If you’re a high school student interested in business, entrepreneurship, or how companies operate, internships can be one of the most valuable ways to gain real-world experience. While classroom learning introduces key concepts, internships allow you to see how ideas like marketing, finance, and strategy actually play out in professional environments. One of the best places to explore these opportunities is San Francisco, a global hub for startups, innovation, and business growth.

Imagine spending your summer working with startups, small businesses, or established companies in San Francisco. Picture contributing to projects, sitting in on meetings, and learning how teams collaborate to solve problems and grow their ventures. Business internships in San Francisco for high school students provide hands-on exposure to industries like technology, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship.

How do you choose the right business internships in San Francisco for high school students?

With many options available, it’s important to distinguish between internships that offer meaningful involvement and those that are more observational. Thoughtful research helps ensure you find an opportunity that aligns with your interests and goals.

Business internships in San Francisco may include working with startups, participating in entrepreneurship programs, or joining structured internship initiatives. You might assist with market research, help develop marketing strategies, analyse data, or contribute to business development projects.

You’ll learn from experienced professionals, collaborate with driven peers, and develop essential skills such as communication, adaptability, and critical thinking. Along the way, you’ll build confidence, strengthen your resume, and gain a clearer sense of what a future career in business might look like.

To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 15 Business Internships in San Francisco for High School Students.

For more subject options, consider summer programs in California. To explore more opportunities, check out online business programs.

15 Business Internships in San Francisco for High School Students

1. Norman Mineta High School Summer Academy

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Students will receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: First session is on 2nd July and ends with an in-person final session on 31st July
Application Deadline: 27th April
Eligibility: High school students attending schools in the Bay Area, at least 15 years old, who have completed 9th grade by the starting time of the internship, are able to attend online seminars, and have permission from a parent or guardian to participate

Are you a Bay Area high school student who is interested in a public sector career? This program is an initiative from the government where you will get paid for a learning experience from four Bay Area regional government agencies. For the rest of July, you will attend virtual seminars and learn how regional agencies deal with issues like environmental justice, housing equality, community health, and social justice.

You will learn the skills needed to work in the public sector and how to have a voice in making decisions that will affect your community. In this program, not only attend virtual seminars, but you will also complete quizzes and online sessions, and at the end of the program, you will have to make a brief presentation on how to tackle local challenges in your neighborhood.

Why it stands out: A paid, issue-driven experience that places students inside real policy conversations, where learning about topics like housing and environmental justice leads to proposing solutions for their own communities.

2. Immerse Education’s San Francisco Entrepreneurship Summer School

Location: UC Berkeley, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: An average of 7 participants per class
Dates: 5th July – 18th July, and 19th July – 1st August
Application Deadline: Not disclosed
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 15 to 18 years old

For those exploring business internships in San Francisco for high school students, Immerse Education’s Entrepreneurship Summer School offers strong exposure to business development and startup strategy. You’ll gain knowledge about a range of topics, including innovation, business planning, and financial management. You’ll participate in interactive workshops, work on startup projects, and gain insights into real-world case studies.

The programme will allow you to gain a range of entrepreneurial skills, including strategic thinking and creativity required to launch successful businesses. You’ll receive guidance from established entrepreneurs and explore different industries and business models. The program will prepare you for a future career in entrepreneurship through hands-on challenges and real-world experience. You’ll also earn a recognised certificate on the completion of the program.

Why it stands out: A fast-paced, project-driven program set at UC Berkeley, where students move from learning startup theory to delivering a polished investor pitch in just two weeks.

3. Development School for Youth

Location: New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Dallas
Cost/Stipend: Not disclosed, but participants will receive a stipend based on where they are employed as interns
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Rolling admission
Application Deadline: Rolling admission
Eligibility: Young people from 16 to 21 years old, only for US citizens and permanent residents

The Development School of Youth (DSY) is a program from All-stars Project that connects young people aged 16 to 21 years old with business leaders across the country through summer internships. In this program, you will attend rigorous, high-level workshops and training to shape your mindset as professionals.

You will be trained in skills such as public speaking, leadership, resume-writing, networking, and many more. After you graduate from the program, you will be matched with summer internships across partner companies to continue to develop your leadership skills and to continue networking. Participating companies include JP Morgan Chase, EY, MetLife, Paramount Global, and more.

Why it stands out: By combining intensive professional training with direct placement into internships at major companies, DSY turns preparation into an immediate, real-world opportunity.

4. Stanford e-Entrepreneurship US

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students only
Dates: 6th June – 3rd October
Application Deadline: 1st April
Eligibility: High school sophomores to seniors across the USA; “gap year” students can be considered. Not open for international students, but if you have a valid green card or residence permit, you may apply.

This highly selective program (enrolling only 20 students!) is designed to help students develop the skills to craft original solutions to pressing global and local challenges. All classes are online, and you must attend classes on Saturdays from 5 to 7 PM Pacific time and allocate at least 4 hours per week to prepare for class, complete assignments, and participate in group work.

In virtual classes, you will engage in discussions with other students and scholars from Stanford University, Silicon Valley, and beyond. Classes are based on human-centred active learning, and you will be guided to take ownership of your journey. Once you complete the program, you will receive Stanford Continuing Studies credit and a Certificate of Completion.

Why it stands out: With a tiny cohort of just 20 students and mentorship from scholars connected to Stanford and Silicon Valley, this program offers unusually close access to high-level innovation thinking.

5. Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship Application

Location: Different partner offices of EBF
Cost/Stipend: Fellows will get a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 150 fellows
Dates: May – June
Application Deadline: Early January
Eligibility: A high school senior, planning on attending a four-year university or US college, with a GPA of at least 3.0, must be 18 years of age prior to the start of the internship

The Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) Summer Internship is a paid internship program designed to support if you are pursuing careers in media, entertainment, and technology. Internships typically run for a minimum of eight continuous weeks, usually starting in May or June.

The program is held across the United States, as you will be placed with EBF’s partner companies in various states, depending on role availability. As a Fellow, you work full-time (35–40 hours per week) in a real professional setting, gaining hands-on experience aligned with your career interests in media or tech.

Why it stands out: EBF distinguishes itself through its long-standing industry partnerships and highly selective fellowship model that places students directly into paid, career-building roles at leading media and technology organisations.

6. Meta Summer Academy

Location: Meta
Cost/Stipend: Not disclosed, but usually there is a stipend that varies from year to year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 15th June – 24th July for 30 hours per week
Application Deadline: 14th February
Eligibility: High school sophomores must live in the area of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City, with a minimum 2.0 GPA

As one of the most well-known business internships in San Francisco for high school students, Meta Summer Academy gives you the chance to spend the summer learning by doing inside one of the world’s biggest technology companies. Every summer, Meta opens its doors to high school sophomores through this six-week program, where you can get inside the day-to-day operations of Meta, learn coding and financial literacy, explore careers at Meta, and develop new skills that can help boost your future career.

Not only learning how a company works, but you will also get to network with Meta employees and experience Meta like walking in their shoes. What makes this program interesting is that it is seen as an internship; you will get a stipend for every hour you work. The stipend amount varies per year and will be announced to chosen students.

Why it stands out: It stands out as a paid, internship-style program that immerses high school students in the real operations of a global tech company while building both technical and career-readiness skills.

7. CLA High School Internship Program

Location: Nationwide in the USA
Cost/Stipend: Students get a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 17th June – 19th July
Application Deadline: 4th March
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 to 18 years old who are US citizens

CLA’s High School Internship Program offers paid, hands-on exposure to the professional services and accounting industry, making the cost barrier low since you will earn compensation for your work. During the internship, you will work on real projects and interactive case studies, shadow professionals at different career levels, and collaborate on team-based assignments that reflect CLA’s workplace culture.

The internship typically runs for four weeks starting in June, with exact dates and application deadlines varying by location and announced ahead of the summer intake. The program is held in person at select CLA offices across the United States, and you are expected to attend fully on-site each day. 

Why it stands out: It combines paid, real-client experience with structured career exploration, giving students a realistic preview of professional services before they enter college.

8. San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Summer Internship

Location: Diverse locations (industry partners) of SFUSD
Cost/Stipend: Stipend for a minimum of 20 hours per week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: TBA, program is held for 6 weeks
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors in high school; priority will be given to rising seniors (11th graders); international students welcome

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) holds an annual internship program where students get to work together with their partner industry. During the internship, you get to work alongside industry mentors, network with professionals, attend a Work-Based Learning seminar with your SFUSD mentor, and get paid for working a minimum of 20 hours per week.

The summer internships will take place for six weeks in the areas of business, entrepreneurship, computer science, finance, law, and many more. Sophomores and juniors can apply, but priority will be given to rising seniors in the current academic year. The 2026 SFUSD Summer Internship intake will open in February 2026.

Why it stands out: It stands out for pairing paid, industry-based work experience with mentorship and career seminars across a wide range of professional fields, all within a structured public school framework.

9. Microsoft Discovery Program

Location: Microsoft Office
Cost/Stipend: Free, and students will get a stipend at a base rate of USD 20/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 10th July – 4th August
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: High school graduating seniors who live and attend high school within 50 miles of Redmond, WA or live and attend high school around Atlanta, Georgia

Every year, this prestigious technology company opens its doors for high school graduating seniors to join their Microsoft Discovery Program. During this 4-week internship, you get the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge from Microsoft employees through project-based experiences. These projects come from various disciplines within the company, so you don’t have to be interested in tech to be admitted to the program.

You will work in a small team to complete a small project, and while working on the project, you will touch base with areas such as Software engineering, project management, and UX design disciplines. Meaning there will be plenty of opportunities to attend discussions about Microsoft and pick the brains of their employees.

Why it stands out: It stands out for its project-based approach across multiple disciplines, allowing students to explore technology, design, and management roles inside one of the world’s leading tech companies.

10. Building-U High School Internships

Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Year-round internship with a duration of between 1 and 3 months
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 to 12; international students welcome

Building-U is an online company that provides resources for high school students, such as education programs, skill-building opportunities, and funding options, in order to help students figure out their future. Every year, they host an online internship program for high school students. In this program, you will be assigned to a certain department, such as R&D, Marketing, Coding, Business Development, Social Media, Animation, or Data Privacy.

Each department has its own outcome and internship objective, so you can choose which one based on what you like. Beyond project skills, you will build essential teamwork and communication skills. This project is not only suitable for US and Canadian high school students, but also for students around the world.

Why it stands out: It stands out for its flexible, global online format that allows students to choose department-specific projects while building practical skills and cross-border collaboration experience.

11. KP Launch Internship

Location: Northern California and various KP offices
Cost/Stipend: USD 24/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 15th June – 31st July
Application Deadline: 9th January
Eligibility: High school students in junior and senior year, aged between 16 and 19 years old by 1st June 2026, available to work full-time from Monday to Friday between 8 AM and 5 PM during the duration of the internship; check here for geographic requirements

For high school students who are interested in working in the business side of a health care company, joining Kaiser Permanente (KP) Launch Internship in the summer could be a good idea. This is a full-time, seven-week, 40-hour per week, paid working experience where you get the taste of working and networking in KP and earn USD 24 per hour.

In the internship, you get to experience weekly workshops, as well as networking activities through work-based activities and social events. This program can be joined from the headquarters of KP in Northern California, or you can choose any KP office that is closest to you. 

Why it stands out: It stands out for being a well-paid, full-time internship that provides deep insight into the business side of healthcare through structured workshops, real work experience, and professional networking.

12. Project Pull Internship

Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend of USD 23/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 8th June – 31st July
Application Deadline: 16th February
Eligibility: Students entering their junior or senior year, or be a college-bound freshmen in Fall 2026, live in San Francisco or attend high school in San Francisco, and have a minimum 2.75 GPA from their most recently completed semester

The Project Pull is an internship program from the government of San Francisco aiming to connect talented, diverse students with meaningful job opportunities in the city, introduce public sector careers to teenagers, and develop a pipeline of future San Francisco city and county employees. You will develop life skills through their hands-on work experience and weekly enrichment activities.

High school students may apply to be an intern, and college students can apply to be a Team Leader or Mentor Assistant. For high school students, as an intern, you are expected to commit to 20 hours per week (Monday to Friday) during the summer for this project.

Why it stands out: By placing students directly into public sector roles, this program connects STEM and civic engagement through real work experience inside city government.

13. SLAC Summer Internships Program

Location: Menlo Park, CA
Cost/Stipend: Depends on the job vacancy
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Twelve weeks of work from May until September
Application Deadline: Depends on the job vacancy
Eligibility: High school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate level students; international students are welcome to apply

The SLAC Summer Internship Program is a joint internship program with Stanford University that allows students in high school, undergraduate, and graduate school to get real-life work experiences. You can choose your own summer intern position, as there are various needs around the department.

Positions available may include entry-level technical or administrative positions that require basic skills and willingness to learn, mid-level technical/administrative tasks that require specific skills, or high-level technical/administrative tasks that require specific coursework or ability. All interns must be authorised to work in the US and must pass a basic background check.

Why it stands out: With flexible roles ranging from technical to administrative, this program offers rare access to real-world work environments connected to one of the world’s leading research institutions.

14. San Francisco YouthWorks

Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend of USD 19.18/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Not disclosed, but it seems it’s a rolling application
Application Deadline: 10th April
Eligibility: High school students in 11th and 12th grade, residents of San Francisco or having a work permit to work legally in the US, who have leadership qualities and will engage during the internship period

Students who are interested in public service and wish to intern at local office departments should sign up for San Francisco YouthWorks (SFYW). It is a program under JCYC Workhub that connects high school students with public sector departments in San Francisco, such as the Public Library and SF International Airport. Not only connecting you to the public sector, but SFYW will prepare you for an internship, college, and beyond through professional training, mentorship, and leadership programs.

Interns from SFYW will be paid a stipend of USD 19.18 per hour, no matter where they intern. Graduating SFYW interns can come back for a second round for Youth Leadership Training, a further program from SFYW that prepares the graduates for the future and serves as a support team for current SFYW interns.

Why it stands out: Paid public sector placements combined with structured training and leadership development create a clear pathway from first internship to long-term career readiness.

15. Enterprise for Youth Paid Internships

Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Interns are paid USD 21+ per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 8th June – 31st July
Application Deadline: 15th April
Eligibility: Rising senior or junior in high school, attend SFUSD and/or live in San Francisco, identify as a member of an underrepresented community, have significant financial need of employment, and have completed Job Readiness Training

Founded in 1969, Enterprise for Youth is an organisation that prepares under-resourced youth for employment and a better future. In this program, through June and July, you can choose which sectors you want to work in, such as healthcare, nonprofit, professional service, and so much more.

During this period, you will be expected to work 75+ hours on-site at your place of internship and get at least 15+ hours of professional development classes. Participating in the paid internship program is a professional commitment, and to graduate with flying colours, you need to fully commit to all requirements and activities.

Why it stands out: Blending paid work experience with professional development, this program focuses on equipping underrepresented students with both practical skills and long-term career direction.

How Internships Can Clarify Your Future in Business

Business becomes clearer when you see how decisions, teamwork, and strategy actually operate inside companies, not just how they are described in class each day.

That is why business internships in San Francisco for high school students can matter so much, offering early exposure to real work, pace, and responsibility.

By contributing to projects, listening in meetings, and solving practical problems, you start noticing which parts of business feel engaging, challenging, and worth pursuing further.

That clarity can shape your next step, and our Career Exploration blogs can help you discover exciting roles, fresh ideas, and unexpected directions to consider.