When you're in high school, gaining professional experience while earning an income can be a major benefit. California, with its diverse industries ranging from tech to aerospace, offers many paid internship opportunities for high school students. These internships provide financial compensation, valuable experience, mentorship, and a glimpse into a future career in your field of interest. Paid internships tend to be more selective, making them a valuable addition to your college application profile.

In this blog, we’ll cover 10 paid internships for high school students in California, helping you find the right opportunity to explore your interests. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.

1. High School Summer Insider Internship with L.A. Times

Subject Areas: Journalism

Location: L.A. Times office, El Segundo, CA

Cost/Stipend: Stipend of $16.90/hour provided

Application Deadline: February 19

Dates: June 17 – August 2

Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors legally authorized to work in the U.S. 

The Los Angeles Times High School Insider Internship is a great opportunity for aspiring student journalists. This seven-week internship is for high school students interested in journalism and storytelling. As a High School Insider intern, you’ll work on real-world news stories, features, and multimedia projects, gaining experience under the mentorship of journalists. The program has a hybrid work model—Monday through Wednesday at the El Segundo office and Thursday remotely. You can expect to work roughly 24 hours per week as an intern. Each student must have an adviser, who can be an English or journalism teacher at your school. 

2. Navy Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)

Subject Areas: Engineering

Location: 8 labs are available in California; check the website for locations

Cost/Stipend: New interns: $4,000; Returning interns: $4,500. Students are responsible for their own housing

Application Deadline: November 1

Dates: Varies based on lab (8 weeks in the summer)

Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old by the start date and are solely U.S. citizens. Eligibility can vary by lab

The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) allows high school students to engage in real Naval research at the Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories. SEAP allows you to work with scientists and engineers, providing experience in research and technology. You will be mentored by professionals in the field. SEAP is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate usually lower than 10%. To apply, you have to select up to 3 labs you’re interested in and submit personal statements, transcripts, and recommendations. This program aims to encourage students, especially those who are underrepresented, to pursue careers within the Department of Navy. For more information, check out our blog post on the Navy SEAP. 

3. California Academy of Science Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program

Subject Areas: STEM fields

Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA

Cost/Stipend: No cost; CiS interns are paid above minimum wage

Application Deadline: April 1

Dates: After school and on weekends, year-round participation for 2-3 years till graduation

Eligibility: Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time as a 9th or 10th-grade student in an SFUSD school (check if your school qualifies here), maintain a GPA of 2.5 and a grade of C or higher in science and math, and be able to obtain a valid work permit 

This program is open to San Francisco students from groups underrepresented in STEM, offering an opportunity to explore science and sustainability. As an intern, you’ll complete fieldwork and facilitate science education for visitors to the California Academy of Sciences. You’ll receive training in science communication, interact with STEM professionals, and learn about financial literacy and the college application process. You’ll have the chance to present at STEM conferences, which is useful training for a future academic career in science. Towards the end of the internship, you’ll work in groups to conduct research or work on an environmental project under the guidance of an Academy researcher or partner. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

4. Meta Summer Academy

Subject Areas: Business, technology, coding, data science, and more

Location: Meta office, Menlo Park, CA

Cost/Stipend: No cost; students will receive a stipend upon successful completion

Application Deadline: March 1

Dates: June 17 – July 26

Eligibility: High school sophomores who are full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA

The Meta Summer Academy offers high school students the chance to learn about the operations of one of the world's largest social media companies. As an intern, you will develop coding skills, enhance your communication and interpersonal abilities, and explore various career paths within the tech industry. To make the program accessible to students across California, Meta provides transportation for all participants. Read more about the Meta Summer Academy in our blog.  

5. Project SEED by American Chemical Society

Subject Areas: Chemistry and related fields

Location: Varies based on lab choice. Check opportunities available in California here

Eligibility: Applicants must be current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors or a recent graduate, have completed at least one course in high school chemistry, and their family income should not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size. Project SEED has multiple methods of documenting eligibility, see here

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April

Dates: 8-10 weeks, June to August

Cost/Stipend: No cost; $4,000 is awarded to the interns.

Project SEED is a summer fellowship program for high school students interested in chemistry and laboratory research. The labs are located at universities and other research sites in various states. The program focuses on supporting over 350 students from underrepresented communities, offering internships and summer camps to assist with university applications and career development. As a Project SEED intern, you will undertake an independent research project. There are a wide range of project types to choose from. Depending on your project location, you might also participate in field trips, campus tours, and career panels. Your coordinator may register you for the American Chemical Society National Meeting, where you can present your research findings.

6. SFUSD’s Industry Summer Internships

Subject Areas: Engineering, media arts, finance, and more. See the full list here

Location: San Francisco area, CA

Stipend: Stipend amount has not been specified

Application Deadline: Information about summer internships will be available on February 1

Dates: Varies based on internship (6 weeks)                   

Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors, with priority given to juniors

San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) offers a summer industry internship program that provides high school students with paid work experiences in various industry sectors. Through this internship, you will work with industry mentors, gain valuable professional skills, and explore potential career paths. Interns work at least 20 hours per week and attend weekly seminars with their SFUSD Supervisor/Mentor to enhance their learning. Internship opportunities are available in sectors like animation, automotive technology, computer science, culinary arts, hospitality and tourism, urban agriculture, and more. 

7. Summer Administrative Internships with Stanford Healthcare

Subject Areas: Administration in clinical settings 

Location: Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA

Cost/Stipend: A stipend is provided, but the amount is not specified 

Application Deadline: Applications for Summer will open in Fall/Winter

Dates: Varies based on the internship, usually 8, 10, or 12 weeks in the summer

Eligibility: Current high school students who are at least 16 years old

The Administrative Internship Program at Stanford University offers an opportunity for high school students to experience how clinical innovation is integrated into healthcare operations and leadership. You will be matched with a department where you will be guided by a preceptor. You will participate in professional development sessions, networking events, and social activities. For the summer, the high school internship involves housekeeping, sterile processing, supply chain processing, emergency services, and anesthesia technical services, among others.

8. High School Explainers Program at Exploratorium

Subject Areas: Science communication

Location: Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA

Cost/Stipend: No cost; Paid position, amount unspecified

Application Deadline: Applications for the year-round and summer High School Explainer programs are typically available in July and March, respectively

Dates: Throughout the year and in the summer

Eligibility: Students aged 15 – 18 who can obtain a valid work permit

For high school students interested in science, the Exploratorium’s High School Explainers Program is a valuable opportunity. The Exploratorium is a science education center that has been working with high school students since 1969. This internship invites students to gain experience in science communication. As an intern, you'll receive specialized training that covers science content, exhibit presentation, career development, and youth mentorship. This preparation enables you to explain exhibits to museum visitors. The program is flexible, with opportunities available during both the summer and the academic year.

9. The Intern Project Summer Program

Subject Areas: Various fields, including arts, engineering & tech, business, and more  

Location: Varies according to internship; Los Angeles, CA or remote

Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students will receive a stipend and college credit upon successful completion 

Application Deadline: March 15

Dates: June to August (8 weeks)

Eligibility: Students completing their sophomore, junior, or senior year at an LA County high school. Priority is given to high-need students 

The Intern Project (TIP) provides high school students across Los Angeles County with the chance to explore various professional fields such as Healthcare & Medical Technology, Media & Entertainment, Government, Non-Profit, Philanthropy, and Sports. These internships are hosted by TIP's network of company partners, which include aerospace firms and organizations like America on Tech. In addition to work experience, TIP offers mentorship, professional development sessions, and networking opportunities. 

10. J. Craig Venter Institute’s High School Internship

Subject Areas: STEM 

Location: J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA 

Cost/Stipend: High school students are paid $17/hour

Application deadline: Applications will open in the first quarter of the year. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You can check the current postings here

Dates: May to August

Eligibility: High school students who are aged 16 and above, reside in the U.S., are eligible to work in the U.S., and have a 3.0/B average 

The JCVI Summer Internship Program offers an opportunity for high school students who want to conduct research in STEM. This program allows you to collaborate with scientists on projects that align with your academic background, interests, and skills. You will get experience with state-of-the-art equipment and technologies. Additionally, you can attend various workshops to boost your scientific and professional competencies. These include journal clubs, career development sessions, and interdisciplinary scientific seminars.

One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! 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 Ph.D. 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.