21 High School Internships in the Bay Area – 2024

If you’re starting to think about your college applications, you may already know that many competitive applicants now engage in internships to make themselves stronger candidates for admissions committees.[i] Recently, NACE found that paid internships for college students ultimately lead to more job offers, higher starting salaries, and shorter job searches.[ii] And because not all high school students complete internships, listing one on your application can certainly give you a competitive edge over other college applicants.[iii] Internship choices vary widely, from computer science internships to medical school internships, to business internships and the options are thrilling! If you’re a student living in the Bay Area, you may be excited to learn that there are many stellar internship opportunities available (and many are only available to Bay Area students)! Below, we’ve compiled a list of 21 high school internships in the Bay Area 2024, organized by field/major.

And if you live on the East Coast, you may want to check out our list of High School Internships in NYC!

Medical Internships for High School Students in the Bay Area

1) Kaiser Permanente LAUNCH Internship

This is a fantastic internship opportunity that introduces high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to the healthcare industry. Students will learn practical and professional administrative and supportive skills and gain hands-on experience with non-medical professions in the healthcare field.

• Pay: Students are paid minimum wage ($15.50-$18) per hour.
• Dates: This is a seven-week summer program, usually from June to August.
• Application Deadline: Deadline is usually in December, though dates may vary by program year.
• Eligibility: Applicants must be high school students aged 16-19 by June of the internship summer. Students must be permanent residents in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area.

2) MarinHealth High School Volunteer Program

With Students Making Illness a Little Easier (S.M.I.L.E.), aspiring medical students can receive invaluable internship experience. This highly competitive volunteer program offers students the ability to work in a medical setting within the MarinHealth System, gaining valuable experience in patient care.

• Pay: Unspecified.
• Dates: Duration of the program is one year. Students will work in 2-hour shifts, Monday-Friday, 3:00-5:00.
• Application Deadline: Applications are rolling, but the best time to apply is between January and March.
• Eligibility: High school students who are 16 or older may apply, with preference given to students with special skills (clerical work, computers, etc.).

High School Internships in the Bay Area 2024 (Continued)

3) Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program

In this prestigious internship, students will conduct hands-on research with a lab mentor in one of eight research institutes: immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, bioengineering, stem cell and regenerative medicine, cardiovascular biology, bioinformatics, and genetics and genomics. SIMR also has a bioengineering bootcamp option that does not involve lab research.

• Cost / Pay: There is a $40 application fee (waived if family income is less than $80,000). All students are given a minimum $500 stipend. Stipends of $2,500 are given on a needs-based system.
• Dates: Eight weeks from June to August.
• Application Deadline: February (check specific date by year; application available in December).
• Eligibility: Applicants must be juniors and seniors in high school, with preference given to students in the Bay Area (though students outside this region may still apply and be accepted).

4) Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)

This is a five-week summer enrichment program in science in medicine, specifically designed for students from low-income, first-generation American families living in Northern California. Students will gain experience in hospital care, public health and community building and will attend academic seminars, tours, demonstrations, and guest lectures.

• Pay: Students will receive a $1250 clinical research stipend.
• Dates: Five weeks from June to July.
• Application Deadline: March (check specific date by year).
• Eligibility: High school juniors from low-income, first-generation American families in Northern California may apply.

High School Internships in the Bay Area 2024 (Continued)

5) UCSF Science and Health Education Partnership High School Internship Program

In this internship, students will be paired with a scientist mentor to learn how to conduct biomedical research. Students will complete a unique research project.

• Pay: $3200 for part-time interns; $4500 for full-time interns.
• Dates: Eight-week program, beginning in June.
• Application Deadline: February (specific date may vary by year).
• Eligibility: “Students who are current juniors, attending an SFUSD school, SF charter, or participate in College Track San Francisco and from a background considered historically marginalized in the sciences” are encouraged to apply.

6) UCSF Summer Student Research Program

This exciting summer program places high school and college-level students into local clinics and science labs so that they may gain hands-on experience participating in biomedical research projects. This is a great program for students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in medical and science-based careers.

• Pay: Stipend is $3,000 for high school students.
• Dates: Nine weeks, from June through August.
• Application Deadline: February (specific date may vary by year).
• Eligibility: High school students in their junior or senior year who have completed at least one year in math and biology may apply. Students must be U.S. citizens, must have at least a 3.0 GPA, and are especially encouraged to apply if they are from an underrepresented identity background.

STEM High School Internships in the Bay Area (Continued)

7) NanoLab / Berkeley High School Intern Program

This summer internship is designed for young women who are considering careers in science and engineering. Students will work alongside laboratory mentors for hands-on experience participating in a “high-tech research environment.” Students will present their projects at the end of the internship.

• Pay: Unspecified.
• Dates: Eight weeks each summer.
• Application Deadline: The program will not be hosted for summer 2024, but applicants may check back for the application for summer 2025.
• Eligibility: High school senior girls over 16 may apply. This internship is limited to Berkeley High School participants.

8) Careers in Science Intern Program

Students with the Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program will have the opportunity to conduct field work in the sciences, interact with the public, learn valuable professional and communication skills and learn about careers in the STEM fields.

• Pay: Interns are paid above minimum wage.
• Dates: Multi-year, year-round program; after school and weekends.
• Application Deadline: Applications are open from February to April, though specific dates may vary by year.
• Eligibility: Applicants must be in 9th or 10th grade and currently enrolled full-time at a SFUSD high school. After acceptance, students may stay in the program through high school. Students must have a 2.5 GPA (with a C or higher in science and math), must be able to commute to the internship site, and must be able to obtain a valid U.S. work permit.

High School Internships in the Bay Area 2024 (Continued)

9) Chabot Space & Science Center Galaxy Explorers Program

The Galaxy Explorers program is an internship opportunity for high school students who are hoping to engage in community service, gain hands-on experience in the STEM fields, and sharpen their public speaking skills. Students may go on field trips, engage with visitors at the Center, and work on long-term science projects for the center. The Center is especially sharpening its focus on space-related internships.

• Pay: The program is currently organizing a financial aid packet. More information can be sought at [email protected].
• Dates: One-year duration, with 12 hours of participation each month.
• Application Deadline: Applications are viewed twice a year, in April-May and September-October.
• Eligibility: High school students from grades 9-12 may apply. The 2023-2024 school year is limited to applicants from specific grant-funded schools.

10) Exploratorium High School Explainer Internship

This unique internship, which was founded by Frank Oppenheimer (Robert Oppenheimer’s brother), provides high school students with the opportunity to work as “Explainers” (guides) at the Exploratorium. Students will engage with and educate visitors, lead demonstrations and participate in museum operations.

• Pay: Pay is minimum wage.
• Dates: Students may apply for the summer or school year sessions.
• Application Deadline: Applications for the summer program are typically due in March. Applications for the school year program are typically due in July.
• Eligibility: Students must be in high school and aged 15 to 18 (or up to 20 for returning Explainers). Students must be able to work the entirety of the summer or school year session and must be able to obtain a valid work permit.

High School Internships in the Bay Area 2024 (Continued)

11) Inspirit AI Scholars Program

This excellent scholarly program offers high school students the chance to work with Stanford alumni and graduate students who have specialized in AI. Student scholars will learn to initiate and pursue AI projects and gain experience that will be invaluable at the college level.

• Cost: $1200 fee.
• Dates: 10 online sessions at 2.5 hours each run over summer weekdays or summer weekends. Specific dates vary by year.
• Application Deadline: April, though specific dates may vary by year.
• Eligibility: High school students from grades 9-12 may apply. No prior experience in coding necessary.

12) Sandia Student Internship

Sandia offers internships for high school students interested in science, technology, and national security. At Sandia, you will have the opportunity to engage with “real-world challenging projects that contribute to Sandia’s mission.”

• Pay: Varies by internship position.
• Dates: Varies by internship position.
• Application Deadline: Varies by internship position.
• Eligibility: Applicants must be full-time students who are at least 16 years of age. Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA for clerical and laborer internships and a 3.0 GPA for all other internships.

High School Internships in the Bay Area 2024 (Continued)

13) UCSC Science Internship Program

This unique science internship offers high school students the chance to work on “real research” – that is, students are able to explore and answer questions in a real scientific scenario where “things may go wrong, the project may go down a new route and the SIP intern’s result may end up disproving the initial hypothesis. But no matter what happens, the intern can be assured that they will wind up knowing something that no one knew before!”

• Cost: The program fee is $4,000, plus a $60 application fee.
• Dates: This is a nine-week summer program (two weeks of online research, followed by seven weeks of on-site work); specific dates vary by year.
• Application Deadline: March (date may vary by program year).
• Eligibility: High school students in the Bay Area are encouraged to apply. Students living outside the Bay Area may also apply, though specific arrangements must be made for their housing or for online work.

Arts, Humanities, and Education Bay Area Internships for High School Students

14) Meta Summer Academy Internship (formerly the Facebook Summer Academy)

Students will have hands-on experience operating at one of the world’s largest social media networks. Interns will learn coding, explore social media career options and engage in professional development.

• Pay: Students will receive a stipend upon successful completion of the program.
• Dates: This is a six-week summer program that runs from June to July for 30 hours per week.
• Application Deadline: Applications are due in late February or early March (specific deadlines vary by year).
• Eligibility: Applicants must be sophomores (rising juniors during the summer program) and must be full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks or Redwood City. Students must also have a minimum 2.0 GPA. One letter of recommendation is required.

15) Rock, Paper, Scissors Collective Internship

This Oakland arts organization offers students the opportunity to create their own projects, engage with the community, and learn curatorial and arts management skills. This is an especially good internship for students hoping to enter art school or receive scholarships for their artistic ability.

• Pay: Unspecified.
• Dates: Specific dates may vary by internship opportunity.
• Application Deadline: May vary by internship opportunity. For specific information, contact [email protected].
• Eligibility: Students aged 15-25 may apply.

High School Internships in the Bay Area 2024 (Continued)

16) SFUSD Summer Internship Program

This unique internship program offers high school students the opportunity to work within various fields. While the internships are primarily focused on education and youth outreach, students may also intern in fields like health and medicine, art, animation, science, mathematics, and architecture.

• Pay: Former interns have been paid minimum wage per hour, though this may vary by year and position.
• Dates: Six weeks; specific summer program dates may vary.
• Application Deadline: Typically in February, though specific date may vary by year.
• Eligibility: Students aged 14 or older from the San Francisco Unified School District are eligible to apply.

17) Teen Art Connect Internship with the Contemporary Jewish Museum

This is an excellent internship for high school students who are interested in the arts, humanities, and museum curatorship. Interns will learn about the museum’s exhibitions and architecture, gain experience in careers in the arts, engage with museum visitors and sharpen public speaking skills.

• Pay: Interns are paid minimum wage and additionally receive free membership to the CJM and free admission to CJM events.
• Dates: This is a year-long internship, beginning in the fall.
• Application Deadline: Applications open in the spring for the following school year.
• Eligibility: Student applicants must be in the 10th, 11th, or 12th The museum values diversity in hiring its candidates, including in culture, race, ethnicity and gender expression.

Political Science and Public Works High School Internships in the Bay Area

18) The Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy Internship

In this summer academy, students are given a unique glimpse into the world of public works and regional government systems. Students will attend online sessions, complete quizzes, and make a brief presentation on local public challenges. In particular, students will learn from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, The Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and the Association of Bay Area Governments.

• Pay: Unspecified.
• Dates: This is a four-week summer program beginning in July.
• Application Deadline: Applications are usually due in late April (though this may vary by application year).
• Eligibility: Applicants must be residents of the Bay Area and attend a local high school. They must be at least 15 years old and have completed 9th grade by the beginning of the internship, and they must have the permission of a parent or guardian to participate if they are under 18 years of age.

19) Project Pull Summer Internship

Project Pull provides paid summer internships for motivated high school students in the Bay Area who have an interest in working within the public sector. Students will engage in community service while learning teamwork, creativity, leadership, and communications skills.

• Pay: Paid, though specific amount is TBD; pay is per hour.
• Dates: Eight weeks from June to August.
• Application Deadline: Applications are usually due in February (specific dates may vary by year).
• Eligibility: Applicants must be a current high school sophomore, junior, or senior, live or go to high school in the San Francisco area, and must have a minimum 2.75 GPA.

High School Internships in the Bay Area 2024 (Continued)

20) SF YouthWorks

San Francisco YouthWorks offers paid internships to high school students who are interested in learning how to work within the public works sector. Students are placed with San Francisco city departments like the Public Utilities Commission, the Public Library, and the San Francisco International Airport.

• Pay: $18.93 per hour.
• Dates: Varies by position.
• Application Deadline: Varies by position.
• Eligibility: Rising 11^th graders through graduating 12th graders are eligible to apply for one of these positions. Students must reside or attend school in San Francisco.

Remote and Bay Area Internships for High School Students in Multiple Fields / Majors

21) Ladder Internship

With a Ladder Internship, students will work on real-world projects and may be placed in a variety of fields: health and medicine, finance, STEM, sustainability, media and journalism and the humanities.

• Cost: $1,490 (with financial aid available upon request).
• Dates: Eight weeks from June through August.
• Application Deadline: Applications due from April through May, though specific due dates may vary by year.
• Eligibility: Ladder internships are open to high school students who are able to complete the 10-20 hours per week of work for the eight-week internship period.

High School Internships in the Bay Area 2024 – Citations

[i] Borst, Heidi. “The Rise of High School Internships,” U.S. News & World Report. January 14, 2022.

[ii] Collins, Mimi. “Open the Door: Disparities in Paid Internships,” National Association of Colleges and Employers, Student Survey Report (Four-Year Colleges). November 1, 2020. https://www.naceweb.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/trends-and-predictions/open-the-door-disparities-in-paid-internships/

[iii] “Spotlight on High School Internships: Opening Doors to In-Demand Skills, Social Capital & Greater Career Security.” American Student Assistance Strategic Insights Series, 2020. https://file.asa.org/uploads/Spotlight-on-High-School-Internships.pdf