Are you looking for a way to gain valuable work experience, explore different career fields, and earn some money while you’re at it? If so, you might want to consider applying for a paid internship. Paid internships are not only a great addition to your resume and college applications, but also an opportunity to learn new skills, network with professionals, and discover your passions.
However, finding a paid internship as a high school student can be challenging, as many employers prefer college students or graduates. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 15 paid internships for high school students in 2023 that cover a variety of fields and interests. Whether you’re interested in science, law, journalism, or art, there’s something for everyone on this list.
#1 Habitat For Humanity Construction Internship
Habitat For Humanity is a global non-profit organization that builds homes, communities and hope for people in need. Interns will work with the construction team to support single family attached and detached homes as well as home repair projects; work with diverse team members, problem solving, listening and communication, collaboration; practice proper use of tools, construction site safety; obtain certifications in first aid, CPR, stop the bleed, OSHA training; and perform other work-related duties as assigned. Interns will receive a salary of $15 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be 16 years or older; have volunteer experience with Habitat a plus but not required; be bilingual English/Spanish a plus; be able to commit to a 6-month term; adequately traverse a residential construction job site; lift a minimum of 50 lbs. (at times) with or without reasonable accommodation; safely use residential construction tools and equipment; be comfortable with ladders and heights with appropriate fall protection; and be able to perform key responsibilities.
#2 Hersheypark Culinary & Pastry Internship
Hersheypark is a family theme park situated in Hershey, Pennsylvania, that features more than 70 rides and attractions, as well as zoo animals, chocolate tours, and live entertainment. Interns will adhere to company procedures, rules and regulations regarding food safety; maintain a clean work environment and demonstrate ability to prepare hot and cold foods; and perform other duties as assigned. Interns will receive $13 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 16 years of age or older; be a junior or senior enrolled in culinary or pastry focused program or a high school co-op program; have basic knife skills and knife safety; have reliable transportation to and from the internship; and be able to perform key responsibilities.
#3 EXP Administrative Assistant Intern
EXP is a global company that provides innovative solutions for the world’s built and natural environments. The job is based in San Bernardino, CA, United States, and is part of the Transportation team for Infrastructure projects. Interns will receive $18 to $22 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be proficient in Microsoft Office Outlook, Word, and Excel; have a high school diploma or above; have excellent written and verbal communications skills; have the ability to work well independently with minimal supervision and with a variety of levels of individuals; and demonstrate attention to detail and problem solving skills.
#4 Highland Mountain Summer Trail Building Internship
Highland Mountain is a bike park that offers world-class trails, coaching, and camps for all levels of riders. The internship is open to students who have the desire to learn how to maintain and build some of the best bike trails in the world. Interns will build and maintain trails ranging from freeride flow trails to technical downhill trails, and complete tasks with the help of a Highland Trails Master or Journeyman Trail Builder. Interns will work for approximately 24-40 hours a week, Monday through Friday 7:00 am through 3:30 pm, during high school or college summer break and potentially weekends before school is out. Interns must be at least 16 years old and will receive an expected pay starting at $10.00/hr.
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 16 years old; have a good attitude, ability to work hard, and desire to learn; have the ability to take and follow directions; have the ability to work effectively with a wide range of people; have the ability to do physical work for an 8-hour day; and have the ability to use hand tools for trail maintenance and building. Bike handling skills and a desire to ride at Highland are also encouraged.
#5 Blue Ocean Barns High School Internship
Blue Ocean Barns, Inc. (BOB) is a public benefit corporation that aims to solve the climate impact of cattle by working with farmers and food companies to commercialize and scale the production and use of their proprietary, algae-based livestock feed ingredient. Interns will work with the aquaculture team to support the harvesting, processing, and experimentation of the algae; work with team members to harvest algae from the growing vessels; and perform other duties as needed by the supervisor. Interns will work for three months, part-time and in-person, and receive a salary of $15 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be local high-school students with an interest in aquaculture, climate change, and algae; be able to stand for extended periods, both inside and outside; be able to perform fine manipulations with hands and fingers; be able to use math skills in performing duties; and be able to perform key responsibilities.
#6 Circor Aerospace & Defense Engineering Intern
Circor Aerospace & Defense is a global company that is focused on the design, development, and manufacture of specialty fluid and motion control products for demanding aerospace and defense applications. The internship is based in various locations across the United States, such as California, New York, Florida, and more. The internship is part of the Manufacturing Engineering team, a group that is responsible for supporting the manufacturing processes and contributing to developing efficient and effective production methods. Interns will receive $19-$21 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be junior or senior in high school with a strong desire to continue education in a STEM field; have knowledge of basic engineering principles and concepts; have skills in mathematics, physics, and computer applications; have abilities to work in a team, communicate effectively, and solve problems creatively; and have experiences in participating in STEM-related projects, activities, or competitions.
#7 Youth Digital Collaboration Coach Internship
Youth Digital Collaboration is a Michigan-based organization that provides remote collaborative teams of young developers, creating digital solutions in response to real-world problems. Interns will lead and mentor a team of youth digital collaborators, guiding them through real-world problems and facilitating the development of collaborative solutions; encourage learning about the latest industry trends, tools, and technologies to ensure the delivery of cutting-edge solutions. Interns will work part-time, remotely, and receive a salary of $15-$20 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be 16 years or older; have documentation to verify authorization to work in the U.S.; have completed 9th grade (or a GED program); be currently enrolled in computer science or game design coursework, or have relevant work experience; have strong performance as a Youth Collaber and provided a Coach Permit; be resident of Michigan; have demonstrated interest in mentoring or coaching others in a collaborative setting; have ability to work independently and manage time effectively to meet project deadlines; and be able to perform key responsibilities.
#8 FIERF Fundraising & Workforce Development Internship
The Forging Industry Educational and Research Foundation (FIERF) is a non-profit organization that supports the forging industry through technology development and education. Interns will assist with the planning and execution of special events and activities; coordinate workforce opportunities for companies and schools; assist with donor communications and fundraising campaigns; conduct research on potential donors, strategic partners, and schools. Interns will receive a salary of $20 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must have interest in learning about the fundraising and workforce development side of a non-profit; have experience with Microsoft Office computer programs; have positive attitude and willingness to learn; have strong organizational skills and attention to detail; have strong writing skills; have ability to work independently; have excellent communication skills and able to succeed in a team environment; and be willing to commute to Independence, OH (3 days per week) and work remotely (2 days per week).
#9 TxDOT Geology & Petrography Laboratory Support Internship
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is a state agency that oversees transportation planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operations in Texas. Interns will assist in geoscience support work such as laboratory work, data collection, and operating data collection equipment; compile information from laboratory database and identify different aggregate types from various sources; operate and clean laboratory equipment; move items related to these duties as required; and perform other job responsibilities as assigned. Interns will receive $18.00-$23.00 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be a student in high school or other educational institution or accepted into a college, university or educational institution; be at least 16 years of age; have valid driver’s license if 18 years of age or older; and be able to perform essential duties.
#10 Medical Informatics Engineering Internship
Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE) is a healthcare IT company that provides innovative solutions for electronic health records, health information exchange, and data analytics. Interns will maintain safe, orderly lab and environment; prepare lab samples; assist other students with equipment operation and lab activities; maintain, set up, and repair lab equipment; document activities and solutions to issues via email, written reports, etc.; and perform other work-related duties as assigned. Interns will work for a flexible duration, and receive a salary of $12 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be current high school or college students with excellent analytical skills, ability to work in teams, ability to log time (hourly position); and be able to perform key responsibilities.
#11 Shamrck Marketing Internship
This internship offers a chance to join Shamrck’s marketing department which produces quality work for major companies and seeks an intern who can participate in various stages of print and digital marketing campaigns as well as digital advertising. Interns will assist in the creation of signage, circulars, mock-ups, email campaigns, online promotions, etc., assist in the distribution or delivery of marketing materials, assist with the fulfilment of marketing offers, provide support to social media efforts, monitor social media for trending topics to utilize on social media channels, maintain tracking report of public relations activity. Interns will have a flexible schedule for students and receive compensation based on experience.
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school juniors or seniors in the United States; be United States citizens; be at least 15 years old; live in the Augusta metro area; have an interest in sales, marketing, or advertising; have excellent verbal and written communication skills; have extensive knowledge of social media; be driven and hard-working; have ability to take direction and multi-task; preferably have PowerPoint, Word, and Excel experience (or alternatively, Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides); and preferably have Canva experience.
#12 Blackstone Group Leasing & Management Maintenance Technician Internship
Blackstone Group Leasing & Management is a leading property management company that manages over 1500 rental properties in Rhode Island and SE Massachusetts. Interns will work remotely with the maintenance team to support affordable housing in the area; work with skilled maintenance technicians to address maintenance requests submitted by tenants living in rental units; maintain a safe, orderly work environment; and perform other duties as assigned. Interns will work for a minimum of 10 hours per week, with flexible hours and schedules, and receive a salary of $14 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be students aged 16 or older with an interest in learning trade skills and a “can-do attitude”; and be able to perform key responsibilities.
#13 Penumbra, Inc High School Internship – Production
Penumbra, Inc is a global healthcare company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets innovative products and has a broad portfolio that addresses challenging medical conditions and significant clinical needs. Interns will perform administrative functions such as faxing, copying, filing, data entry, scheduling conference calls, meeting rooms and equipment; ensure other members of the department follow the QMS, regulations, standards, and procedures; perform other work-related duties as assigned. Interns will work for up to 6 months and receive $17 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school students with some high school education completed; have a work permit; have strong oral, written and interpersonal communication skills; have high degree of accuracy and attention to detail; have working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other standard office tools and equipment or be willing to learn.
#14 Our Neighborhood Child Development Center Early Childhood Internship
Our Neighborhood Child Development Center (ONCDC) is a non-profit organization that provides high-quality early childhood education and care for children from 0 to 8 years old. Interns will assist in one of two spaces, working with children 0-3 years or 3-8 years; participate as a teacher, learning from the teaching team and receiving feedback to help them grow; have time to reflect on the learning they see, and create documentation to reflect that back to the children; participate in professional development workshops to ensure college and workforce readiness; and perform other work-related duties as assigned. Interns will work part-time, and receive a salary of $15 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be committed to wanting more for the image of children everywhere and the view of the child being a capable and competent one; be able to meet the physical demands of the position (i.e. care for active young children, outdoors in all weathers, repetitive bending and lifting); have creativity, compassion, and flexibility necessary for working with children, parents and team members; have excellent communication skills and be proactive in asking questions to learn the routines of each room; thrive on being on-the-go in changing environments; be at least 16 years old.
#15 Pindel Global Precision High School Internship
Pindel Global Precision is a manufacturing company that specializes in CNC and multi-spindle machining of precision components for various industries. Interns will operate a variety of CNC and/or multi-spindle machining equipment as defined for our Machinist roles; attend print reviews; assist with quality department projects; attend a vendor review; shadow setups; assist maintenance with preventative maintenance; and perform other work-related duties as assigned. Interns will receive a salary of $15 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school students who are interested in the manufacturing field; be U.S. citizens or hold a green card; and be able to perform key responsibilities.
Internships are valuable opportunities for high school students to explore their career interests, gain real-world experience, and enhance their college applications. There are many paid internships available for high school students in various fields, such as STEM, arts, medicine, law, and more.
These internships offer students the chance to work with professionals, learn new skills, and contribute to meaningful projects. Students who are interested in applying for these internships should check the eligibility requirements, deadlines, and application processes on the respective websites.
