Top 12 Paid Internships for High School Students in the Bay Area (San Francisco++)
If you’re a high school student in the Bay Area, consider participating in paid internships during your breaks. They are a fantastic way to gain hands-on experience and test-drive careers before college. Many high school internships in the Bay Area connect you with mentors who can teach you skills you won't learn in class, and maybe even help you land future opportunities. Plus, earning a stipend means saving for college or covering your expenses independently.
From tech giants in Silicon Valley to research labs in San Francisco, we’ve curated a list of the top 12 paid high school internships in the Bay Area, prioritizing programs with stipends, strong mentorship, and hands-on experience. You'll tackle actual projects, make meaningful contributions, and build real-world skills. Each program in this list includes key details like eligibility, deadlines, and compensation to help you find the best fit.
Location: Meta, Menlo Park, CA
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 6 weeks; June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: December 1 – February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores from East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City; 2.0+ GPA; 30 hours/week commitment
Stipend: Paid (exact amount varies)
Meta’s Summer Academy will immerse you in the tech industry through AI, software engineering, or UX design projects while giving you the chance to gain insights into big tech career paths you may not otherwise get. The program also includes soft skills development, support from instructors, and networking events with Meta employees and industry leaders. Requirements for a successful application include two short-answer essays, a transcript (including 1st semester grades from sophomore year), and a letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or school official.
This is one of the most competitive high school internships in the Bay Area that students can land. You can find more information on the program and application here.
Location: Remote
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Dates: 8 weeks (multiple cohorts year-round)
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November); Specific dates vary by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with AI/ML coursework or project experience
Cost: $2,490 program fee (up to 90% financial aid available)
If you've dabbled in Python, Veritas AI can help you build your skills further by matching you with actual AI startups. This AI Internship Program is founded and run by Harvard graduate students, where you'll have the opportunity to work with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects like building recommendation algorithms or training chatbots to answer customer questions. Your mentors include people who've worked at companies like Google and Microsoft; they'll help you break down complex projects into manageable weekly goals.
The program is virtual, so you can fit it around summer trips or other commitments. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.
3. KP Launch Internship (Kaiser Permanente)
Location: Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 16 – August 1 (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: November – January (tentative)
Eligibility: Bay Area high school juniors/seniors from underserved communities; 2.5+ GPA; More details here
Stipend: $23/hour (can vary)
Interested in healthcare but not sure if you want to be a doctor? KP Launch lets you explore the business and tech side of medicine. The program includes networking and mentoring from leading health care professionals in different departments, which is a huge help if you're trying to figure out potential majors. You might analyze patient data, help with community health initiatives, or work on the IT systems that keep hospitals running. This program prioritizes applicants from under-resourced communities and diverse backgrounds, making it one of the most inclusive high school internships in the Bay Area.
Location: Remote
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 8 weeks; Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Multiple throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students who can commit 5-10 hours/week
Cost: $2,490 program fee (financial aid can cover up to 90%)
Ladder internships connects you with high-growth startups where you'll work on projects that actually matter to their business. You'll get two mentors: one at your startup who guides your project and a Ladder coach who helps with professional skills like communication and time management. Former interns have worked on strategy development, market analysis, cybersecurity, and coding MVPs, all projects you can showcase in college applications to demonstrate initiative and real-world impact. You can check out the application form here.
5. UCSF CURE Research Internship
Location: UCSF, San Francisco, CA
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 12 – August 8 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: December 2 – February 16
Eligibility: Underrepresented high school students in grade 11 with an interest in biomedical research; 2.5+ GPA; Must commit 40 hours/week for 8 weeks; Should have a B or better in biology or chemistry
Stipend: Paid (exact amount varies)
If you dream of finding cures for diseases or developing new medical technologies, UCSF's CURE program is for you. As an intern, you’ll be put in actual research labs, with the opportunity to conduct scientific research and present your research project and findings at their Research Symposium. During the eight weeks, you will be mentored by UCSF faculty, post-docs, and graduate students, and receive career advising and college application support. You can find more information here.
6. Project Pull
Location: San Francisco, CA (hybrid)
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 9 – August 1 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: February 17
Eligibility: SF juniors, seniors, and college-bound freshmen; Students with a 2.75+ GPA; Must commit to work 20 hours a week for 8 weeks
Stipend: $19.25/hour
If you’re interested in a public sector career at the city or county departments in San Francisco, this may be the internship for you. You will be paired with architecture, business, and engineering public sector professionals while learning about community service, creativity, leadership, and teamwork. The program may also include field trips to treatment plants and infrastructure sites that most people never get to see. The application requires a personal statement and resume.
Location: Various sites in the Bay Area
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Year-long (starts summer before senior year)
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Underserved high school juniors who can commit 20 hours a week
Stipend: $10,000 – $13,000/year (varies by site)
Genesys Works is an 8-week summer training bootcamp in IT or business skills, followed by a part-time job at top companies during your senior year. You'll work 20 hours per week (typically afternoons) while also attending your classes. The program helps you develop professional and technical skills, build your network, and provides counseling to help you navigate college applications and financial aid. Check out the application process here.
8. Sandia National Laboratories High School Internship
Location: Livermore, CA (hybrid)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: May – August (10–12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: U.S. citizens; 16+; 2.5+ GPA
Stipend: $17.75 – $19/hour (may vary)
Want to work on technology that protects national security? Sandia's internship puts you in a government lab alongside scientists and researchers working in business, cybersecurity, energy, engineering design, and software development fields. Professional development and social activities will also support your work on real-world challenges that contribute to national goals. The program may also include tours of restricted facilities and state-of-the-art instruments. This is a solid option for high school internships in the Bay Area for students interested in STEM. You can find more information here.
9. High School Explainers Program at Exploratorium
Location: Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Offered throughout the year
Application Deadline: Summer: March; School Year: July
Eligibility: Students aged 15-21 with a valid work permit
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)
As one of the most unique high school internships in the Bay Area, Exploratorium’s High School Explainers Program gives you the chance to engage visitors at exhibits, lead science demos, and help run daily museum operations. No prior science background is needed. The program trains you in exhibit facilitation, communication, and career skills through 60+ hours of workshops.
Explainers come from diverse backgrounds across the Bay Area, creating a collaborative environment where you’ll learn to work with people from different cultures and communities. This is ideal if you want hands-on experience in science communication or education. You can find more information on current openings here.
10. iCLEM Program
Location: Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) labs, Emeryville, CA (hybrid)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 16 – August 1 (7 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Low-income students with an interest in biotech; High school sophomores or juniors in Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco County; 2.5+ GPA; Should have passed Algebra 1 and Biology
Stipend: $3,000
If you're fascinated by biotechnology, microbiology, or biofuels, iCLEM lets you work at the Joint Bio Energy Institute, managed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. You’ll learn fundamental concepts in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biofuels, and synthetic biology with hands-on, real-world research mentored by JBEI researchers and UC undergrads.
The program also includes weekly college prep workshops covering topics like application essays and financial aid. It specifically targets students from low-income backgrounds, and the experience gives you a significant advantage if you're applying to biology or chemistry programs in college. This is a great option for a high school internship in the Bay Area for biotech. Check out more details here.
11. SFUSD Summer Internship Program
Location: San Francisco, CA
Acceptance Rate: Open enrolment
Dates: Depends on the industry
Application Deadline: February (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who can commit 20 hours/week; Priority is given to rising seniors
Stipend: Paid (exact amount varies)
The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Summer Internship Program places current sophomores, juniors, and seniors in paid internships across more than a dozen industries, from architecture and biotechnology to computer science and media arts. You’ll commit 20 hours per week to meaningful projects while developing communication, teamwork, and time-management skills.
As one of the top high school internships in the Bay Area, SFUSD’s program can help you build a professional network and gain workplace experience that stands out on college applications. You can learn more about the program here.
12. EBMUD High School Summer Internship (HSSI) Program
Location: EBMUD, East Bay, CA (in-person)
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 23 – August 1 (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 21
Eligibility: Bay Area high school students (sophomores to seniors) who haven’t participated in the HSSI program; 16+
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)
EBMUD's internship lets you work on water conservation and environmental protection, which are critical issues in drought-prone California. The program includes field trips to reservoirs and treatment plants to see how water systems work. Past interns have worked in areas including engineering, human resources, communications, water conservation, skilled trades, wastewater, and administration. You can find more information here.