12 Economics Internships for High School Students

Internships while in high school present an opportunity for students to build a foundation in the field of their choice and supplement their theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience. The networking and learning opportunities internships present can further strengthen college and job applications and expose you to multiple facets of your field of interest.

If you’re a high schooler looking to further your knowledge and experience in the field of economics, especially if you’re considering taking it up in college and pursuing a career in it, then this list is for you. These internships will help bridge the gap between what you learn in the classroom and how you apply that in the real world.

The following list contains 12 economics internships for high school students that you can check out. The options include finance, business and entrepreneurship, and economic research in both traditional and non-traditional setups, all of which can help set you up for future professional success.

1. Ladder Internships

Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 5-15 hours per week for 8-16 weeks
Application Deadline: Spring cohort: February 18, 2024 | Summer cohort (early admission): February 18, 2024 | Summer cohort (regular admission): April 14, 2024. Fall and winter cohorts are also offered.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. Summer cohorts run in June-August.
Cost: Starting at $1,990
Financial Aid: Full and partial need-based financial aid is available.

Ladder Internships is an entirely virtual, fairly selective internship program founded by Harvard alumni. The program offers high school students the opportunity to intern at startups and nonprofits across the world, to work on real-world projects. With over 600 applications, 100 interns are selected and paired with companies like JuneBrain, Billion Dollar Startup Idea, IPMD, Fair Opportunity Project, and Softenmind, among others.

Economics students can consider applying to internship areas like finance, business, marketing, growth, consulting, and nonprofits. Once the selection and matching process takes place, interns will work with their company mentor and Ladder coach to develop their project and skills, followed by a final presentation at the end. The program also includes a learning component, where students will participate in professional skill development and training sessions.

Take a look at some previous project examples here.

2. KP Launch High School Program

Location: You can intern at a Kaiser Permanente Medical Center or business office closest to where you are. Find a location near you.
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 16-19 with U.S. work eligibility and permanent residence in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area. Students should be available to commute to the site and work full-time.
Application Deadline: Applications for 2024 are closed. Keep checking the program page for updates.
Dates: June 17, 2024 - August 2, 2024 (7 weeks)
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students are paid $15.50 - $18 per hour (exact amount varies by city)

Kaiser Permanente, one of the top healthcare and insurance providers globally, offers summer internships for high school students to get practical experience and insight into the healthcare industry, with a specific focus on professional development. The program offers tracks in a number of industries adjacent to or relevant to healthcare, such as administration, business, accounting, sales and marketing, communications, product development and more. 

Interns will attend weekly workshops focusing on personal and professional skills development in addition to working closely with mentors, supervisors, and peers. Social events, work activities, and community service projects will further expose interns to the practicalities of the industry. Take a look at some internship and career areas here.

3. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) High School Business Internship

Location: Location varies with the internship position. See open positions here!
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: Applications open in early February. Deadlines vary for different positions. 
Dates: August-May (during the school year)
Cost/Stipend: Not specified

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, known informally as PNNL, is one of the US Department of Energy national laboratories, managed by the Department of Energy's Office of Science. PNNL offers this prestigious internship in collaboration with the work-based learning (WBL) programs available to local high school students. PNNL allows students to attend school classes for half a day, following which students will work up to 4 hours every day for 5 days a week with the laboratory.

During this internship, students will engage in educational and leadership development activities involving laboratory demonstrations, field trips, communications, and career awareness workshops. Career areas relevant to economics are Finance and Business Services, Facilities and Operations, and Communications.

4. U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internship Program

Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens
Application Deadline: October (for spring internships) | December (for summer internships) | June (for fall internships)
Dates: January-May (spring) | May-August (summer) | September-December (fall)
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship.

The Treasury Department operates at the federal level to promote economic prosperity and maintain financial security. These internships are highly competitive for high school students. Selected interns will be able to gain invaluable career experience, build networks, and access the daily workings and environment of the department.

Potential tasks for interns include collecting and analyzing policy data, reporting on relevant Congressional hearings, researching academic literature, drafting reports, connecting with other agencies, and assisting with budget formulation and human capital planning.

Students can work in departments like the Office of Domestic Finance, Office of Tax Policy, and Office of Economic Policy.

5. Chicago Summer Business Institute

Location: Chicago, ILEligibility: High school sophomores or juniors residing in Chicago with a B or 3.0 average and family income below $80,000/year
Application Deadline: Applications will open in spring 2024.
Dates: June-August (6 weeks)
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)

Founded in 1991, the Chicago Summer Business Institute is a well-established and reputed program providing paid internship opportunities to high school students, that helps them further their experience and knowledge of the financial services sector. The internship includes workshops, seminars, practical projects, discussions, career development skills, and networking opportunities. This internship offers a combination of practical experiences and classroom learning. 

Alumni of this internship program interned with places like Siebert Brandford Shank and Co., CSBI, the City of Chicago Department of Finance, Cabrera Capital Markets, and more, and have gone on to MBAs or college degrees in economics, business, and finance.

The program particularly provides opportunities to students from low-income backgrounds.

6. Bank of America Student Leaders Program

Location: Multiple locations in the country + week-long residential Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors with U.S. work authorization and permanent residence in one of the eligible locations
Application Deadline: Applications for 2024 are now closed. Keep checking the program page in the fall for applications for 2025.
Dates: 8 weeks in June-July. The summit will be held on July 22-27, 2024.
Stipend: Hourly rate + fully funded trip to the Student Leaders Summit

The Bank of America’s Student Leaders Program has been running since 2004, connecting 300 students annually to internship and employment opportunities. The program is designed to give students the chance to engage with their communities in meaningful ways. Selected students will be paired with local non-profits where they will learn about their functioning and administration as well as how they collaborate with governments and businesses.

Some examples of non-profits that students will work with are Habitat for Humanity and Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Interns will work with their respective non-profits for the first 7 weeks of the program and will attend an all-expenses paid trip to the National Student Leaders Summit in the final week, where they interact with professionals in a variety of fields ranging from business to governmental affairs.

This program is considered highly selective, and is a great way to apply economics hands-on while developing connections on a nationwide level.  

7. Miami-Dade County Internship Program

Location: Miami, FL
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors with a minimum 2.50 GPA and permanent residence in Miami-Dade County
Application Deadline: Not specified; email the internship coordinator for more information.
Dates: One semester (5 hours/week for 1 credit and 10 hours/week for 2 credits), with accommodations possible for shorter or longer internships
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship. Students can earn high school credit.

Miami-Dade County internships provide high school students a chance to explore career opportunities at its various departments and offices, while receiving mentorship from professionals. Students will get a valuable insight into public government affairs and potential careers in the field.

Selected interns will participate in a range of events, such as research projects, program design, presentations, financial planning and regular shadowing of professionals. Quarterly evaluations take place as part of this program. Economics enthusiasts should make sure to specify areas of interest so that they are matched with relevant departments. Money management and organizational/governmental financial planning are some skills students will be able to achieve by the end. 

8. Port of Seattle High School Internships

Location: Seattle, WA
Eligibility: High school students (recent graduates included) who are at least 16 years old and have U.S. work authorization
Application Deadline: Applications for the summer internship will open in May.
Dates: June-August for summer internships (length varies)
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)

The Port of Seattle internships offer high school students a chance to work with a long-standing and respected public organization. Students will be able to work on real-world projects that impact the local economy and communities. Work locations and placements can include the SEA airport or organizations along the Seattle waterfront.

Various career focus areas are offered, such as green jobs, community engagement, governance, maritime operations, and aviation operations. By the end of the internship, students will attain the skills needed for a corporate environment as well as business skills such as process improvement, project management, communications, and networking. Mentorship meetings, facility tours, and workshops will also be part of the program.

9. Young Entrepreneurs Program

Location: Kansas City, MO / Columbus, OH
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who reside in Kansas City or Columbus
Application Deadline: February 14, 2024
Dates: June 6, 2024 - July 1, 2024 (session 1) | July 11, 2024 - August 5, 2024 (session 2). Students can attend either or both.
Stipend: $10 per hour + $1,250 scholarship per session

The Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) partners with local Midwest companies to offer internship opportunities to high school students, wherein selected interns can make an impact in their respective communities. Interns will receive practical experience and mentorship from company professionals, learn entrepreneurial skills, and establish a reliable and solid network of peers. Students will connect with professionals from fields ranging from analytical finance to marketing and engineering. 

Several alumni have reported success stories following their internship, with some joining university programs and others starting their own businesses, participating in economic forums, and becoming leaders in financial investment. Take a look at some alumni stories in detail here for more detailed insight into the program and their experience.

10. Pentacle High School Internship Program

Location: New York, NY / Virtual
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: Applications are closed for this session. Follow Pentacle’s newsletter, blog and social media channels to stay updated on the next session’s applications.
Dates: Varies, but usually 8 weeks long
Stipend: $600

Pentacle is a nonprofit management support organization catering to the performing arts community across the country. Its high school internship program pairs students with a small business (both for– and nonprofit) that match their interests, allowing them to learn from industry experts and mentors, collaborate with their peers, and establish their hard skill sets. Interns will attend weekly professional development seminars and go through a career development curriculum.

Students will work with small businesses for 5 hours a week and attend virtual development seminars for 2.5 hours a week. Work can include tasks like data collection, analysis, management tasks, learning economic governance, and more.

11. Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP)

Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Individuals aged 14-24 who can commute to the host company’s location
Application Deadline: March 6, 2024
Dates: June 24, 2024 - August 2, 2024
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)

The MBSYEP, sponsored by the Department of Employment Services (DOES), provides significant summer internship and work opportunities to students through placements in both private and government sectors. Interns will work with a network of peers and professionals to build essential career skills.

The program includes a ‘Career EDGE’ curriculum along with financial literacy coaching. Students will then move on to internships in the financial industry while continuing to learn from small business owners. Project-based learning is emphasized in this internship. The program will conclude with a business plan presentation put together by each intern.

12. On the Money High School Internship

Location: Hybrid (remote + Chicago, IL)
Eligibility: High school students residing in Chicago
Application Deadline: Varies according to term. Spring internship applications are due in January (closed for 2024).
Dates: January-May (part-time spring internships). Fall sessions are also held.
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)

Run by teenagers for teenagers, On the Money (OTM) is an online publication founded in 2007 to improve financial literacy and impart entrepreneurship education. It is an endeavor organized by the Economic Awareness Council and DePaul University.

Its internship program selects high school students interested in writing economic, entrepreneurial, and financial articles. Interns will also undertake research and contribute to the publication of the magazine. This internship takes place in collaboration with DePaul University’s Writing Center, giving students a chance to build skills in financial literacy, writing, creating a resume, and interviewing.

Note that this is a selective program with limited spots available!


If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs!

This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper in a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from.

You can find the application link here!


Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!

Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries, with a large number of them in tech. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!

Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate. 

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