higher
The Beaver Dam Enhanced Internship Program places you with local employers for a summer internship aligned with your interests and availability. Opportunities span marketing, event management, nonprofit work, clerical support, county government, and general business operations, depending on employer needs. You will work with professionals and complete employer-specific onboarding, giving you exposure to workplace expectations. Alongside your placement, you attend professional development workshops coordinated by the Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce. Mentorship is a central component of this paid business internship for high school students in Wisconsin, with supervisors guiding day-to-day tasks and providing feedback.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10%; 70–100 students per session
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
The Ladder Internship Program connects you to an eight-week remote internship with an early-stage startup working on real business problems. You are assigned defined projects such as market research, competitor analysis, operations planning, or consulting-style analysis tied to active company needs, where your work contributes directly to internal decision-making and deliverables. Each intern is supported by both a startup manager and a dedicated Ladder Coach who meets with you weekly. Coaching focuses on communication standards, project quality, and professional judgment. The program emphasizes independent work alongside structured deadlines and check-ins. It concludes with a formal presentation where you summarize your project outcomes and learning. Here is the application form.
3. Stateline BGC - CareerTek Internship
Location: Beloit, WI
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~15 per session
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Early April
Eligibility: All high school students
In this program, you will dive into entrepreneurship and corporate operations through immersive workshops like "BizTank" and "Mini Business World." You’ll take on the challenge of building a business from scratch, which involves designing a product, creating a budget, and crafting a marketing plan. These sessions cover essential topics such as financial literacy, investment strategies, and professional branding. You will participate in mock interviews and network with local business leaders to refine your professional etiquette. This unique center serves as a bridge, connecting you directly to local employers for hands-on apprenticeship opportunities. You'll develop soft skills in problem-solving and a professional resume ready for the workforce.
4. Inspire Sheboygan County High School Internship Program
Location: Sheboygan County area employers
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by year
Dates: 9 weeks; typically runs mid-June through mid-August
Application Deadline: Typically mid-March
Eligibility: High school students attending participating schools in Sheboygan County who are 16+
Inspire Sheboygan County connects you with local employers for summer or short-term internships across business, manufacturing, healthcare, skilled trades, and office-based roles. Placements are coordinated with schools and participating employers to align with your career interests. Responsibilities and schedules vary by employer, allowing for a range of hands-on experiences. The business internship for high school students in Wisconsin is centered on career exploration and workplace readiness within the local economy. Through its Youth Apprenticeship pathway, you can pursue longer-term, paid apprenticeships in areas such as finance, accounting, and sales. These apprenticeships combine classroom instruction through Lakeshore Technical College with supervised professional work. Tasks may include budgeting support, financial reporting, or client services.
5. Rock Internship Program
Location: Rock County area local employers and organizations
Stipend: $13/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 25–35 students per summer
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are 16 or older, residents of Rock County, and legally eligible to work in the U.S.
The Rock Internship Program is a six-week paid summer experience for rising high school seniors aligned with your Academic and Career Plan (ACP). You will be placed with a local employer based on interest alignment and program fit, working at least 20 hours per week. Internship fields include business operations, marketing, manufacturing, healthcare, IT, education, and human services. The program is focused on helping you develop employability skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking. You’ll also participate in orientation sessions and ongoing professional development alongside your job placement. The experience concludes with a capstone presentation showcased at the program’s Graduation Day event.
6. City of Milwaukee’s Earn & Learn – Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP)
Location: City of Milwaukee departments, Milwaukee
Stipend: $16/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; typically several hundred placements
Dates: June 18 – August 14
Application Deadline: April 24
Eligibility: Milwaukee residents ages 16–19
The City of Milwaukee’s Summer Youth Internship Program places you in a paid internship within municipal departments across the city. You will work up to 20 hours per week on structured assignments that introduce you to public-sector operations. Placements may include departments such as City Development, where you support administrative and project-based tasks. Every Friday, you attend required work-readiness sessions focused on financial literacy, resume development, and career exploration. The program stresses punctuality, accountability, and professional communication throughout the eight-week commitment.
7. Appleton Area School District – Youth Apprenticeship
Location: Appleton
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size based on available employer placements
Dates: Academic year (junior or senior year; enrollment verified each spring)
Application Deadline: Early March
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors enrolled in AASD
This business internship for high school students in Wisconsin offers high school juniors and seniors a credit-bearing, school-supervised work-based learning experience. If you’re interested in business-related fields, placements may involve finance, accounting, economics, or general business operations with local employers. You split your time between classroom instruction and supervised on-the-job training. Tasks can include assisting with financial records, basic reporting, or operational support, depending on the employer. The program is integrated into the Academic and Career Planning (ACP) process, linking coursework to workplace application. Employer engagement is central, with direct mentorship and performance expectations. You also develop professional behaviors such as time management and communication.
8. MMSD CTE Internship Program
Location: Madison, WI (Doyle Administration Building & Various District Sites)
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 30–50 students district-wide
Dates: Late June – Late July
Application Deadline: Mid-April
Eligibility: Current MMSD high school students (Grades 9–12)
In this program, you will explore the "business of education" through high-level topics like accounting, marketing, and organizational management. During the summer, you will participate in weekly professional development sessions, manage office projects, and deliver a final presentation to district leaders about your experiences. The program allows you to earn a competitive hourly wage while working directly with licensed CTE mentors in a real-world workplace setting. This experience effectively transforms your classroom theory into a high-impact resume builder that prepares you for the corporate environment or competitive college applications.
9. BGC Tri-County - Teens 2 Work
Location: Berlin, Green Lake, and Ripon, WI
Cost/Stipend: $25 Annual Registration Fee / Paid employment through local hiring partners
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 60–70 students per year
Dates: Semester-based and Summer options
Application Deadline: Ongoing enrollment
Eligibility: High school students (ages 13–18)
This program focuses on topics like workplace professionalism, financial literacy, and the art of the job hunt. You'll spend your time crafting a professional resume, visiting local businesses to see corporate operations, and even opening your first checking account to practice money management. The program has a hiring partner network, which directly connects you with local employers looking for trained teen talent. By participating in mock interviews and skill-building workshops, you develop the confidence and etiquette needed to thrive in a professional environment.
10. Emma Bowen Foundation Internship
Location: Nationwide (Including Wisconsin)
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~150 fellows nationwide
Dates: 8 weeks from May to August
Application Deadline: Early January
Eligibility: High school seniors planning to attend a four-year U.S. college; at least 18 years old before the internship begins; authorized to work in the U.S
In this fellowship, you will engage in the business of media and technology through a multi-year program that connects you with industry leaders. The curriculum spans several business areas, including marketing, sales, human resources, and financial operations. During your internship, you will assist with advertising campaigns, analyze viewership data, and participate in high-level corporate networking events. The program’s multi-year commitment ensures you return to your partner company every summer until you graduate from college. You will develop skills in professional communication, data analysis, and corporate project management by the end.
11. SparkCampus Internship Program
Location: Remote
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 150–200 students per cycle
Dates: Spring: March 9 – April 11; Summer: July 6 – August 10; Fall: October – November
Application Deadline: Spring: Early March; Summer: July 3; Fall: Late September
Eligibility: All high school students
SparkCampus is a five-week online internship where you work with SparkPrintz, a student-founded custom merchandise startup. This online business internship for high school students combines weekly instructional workshops with project work tied to the company’s operations. Topics include sales strategy, marketing fundamentals, and business operations. You apply what you learn to tasks such as outreach support, internal planning, or workflow improvement. Interns work in teams and maintain regular communication with mentors for feedback. Guest speakers contribute sessions on entrepreneurship and small business management.
12. United Way GMWC Teen Internship
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by participating school
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by school partner
Eligibility: High school students in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties
In this program, you will gain a behind-the-scenes look at how a massive nonprofit organization manages its community impact and business operations. You will focus on topics like data-driven decision making, professional advocacy, and the "business" of social responsibility within the Greater Milwaukee area. You will participate in activities like organizing community supply drives, helping lead mental health awareness sessions at your school, and collaborating with local professionals on service projects. The program directly integrates with your school’s environment, allowing you to build a professional resume without leaving your campus community.
13. VenturEd High School Fellowship
Location: Remote
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 50–100 fellows per cycle
Dates: 8 weeks (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18
The VenturEd High School Fellowship places you in an eight-week remote internship with an early-stage startup. Based on your skills and interests, you may work in marketing, operations, product development, or data analysis. Mentorship is built into the program, with regular feedback from entrepreneurs and professionals. Weekly sessions address startup workflows, workplace expectations, and career pathways in business and technology. VenturEd places particular emphasis on expanding access for students from underrepresented backgrounds. By the end of the term, you will have sharpened your skills in professional communication, startup operations, and project management.
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