13 Internships for High School Students in Seattle
If you have a fair idea of the field you plan to pursue in college and further as a career, exploring it while still in high school is a great way to ensure you enter the industry with a solid foundation of knowledge and skill. And if you’re a high schooler in Seattle, this blog is for you! We’ve curated a list of 13 best internships for high school students in Seattle that you can consider applying to.
An internship experience during high school can give you a glimpse of what your professional career might look like while strengthening your college applications. It can even help you figure out whether your chosen field is the right fit for you! These internships will help you build a base, teach you to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, allow you to interact and network with industry experts, and help you develop a range of subject-specific and general skills. This blog covers internships across several disciplines, from STEM to medicine, and business to education. Let’s dive in.
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Open to all high school students, who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. These internships are also open to undergraduates and gap-year students.
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. May 12, 2024, for the upcoming summer cohort.
Dates: 8-week program with multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Cost: $1990. Financial aid is available.
Ladder Internships is a selective program for high school students, offering virtual internship opportunities at startups and nonprofits across the world. The program caters to students with varied interests because you can choose to intern in a field of your choice — from technology, machine learning, AI, finance, environmental science, sustainability, business, marketing, healthcare, medicine, media, journalism, and more.
As a part of the internship, you will work closely with your startup manager on a real-world project that aligns with the organization’s goal, and have the opportunity to present your work towards the end of the internship. You will also be paired with a Ladder coach, who serves as a second mentor throughout the program. You will also receive 1-on-1 training in professional skills such as communication, project management, and problem-solving. This program can be a good choice for students who are still exploring their future academic and career options and are eager to gain hands-on experiences across industries to find what interests them.
2. SPARK Summer Mentorship Program
Location: Greater Seattle Area, WA
Eligibility: U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are in grades 9-12 can apply. Preference will be given to students from the Greater Seattle area
Application Deadline: 22 April, 2024
Dates: 8-10 weeks between June to August
Cost/Stipend: There is an application fee of $25. Some projects offer a $500 stipend.
The SPARK Summer Internship Program aims to connect motivated and high-performing students with university faculty, industry experts, and mentors to collaborate, ideate, and develop STEM projects.
This internship is perfect for students keen to work on real-world projects while developing essential skills in domains such as software engineering, biotechnology, and AI-driven data visualization through active hands-on learning and experimentation. The program is also the perfect pathway for interns to immerse themselves in diverse professional research environments, learning about novel technologies, research ethics, and data analysis techniques which can pave the way for a future career in scientific and technological research.
3. Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship & Internship
Location: Amazon headquarters (Seattle, WA)
Eligibility: High school seniors in the U.S. who
- are currently enrolled in or who have completed a high school or college dual degree course where computer science, engineering, or robotics is the subject;
- have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent);
- demonstrate financial need.
Application deadline: Applications typically close mid-December.
Dates: ~8 weeks during the summer after your freshman year of college
Stipend: Students can receive scholarships of up to $10,000 per year.
The Amazon Future Engineer Program can be a valuable experience for high school students who are passionate about technology. This program offers you hands-on experiences and can expose you to the day-to-day challenges and innovations within Amazon's tech-centric environment. You will get to work on real-world projects, collaborate with industry experts and gain insight into the field of tech. This will teach you how to apply classroom knowledge in practical situations, fostering a deeper understanding of the industry's intricacies.
For high school students thinking about pursuing a career in the technology sector, Amazon Future Engineer can serve as a launching pad. The program combines technical instruction, mentorship opportunities, and a supportive community that fosters collaboration. It will help you build a solid foundation in computer science, and you’ll benefit from networking with industry professionals and learning about potential career pathways.
4. High School Internships | Port of Seattle
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 typically open in May.
Dates: June-August for summer internships (length may vary)
Stipend: Approximately $18 per hour
The Port of Seattle internships offer high school students a chance to work with a long-standing and respected public organization. As an intern, you will 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.
Interns can choose from a range of career focus areas including green jobs, community engagement, governance, maritime operations, and aviation operations. By the end of the internship, you will develop 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.
5. Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) at Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Location: South Lake Union, Seattle, WA
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from underrepresented backgrounds who are U.S. residents
Application Deadline: March 31, 2024
Dates: June 24, 2024 - August 16, 2024 (8 weeks)
Stipend: Financial award available (details revealed in the interview) + free ORCA card to commute
Fred Hutch Cancer Center’s Summer High School Internship Program is a full-time internship designed for students from backgrounds underrepresented in the biomedical sciences. The eight-week program is split into two parts: First, 2 weeks of laboratory safety and basic skills training is conducted, after which students work on research projects. For the research component, students are paired with mentors and work with biomedical research groups in a lab.
You will also attend research seminars, participate in professional development workshops that prepare you for college and beyond, and enjoy social and networking activities.
6. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Multiple locations in the country (including King County, Pierce County, and Snohomish, WA. These are less than an hour away from Seattle!) + 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. A prestigious program, it connects 300 students annually to internship and employment opportunities across the country. The program offers students the opportunity to engage with their communities in meaningful ways. For the program, 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 what you learn in a hands-on environment while developing connections on a national level.
7. CLA High School Internship Program
Location: Various locations across the US (including Seattle). See all available locations here.
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18 years can apply.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Dates: 8 weeks, typically from mid-June to August.
Stipend: It is a paid opportunity, but information on the exact amount is not available.
If you’re interested in the fields of finance and accounting, you should consider the CLA High School Internship Program. The program offers interns the opportunity to deepen their understanding of accounting with practical experience, covering areas such as tax preparation, financial analysis, and audit procedures. As an intern, you will actively engage in real-world projects, working alongside experienced professionals to apply theoretical knowledge to actual scenarios, honing your problem-solving skills and analytical thinking. The program also focuses on networking and professional development. You will connect with professionals, mentors, and peers, building a network that may be useful in the future, while getting first-hand experience of the industry.
8. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) by the Department of Navy
Location: Varies based on lab locations. There are 2 locations in Washington, Keyport, and Bremerton, less than an hour from Seattle.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old, have completed Grade 9, and are U.S. citizens can apply.
Application Deadline: Applications open in August and close on November 1 every year.
Dates: June-August (8 weeks)
Stipend: $4,000 (new participants) | $4,500 (returning participants)
This is prestigious, research-focused apprenticeship places high school students in Department of Navy laboratories across the country. With approximately 300 placements across over 38 laboratories nationwide, SEAP is highly competitive. During this program, you will work with leading researchers and engineers at Navy facilities on real Naval research, while being mentored by expert Navy scientists and engineers. While working on projects hands-on, you will build valuable knowledge and develop skills across various STEM disciplines.
Your lab choice is based on your subject of interest.
9. NASA Office of STEM Engagements (OSTEM) Internships
Location: These internships are offered across NASA facilities. Students may select roles based in the cities they are in.
Eligibility: Internships are available for full-time high school students who meet a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement. Students applying must be at least 16 years old and be US citizens.
Application Deadline: February 2, 2024 (for summer internships). Spring and fall internships are also available.
Dates: May-August (10 weeks)
Stipend: Interns may receive a stipend based on academic level and session length.
NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers internships at its locations across the country in a range of subjects and disciplines, including space science, engineering, aeronautics, technology, space microbiology, and even outreach and communications. These internships are prestigious opportunities for students to contribute to projects in areas such as 3D modeling, robotics, civil engineering, and aerospace engineering, that are ongoing at the agency under the guidance of a NASA mentor. The program provides training, mentoring, and career development opportunities along with the chance to work with the best science, engineering, financial, information technology, and business minds in the world.
During this internship, you may be involved in designing experiments, analyzing data from space missions, or developing new technologies – engaging in real-world experiences, gaining valuable experience and insight into NASA's work. You can check out a complete list of positions here - you may have to use the “Filter” option to see opportunities only open to high school students.
10. ISB’s High School Summer Internship
Location: Seattle, WA
Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in 11th grade and currently reside in the United States.
Application deadline: March 15th, 2024
Dates: July 1, 2024 - August 23, 2024
Stipend: Students will receive a stipend of $5,000
This 8-week-long, paid STEM internship offers you the chance to work in a lab with professionals, explore a range of topics in biology, and apply what you learn to a research project. This summer’s possible internship topics include computational biology, microbial interactions, the microbiome, cancer, and more. As every topic is pre-aligned with an ongoing research project at ISB, you will also collaborate with mentors and witness the entire process in action.
While biology is the core of this opportunity, you will also develop essential skills covering other STEM topics like math, coding, and engineering. Moreover, if qualified for this internship, you can also participate in ISB’s prestigious STEM Leadership Program.
11. High School Internships at Seattle City Light
Location: Seattle City Light, Seattle, WA
Eligibility: Applicants must either be US citizens or possess a valid US work permit, be currently enrolled in high school, and be at least 16 years old at the start of the internship
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer (mid-June to mid-August)
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in June
Stipend: Varies for each project
The Seattle City Light High School Internship program offers an opportunity for students interested in science, engineering, and business to gain on-site experiences in commercial energy production and distribution domains. Students interested in social sciences and humanities can also benefit from this internship, as it offers exposure to interdisciplinary aspects of energy production and its social impact.
During the internship, you will contribute to administrative tasks, attend special skill-building training sessions and professional development workshops, shadow mentors, and assist them in key projects. Interns also engage with executive leaders to explore strategic planning, the ethics of decision-making, and present a report on their learnings to mentors and colleagues at the end of the internship.
12. Clean Water Ambassadors Internship - Mountains To Sound Greenway Trust
Location: Stadium Light Rail Station or King Street Center, Seattle, WA
Eligibility: Open to high school students who are at least 16 years old.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Dates: June 8, 2024 - August 9, 2024
Stipend: $20 per hour
The Clean Water Ambassador Internship offers high school students the opportunity to engage with local environmental issues, solutions, and clean water initiatives and careers in King County, Washington.
Interns are expected to work for 25-28 hours a week, and meet in downtown Seattle from Mondays to Fridays during the period of the internship. During the internship, you will have the chance to participate in local field trips, delve into environmental and social justice issues, work on strategies to promote clean water awareness in the community and gain critical insight into valuable career-driven skills, including water management, community engagement, communications, education, engineering, and ecological restoration.
The internship organizers also invite applications from students who are new to environmental domains and/or are from communities that are underrepresented in environmental dialogues and careers.
13. Youth in Focus, Creative Career Cohort and Job Training Program
Location: Seattle, WA
Eligibility: Students aged 15-19
Application Deadline: Varies by year and program
Internship Dates: Varies by year
Cost: Free or pay-what-you-can
Youth in Focus is a photography-specific arts and youth development organization in Seattle. They support BIPOC students and offer skill-building activities that focus on curiosity and personal agency. They offer two major internship-type opportunities and a variety of classes, summer camps, and partner programs. The first is the Creative Career Cohort, a 6-month program for BIPOC students, that focuses on photography and graphic design. You will work on professional projects, develop a portfolio, learn interview skills, and engage in networking opportunities. You will also receive a $1,400 stipend.
The second opportunity is a job-training program, which includes paid opportunities for teens who have completed a number of their classes or have participated in the Creative Career Cohort. For this program, students are paired with artist-mentors and do work in portrait photography, photobooths, and event photography.
All required equipment will be provided, along with snacks and bus passes. These programs are inclusive and provide valuable experience and the opportunity to make connections with professionals and build your portfolio. However, they aren’t quite as prestigious as some of the other programs on this list and so might not be viewed as equally challenging by admissions officers.
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.