If you’re a high school student looking to build new skills, network, and gain experience in an industry, consider doing an internship! Internships provide exposure to professional environments, enabling you to apply classroom knowledge to practical tasks and explore potential career paths. This experience is crucial for understanding different industries and determining your areas of interest.

Early professional exposure through internships gives you relevant experience and allows you to build a network of professional contacts. These experiences can lead to strong letters of recommendation and a more impressive resume when you apply to college. 

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 10 internships for high school students in Seattle! 

1. Ladder Internship Program

Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)

Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.

Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November). 

Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!

Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.

2. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Summer High School Internship Program

Stipend: Provided after successfully completing the internship. Students must provide their own housing.

Location: Seattle, WA

Application Deadline: Typically due in March.

Program Dates: June 24 - August 16

Eligibility: Open to high school students entering their senior year or final term after the summer with a strong scientific background.

The Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center offers a paid internship for rising 11th and 12th graders. This 8-week program provides research experience and professional development opportunities. The first 2 weeks involve training in laboratory safety protocols and essential research techniques. The following 6 weeks are spent conducting research within Fred Hutch’s Seattle-based research groups, working with mentors on research projects. Interns benefit from educational and professional development through seminars and workshops. At the end of the internship, you will present your research findings to the Fred Hutch community. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

3. Seattle Children’s Research Institute - Research Training Program

Stipend: Provided, but the amount is unspecified.

Location: Seattle, WA 

Application Deadline: March 10

Program Dates: July 8 - August 2

Eligibility: Open to 10th, 11th, and 12th graders who have a Social Security Number (SSN) 

The Research Training Program (RTP) is designed for students who live within commuting distance of downtown Seattle. This competitive program introduces you to a variety of lab techniques, including microscopy, agarose gel electrophoresis, immunoassays, gene editing, and more. The program includes a series of lectures covering topics such as biochemistry, immunotherapy, global health issues, and infectious diseases. Workshops focus on college readiness and career exploration. You will work in teams on a research project, culminating in a presentation of your findings.

4. Microsoft Discovery Program

Stipend: $20/hour

Location: Redmond, WA

Application Deadline: Applications typically open in March and are reviewed on a rolling basis. 

Program Dates: July 8 - August 2

Eligibility: Open to graduating high school seniors who have completed pre-calculus or an equivalent course. Must live and attend high school within 50 miles of Redmond, WA, and be legally allowed to work in the U.S. throughout the duration of the program.

The Microsoft Discovery Program offers an opportunity for high school students to work on real-world projects at Microsoft. This 4-week internship helps you explore your interests in computer science, engineering, and technology while developing career readiness skills. You will learn fundamental programming skills and work on projects in the tech industry. The Discovery Program allows you to engage with Microsoft professionals and industry experts. You will benefit from career development workshops and mentorship, gaining insights into various career paths within the industry. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

5. The Port of Seattle Internship Program

Stipend: A stipend is provided 

Location: Seattle, WA

Application Deadline: The deadline for the summer program is May, and for the winter program, it is November.

Program Dates: 8 weeks in the summer, 10 weeks in the winter 

Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 16-18 who are authorized to work in the U.S.

The Port of Seattle's Internship Program offers a comprehensive experience for high school students interested in exploring careers within the port’s operations. The program aims to give you essential skills in a corporate environment. Interns are placed in diverse departments such as aviation operations, maritime operations, governance, community engagement, and green jobs. Throughout the program, you will learn the Port’s Code of Conduct, communications technology, and business skills. The program includes career awareness activities like mentorship meetings, facility tours, and resume workshops.

6. Seattle City Light

Stipend: Internships are paid.

Location: Seattle, WA

Application Deadline: Opportunities are posted in early April each year. 

Program Dates: Mid-June/early July to end of August.

Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 16 with a minimum GPA of 2 who are U.S. citizens.

Seattle City Light offers an 8-week, paid summer internship to give high school students practical experience in the utilities sector. The program is an excellent opportunity for students interested in energy production and distribution. Interns at Seattle City Light will engage in various administrative tasks, assist in projects, and participate in special training sessions. The program emphasizes professional development, allowing you to work with professionals. As an intern, you will learn about the business of utilities while working on projects that impact the community.

7. Youth Maritime Program

Stipend: Stipend provided.

Location: Seattle, WA 

Application Deadline: April - mid-June

Program Dates: This two-year program begins in early July. 

Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors

The Youth Maritime Program offers a 2-year internship for high school students interested in pursuing careers in the maritime industry. The program provides a structured transition through senior year toward college readiness and maritime career opportunities. You will attend field trips and learn skills related to boat maintenance, repair, and small-boat sailing. Through experiential learning events, you’ll network with maritime experts, community leaders, and potential employers, gaining valuable insights and professional connections. The program includes opportunities to earn short-term certifications and supports up to 4 quarters of college or direct employment placement. 

8. Seattle Good Business Network Internship Program

Stipend: Interns are paid an hourly rate based on local living wage standards (For last year, it was $22.77/hr)

Location: Seattle, WA

Application Deadline: Applications typically open in April and close in May

Program Dates: June 17 - August 23

Eligibility: Open to students aged 18-24.

The Seattle Good Business Network’s internship program offers high school students a paid opportunity to gain work experience with local businesses, manufacturers, and public agencies. Interns must complete at least 240 hours of work, including flexible weekly schedules determined by each business host and intern. The program covers a wide range of roles, including administrative support, social media management, eCommerce, inventory management, customer service, and more. Sponsored by the Seattle Office of Economic Development and the Workforce Development Council of Seattle, this program provides valuable networking opportunities.

9. Clean Water Ambassadors Internship

Stipend: $20/hour and an ORCA card.

Location: Seattle, WA

Application Deadline: TBA

Program Dates: July 8 - August 9

Eligibility: Open to high school students 16+

The Clean Water Ambassadors Internship, a partnership between the King County Wastewater Treatment Division and Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, offers high school students a 5-week paid internship focused on local environmental issues, solutions, and careers related to clean water. The program is designed for students new to environmental topics and those from underrepresented communities in environmental careers. You will enhance your communication abilities, design and execute projects, and engage in field trips and workshops.

10. SPARKSIP Summer Mentorship Program

Stipend: Varies; some projects offer stipends, and others cover transportation costs. 

Location: Greater Seattle area

Application Deadline: Applications open in April and close in May.

Program Dates: Dates are dependent on the project 

Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9-12 residing in and permanent residents of the U.S.

The SPARK SIP program connects high school students in the Greater Seattle area with industry experts, professors, and community leaders. It aims to provide exposure to professional environments and learning experiences. You can select up to five projects to apply for, with mentors typically assigned to 5-6 students per project. The program offers covers topics, including machine learning, AI, data visualization, and more. Past projects have included Python scripting for crossbar architecture, exploring Spiking Neural Networks, and data interfacing and visualization. You will benefit from professional development resources that will be valuable for your college applications. You can read more about this program here.

Another option  —  the Lumiere Research Scholar Program!

If you are looking to start your research journey with 1–1 mentorship from a top Ph.D. scholar in forensic science, check out the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford. You can find the application form here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.