6 Paid Internships for High School Students in San Francisco
For high school students, landing a paid internship isn’t just about earning extra cash—it’s a valuable opportunity to gain exposure to future careers and industries. Internships offer hands-on experience, mentorship, and networking opportunities that can significantly enhance your college application.
By showcasing real-world experience, leadership potential, and initiative, internships demonstrate to colleges that you're committed to learning beyond the classroom. Below is a curated list of 6 paid internships in San Francisco designed to help high school students gain experience in various fields, from science to public service.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students will receive a stipend commensurate to the work they put in, which varies with the internship role
Location: Livermore, CA | Albuquerque, NM | other Sandia sites
Application Deadline: Rolling deadline, as internship openings are continuously updated
Program Dates:
Year-round, if you choose that program option
For the Co-op internships, you can select your internship period, in coordination with Sandia and your school
Summer Interns: 40 hours/week
Year-round Interns: 25 hours/week
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old, are enrolled full-time in an accredited college, university, or high school, and are U.S. citizens. For R&D, technical, or business roles, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Sandia National Laboratories is a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. Sandia offers internship opportunities for students during the summer and year-round. As a high schooler, you can apply for internships in the technical, business, and Research & Development departments. Each of these will allow you to work on different projects of national importance.
With these internships, you will get hands-on experience in a research environment. You will work with top scientists and engineers on projects that contribute to technological advancements. The internship could involve work in cyber security, energy, engineering, and software. You will work under the guidance of a manager, who will help structure your assignment, schedule, and the duration of your internship. You can choose between a year-round internship and a co-op internship, which runs for a part of the academic year and can be extended into the summer.
Application deadline: Interest forms open in early February, and close by mid-spring
Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors, with priority for juniors
Program dates: 6 weeks (20 hours/week) in the summer, dates will be decided based on the industry
Location: Varies by internship
Stipend: Students will be paid, but information on the exact amount is not available
The SFUSD internships with industry partners offer valuable hands-on experience and professional development opportunities as well as a chance to explore career fields. You can choose an industry from a range of choices, including animation, architecture, automotive technology, biotechnology, computer science, engineering, environmental science, finance, law, marketing, media, and more. You will work alongside industry mentors in your chosen field. The internship will also help you develop skills that can come in handy during college and in your future career.
Location: Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, CA
Stipend: $3,500 for full summer participation
Eligibility: Current 10th, 11th, or 12th grade students
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Dates/Duration: June 3 – August 16, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
The Teen Internship program at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science is a science education internship for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. You will be partnered with an adult staff member who will guide you throughout the summer internship. Before the internship begins, you’ll participate in training workshops to prepare for your role. During the internship, you’ll engage with young learners, walking them through the process of scientific investigation and discovery through interactive presentations. This program will not only increase your scientific knowledge but also enhance your communication skills and give you teaching experience.
4. Project Pull
Location: San Francisco city and county departments, CA or virtual
Stipend: Paid, amount unspecified
Eligibility: High school and college students from diverse communities in San Francisco
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Dates/Duration: Summer internship, exact dates for 2025 TBA
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission offers students internships in various city and county departments over the summer. The program aims to encourage students to work for the City and County of San Francisco in the future. As an intern, you’ll get an introduction to public sector work, building skills in leadership, teamwork, and community service. You will also receive professional mentorship in various STEAM fields, such as architecture, business, and engineering.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $18.93/hour
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who live or attend school in San Francisco
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Dates/Duration: During the school year, 2025 dates TBA
YouthWorks is a government internship program that gives high school students hands-on experience working within various departments of San Francisco's city government. You will have the chance to work in departments such as the Fire Department, District Attorney, Mayor’s Office on Disability, City Planning, Asian Art Museum, and more. This program offers a mentorship component, allowing you to connect with public service professionals. You will leave the program with a deeper understanding of civic duties and local government operations.
Location: Various locations in California
Stipend:
$18.50/hour during the Green House Call phase
$19.50/hour during the externship
$19.50/hour for Energy Specialist Drivers, plus mileage reimbursement
Eligibility: Applicants must be between the ages of 15-22 and resident in the City of Stockton or one of the nine Bay Area counties
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Dates/Duration: Summer internship, specific dates for 2025 TBA
Focused on environmental sustainability, the Climate Careers program offers young leaders the chance to gain paid, hands-on work experience while taking climate action. As Energy Specialists, you will provide home energy assessments to local residents, helping to reduce energy usage and promote eco-friendly practices. You will also attend weekly workshops on green careers and sustainability issues, with opportunities to collaborate with environmental professionals. After this training and practical component, you will take part in a paid externship with one of the program’s partners, such as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and GRID Alternatives.
One other option — the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also 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 4000 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 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.