Business can seem exciting from the outside, with startup pitches, stock markets, big companies, and fast-paced decision-making, but the field involves much more than what you see online or in textbooks. Business internships in NYC for high school students can help you understand how organisations solve problems, analyse markets, communicate ideas, and make strategic decisions in real workplace settings.

Imagine spending part of your summer building pitch decks, analysing market trends, or working with spreadsheets to understand how businesses evaluate growth and performance. These experiences can introduce you to practical tools like Excel and PowerPoint while helping you develop skills in market research, financial modelling, communication, and presentation. You may also work on projects, attend professional meetings, or learn how teams operate in professional environments.

Why is NYC a strong place to explore business internships?

New York City raises the stakes on all of that. As a global center for finance, technology, media, consulting, and entrepreneurship, NYC offers a concentration of business activity and professional opportunity that is genuinely unmatched. Interning here means working in an environment where the standards are high, the pace is real, and the people around you are operating at a serious professional level.

The city is also connected to major universities, startup ecosystems, and corporate networks, making it easier for programs to offer mentorship, networking, and real-world industry insight. Beyond academics, being in NYC exposes you to a fast-paced and globally connected environment that reflects how modern business operates.

To help you explore your options, we’ve curated a list of 15 business internships in NYC for high school students! They are all selected for their professional exposure, mentorship, and learning opportunities.

For adjacent opportunities, consider the online business program and summer internships in NYC.

15 Business Internships in NYC for High School Students

1. NYC Ladders for Leaders

Location: New York City; all five boroughs
Stipend: Above New York State minimum wage; exact rate set each year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Six-week programme, with dates depending on the individual employer
Application Deadline: January 16th
Eligibility: NYC residents aged 16-24 who are enrolled in high school or college, have prior work experience, paid or volunteer, and are legally allowed to work in the U.S.; international student eligibility not specified

Ladders for Leaders is a paid summer internship program that places high school and college students in professional work environments across New York City. Before beginning the internships, you need to complete 30 hours of pre-employment training focused on resume writing, mock interviews, workplace etiquette, corporate communication, time management, and financial literacy. After training, you will be matched with internships at leading companies, nonprofits, and government agencies in industries such as finance, law, media, healthcare, consulting, and technology.

Throughout the program, you work on project-based assignments, manage weekly responsibilities, and gain firsthand exposure to how corporate organizations operate. As part of NYC’s Summer Youth Employment Program, the experience helps students build professional confidence, workplace skills, and real-world business experience early in their careers.

Why it stands out: It combines paid professional placements with structured career-readiness training and access to major employers across New York City.

2. Immerse Education’s New York Business Management Summer School

Location: Barnard College, Columbia University, New York
Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; average of 7 participants per class
Dates: Two weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18; international students are welcome

As one of the more career-focused business internships in NYC for high school students, Immerse Education’s Business Management Summer School gives you the tools you need to step into the commercial world. The Career Insights pathway offers expert-led workshops, practical projects, and visits to industry settings to give you firsthand exposure to business and entrepreneurship.

During the course, you will be gaining insights into business areas like management, marketing, business strategy, developing a personal project, experiencing real-world challenges, and eventually gaining a Certificate of Achievement to reflect your growth during this program. There will also be classes to improve your academic skills, such as writing a portfolio for your college application. Not only learning, but you will also get day trips and excursions to refresh your mind and strengthen your bond with your classmates.

Why it stands out: The program combines academic business fundamentals, real-world industry exposure, and college-preparatory skill building within an immersive summer school experience that balances structured learning with cultural excursions.

3. SCA High School Summer Internship Program

Location: Multiple locations in NYC
Stipend: Paid at approximately New York minimum wage, recently around $16.50/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 6th – August 14th
Application Deadline: March 6th
Eligibility: NYC public high school students in good academic standing; must be aged 16+ with valid working papers and U.S. work authorisation; not open to international students

SCA High School Summer Internship Program is a six-week paid internship program offered by the New York City School Construction Authority for NYC public high school students interested in fields like architecture, engineering, construction management, business, and public administration. You will spend four days each week working with host departments or business partners on project-based assignments while gaining hands-on workplace experience and mentorship.

One day each week is dedicated to educational programming that includes workshops, panel discussions, design challenges, and career development activities. Depending on the assignment, you may also complete OSHA construction safety training and participate in supervised construction site visits. The program concludes with students presenting their work in a professional setting, helping them strengthen communication, collaboration, and project management skills.

Why it stands out: It combines paid internships with direct exposure to real-world construction and infrastructure projects.

4. Brooklyn Navy Yard Internship Programs

Location: Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: Paid internships; $16.50/hour for summer cohorts
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive admission
Dates: Internships are available throughout the year in spring, summer, and fall
Application Deadline: Varies based on session; summer deadline is in February
Eligibility: College-bound high school seniors; international student eligibility not specified

Brooklyn Navy Yard Internship Programs connects college-bound high school seniors and college students with paid internships at businesses located inside the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Over eight-week sessions, you will be matched with companies based on your career interests, skills, and educational background, allowing them to gain targeted industry experience. You will contribute to daily operations, assist with specialized projects, and explore areas such as operations management, manufacturing, technology, and business development.

Alongside workplace responsibilities, you also participate in professional development workshops that strengthen communication, collaboration, and workplace readiness skills. The program gives students firsthand exposure to how innovative companies operate within one of New York City’s largest industrial and technology hubs.

Why it stands out: The program offers customized internship placements based on your specific career interests and goals.

5. JPMorgan Chase High School Internships

Location: New York, NY; often via partners like Futures & Options
Stipend: Paid opportunities
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Varies by role and placement
Application Deadline: Rolling; varies by role
Eligibility: Varies by role; various opportunities available for high school students; international student eligibility not specified

JPMorgan Chase High School Internships stand out among the many business internships in NYC for high school students because they offer experience with one of the most well-known financial institutions in the world. During the paid internship, you work alongside professionals in the firm’s Manhattan offices and explore areas such as financial analysis, business strategy, client relations, and corporate operations.

As an intern, you support meetings, prepare reports, assist with project development, and learn how large-scale financial organizations operate daily. Throughout the program, students strengthen analytical thinking, communication, and workplace skills while gaining exposure to professional finance environments. The internship concludes with participants presenting their work and reflections on their experience.

Why it stands out: It offers early exposure to real corporate finance work inside a global investment bank.

6. CLA High School Internship Program

Location: Multiple locations around the U.S.
Stipend: Paid opportunities; amount unspecified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Unspecified
Dates: Four-week in-person internship in June-July; dates vary by year
Application Deadline: Typically in January
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older; international student eligibility not specified

CLA High School Internship Program gives high school students hands-on exposure to accounting, finance, and professional services through real workplace experience at CLA offices. You will contribute to projects involving financial analysis, tax preparation, auditing, and business operations while applying classroom knowledge to practical scenarios.

Throughout the program, you work alongside professionals and mentors who guide you through industry workflows, analytical problem-solving, and client-focused work environments. The internship also emphasizes networking and professional development, helping students connect with peers, advisors, and finance professionals. 

Why it stands out: It gives high school students early access to real accounting and finance work alongside industry professionals.

7. Futures and Options Internship Program

Location: In person, hybrid, and remote; workshops in Broadway, Manhattan, NY
Stipend: Interns earn at least $17/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Six weeks in July and August
Application Deadline: Varies by year
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors enrolled in NYC high schools; must have a valid working card; not open to international students

The Futures and Options Internship Program provides high school students in New York City with paid, mentored internships designed to build workplace readiness and professional experience. You will be matched with business partners based on your interests and skills, allowing you to gain firsthand exposure to professional environments across different industries.

Alongside your internship, you will attend orientations, financial literacy workshops, career exploration field trips, and professional development sessions focused on communication, teamwork, and career preparation. Throughout the program, you will build connections with mentors and professionals while developing practical workplace skills and confidence. The experience concludes with a reflection workshop that helps you evaluate your growth and career interests.

Why it stands out: It combines paid internships with structured career-readiness and mentorship support.

8. Emma Bowen Foundation Internship

Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: Varies depending on EBF partner organisations
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 150 students
Dates: Minimum of eight weeks from late May to early June
Application Deadline: Late January
Eligibility: U.S. high school seniors with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0; applicants must be at least 18 years old; not open to international students

Emma Bowen Foundation Internship is an eight-week summer internship program for high school and college students of color interested in careers in media, entertainment, and technology. Through placements at leading companies, you gain hands-on experience in roles such as journalism, production, web development, business operations, public relations, engineering, and sales.

Alongside daily internship work, you participate in professional development workshops, career coaching sessions, and mentorship opportunities that help you strengthen workplace and communication skills. The program also helps you build a professional network by connecting you with industry leaders and peers across the media and tech landscape. 

Why it stands out: You gain direct access to mentorship and internships at major media and tech companies.

9. The Paley Center for Media – Hearst High School Media Internship

Location: The Paley Center for Media, New York, NY
Stipend: $17/hour + travel reimbursement
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: July 6th – August 6th
Application Deadline: March 30th
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders with valid NY State Working Papers; not open to international students

Hearst High School Media Internship is a five-week paid summer internship offered by The Paley Center for Media for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in media and entertainment careers. Through workshops and hands-on activities, you explore media literacy, digital storytelling, and the business side of the media industry while learning how major media organizations operate.

You meet industry professionals, participate in career-focused Q&A sessions, visit newsrooms and production studios, and create your own original podcast. The program also provides mentorship from both Paley executives and current college interns, helping you build professional connections and workplace skills. 

Why it stands out: You create original media projects while learning directly from professionals across the entertainment industry.

10. LaGuardia  Community College’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)

Location: Interns are placed with businesses across NYC; remote, in-person, or hybrid
Stipend: $17/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Six weeks during July and August
Application Deadline: Mid-March
Eligibility: NYC residents aged 14-24 who are legally allowed to work in the U.S.; not open to international students

The Summer Youth Employment Program is a six-week paid work experience program for NYC students and young adults ages 16–24, sponsored by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development. Through placements at government agencies, hospitals, museums, nonprofits, and corporate offices, you gain firsthand exposure to professional work environments while supporting tasks related to administration, operations, customer service, and office management.

Alongside your internship, you participate in workforce readiness training and financial literacy sessions that strengthen your communication, time management, and workplace skills. The program also helps you explore career pathways while learning how organizations and businesses operate daily. 

Why it stands out: You gain paid workplace experience across a wide range of industries and organizations in New York City.

11. Internships at ArtWestchester

Location: New York City, NY
Stipend: Varies based on the opportunity
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Unspecified
Dates: Opportunities available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: College students and recent graduates, junior and senior high school students; international student eligibility not specified

Internships at ArtsWestchester give you hands-on experience inside a nonprofit arts organization while helping you build practical business and professional skills. As a business intern, you work with the administration staff on tasks related to accounting, budgeting, analytics, and HR or finance policy updates. Throughout the internship, you collaborate on creative projects, participate in professional development activities, and learn how a successful nonprofit organization operates daily.

You also strengthen skills in project management, professional writing, teamwork, leadership, and public relations through real workplace responsibilities. In addition, you will receive complimentary access to arts and cultural events across Westchester, helping you engage more deeply with the local arts community.

Why it stands out: You gain both business experience and direct exposure to the arts and nonprofit sector.

12. Millie King Entrepreneurship Program – Bella Abzug Leadership Institute

Location: Bella Abzug Leadership Institute, Hunter College, NYC
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Three days during the last week of July or the first week of August
Application Deadline: Opens in March
Eligibility: High school seniors and college students; international student eligibility not specified

The Millie King Entrepreneurship Program is a three-day summer entrepreneurship program created by the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute to help high school students build business, leadership, and professional skills. Through workshops and seminars, you explore topics such as small business strategy, social entrepreneurship, digital marketing, financial structuring, and corporate social responsibility.

You work on real-world projects, strengthen your resume, and develop communication and leadership abilities while learning directly from entrepreneurs and industry professionals. The program especially focuses on supporting students from underserved and underrepresented communities, helping you explore future academic and career pathways in business and community leadership. 

Why it stands out: You learn entrepreneurship directly from successful founders and business leaders in an intensive hands-on format.

13. Athena Summer Innovation Institute

Location: New York City, NY
Cost: $8,160 + $2,611 optional housing fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Unspecified
Dates: June 29th – July 17th
Application Deadline: NA
Eligibility: Young women in high school; see Barnard Pre-College site for exact requirements; international student eligibility not specified

Athena Summer Innovation Institute is a three-week entrepreneurship boot camp for young women interested in innovation, leadership, and social impact. You will work collaboratively in teams to create a startup, nonprofit organization, or advocacy campaign while learning key concepts in product development, branding, customer research, marketing, financing, and negotiation.

Throughout the program, you receive mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and attend workshops, startup site visits, and public speaking sessions led by the Barnard Speaking Fellows Program. The experience emphasizes experiential learning, allowing students to develop venture ideas, conduct market research, and build communication and leadership skills through hands-on projects. The program concludes with a final Pitchfest where teams present their ventures and receive feedback from peers and mentors.

Why it stands out: It combines entrepreneurship training with mentorship, startup site visits, and a strong focus on women-led innovation.

14. Future Founders: Be Your Own Boss Internship

Location: Virtual
Stipend: Paid opportunity; stipend unspecified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Unspecified
Dates: January 20th – February 12th
Application Deadline: NA
Eligibility: High school students; international student eligibility not specified

Be Your Own Boss Internship is a virtual entrepreneurship internship where you learn how startups are built by working through the full idea-to-pitch process in a structured, team-based environment. You collaborate with peers to generate a business idea, develop a basic app prototype, and refine a pitch, while learning core skills in product development, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Throughout the program, you’re mentored by experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders who guide you on how to think about markets, users, and business growth. You also gain practice in public speaking by presenting your final idea at a virtual showcase where you defend your concept to an audience. Along the way, you build exposure to the startup ecosystem and develop early entrepreneurial skills in a hands-on setting.

Why it stands out: You build and pitch your own startup idea while being mentored by real entrepreneurs.

15. High School Business Internship – PNNL

Location: Remote options available
Stipend: Stipend provided; amount unspecified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: NA
Dates: Academic year: August-May; summer: June-August
Application Deadline: Academic year: June; summer: March
Eligibility: High school students; must be at least 18 years old to work in PNNL laboratory spaces and some fieldwork settings; international student eligibility not specified

PNNL High School Business Internship gives high school students hands-on experience in professional business environments at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. During the academic year, you will work alongside mentors in specialized business areas while earning elective credit through your school’s work-based learning program.

Depending on your interests, you may collaborate with business professionals, scientists, or engineers on projects that strengthen workplace and analytical skills. The program also includes leadership development activities, laboratory tours, career awareness workshops, and field trips that expose you to different career pathways. 

Why it stands out: It combines business training with mentorship inside a major national research laboratory.

Move From Business Curiosity to Career Clarity

Early workplace experience can turn curiosity into practical insight by showing how teams solve problems, analyse markets, pitch ideas, and manage projects.

The 15 business internships in NYC for high school students featured here span finance, media, entrepreneurship, public agencies, consulting, nonprofits, and technology.

Through hands-on tasks, mentorship, training, and workplace exposure, you can test interests while building confidence for future business pathways.

Ready to connect your first business experience with clearer career choices? Browse our Career Exploration blogs for guidance on roles, skills, and next steps.