As a high school student, business can feel like a field that exists somewhere else, inside office buildings, startup incubators, and company boardrooms. Business internships in California for high school students can bridge that gap by showing you how organisations operate and how professionals approach real workplace challenges.

Rather than observing from the sidelines, you could contribute to a business strategy, develop an entrepreneurial project, or present your ideas to mentors and industry professionals.

These experiences can also strengthen your academic direction by helping you understand how subjects such as finance, marketing, management, and entrepreneurship connect to real careers in a structured and accessible setting.

What kind of business internships are available in California to high school students?

California is an especially exciting place to explore business through internships. In San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area, you can find startups, global technology companies, venture capital firms, and leading universities. Whether you’re working on a startup concept, studying business fundamentals, or collaborating on a team project, you’re engaging with ideas that influence industries around the world.

For this list, we’ve included some traditional internships that place you in professional workplaces. Others are business-focused programs where you’ll work on startup ideas, case studies, and projects under the guidance of faculty and industry mentors. We’ve also included a small number of broader internship programs that place you across different industries and departments. While these opportunities are not exclusively business-focused, they provide exposure to workplace skills that are relevant across business careers. 

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 15 Business Internships in California for High School Students. These opportunities have been selected for their strong work-learn components and mentorship opportunities. 

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

Key takeaways

• Kaiser Permanente’s KP LAUNCH Internships pay $24 per hour to 180 to 200 selected interns over seven weeks, restricted to residents of a designated Northern California Kaiser Permanente service area.
• Immerse Education’s San Francisco Summer School takes place at UC Berkeley, running two weeks with seven to 10 participants per class, and is open to students worldwide aged 15 to 18.
• Genesys Works Bay Area pays approximately $10,000 to $13,000 during senior year following eight weeks of business technology training between junior and senior year.
• Project Pull Internship pays $23 per hour to San Francisco students over roughly eight weeks, placing interns across departments within the City and County of San Francisco.
• The Emma Bowen Foundation’s Summer Internship Business Track is a multi-year program requiring a minimum 3.0 GPA and continues through college, unlike most single-summer high school internships.
• JCYC’s SF YouthWorks pays $19.18 per hour, or $19.93 per hour for Youth Leadership Team members, placing interns across more than 30 San Francisco city government departments.
• The Port of Long Beach High School Internship Program accepts approximately 210 interns annually for a paid six week placement focused on international trade and port operations.
• Nearly every business internship in California requires US work authorization and residency in a specific city or county, with Immerse Education’s San Francisco Summer School standing out as the primary option open to international students.

15 Business Internships in California for High School Students

1. Kaiser Permanente – KP LAUNCH Internships

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Location: Kaiser Permanente headquarters, hospitals, and medical offices across Northern California
Stipend: $24/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 180-200 interns
Dates: June 15th – July 31st
Application Deadline: January 9th
Eligibility: Ages 16-19 by June 1st, with priority given to juniors and seniors; current high school students or graduating seniors; permanent residence in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area; proof of eligibility to legally work in the United States; not open to international students

As one of the most professionally structured business internships in California for high school students, KP LAUNCH gives you seven full-time weeks inside Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California headquarters, hospitals, or medical offices while exploring non-clinical business careers in health care. Placed in office-based departments, you gain exposure to accounting, finance, actuarial work, business analysis, project management, and sales and marketing.

You handle administrative and supporting work rather than medical treatment, contributing to real projects alongside working professionals. Weekly workshops build your personal and professional skills, while supervisors and mentors coach you on preparing for a healthcare business career. You also network with peers and senior leaders through work-based activities, community service projects, and social events.

Why it stands out: It pays a stipend to work full-time inside one of the largest health care organizations in the United States while providing weekly professional development workshops, dedicated supervisors and mentors, and structured networking with senior leaders.

2. Immerse Education’s San Francisco Entrepreneurship Summer School

Location: University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco, California
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: 15-18-year-old students; open to international students

Immerse Education’s Entrepreneurship Summer School offers an internationally accessible alternative to many business internships in California for high school students, introducing you to business development and startup strategy without requiring US residency. You’ll explore innovation, business planning, and financial management through interactive workshops, startup projects, and 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: It will give you hands-on exposure to startup strategy through real projects, expert mentorship, and practical challenges, while also earning you a recognised certificate.

3. Genesys Works – Bay Area Workforce Development 

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California
Stipend: Approximately $10,000-$13,000 during senior year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: 8 weeks of summer skills training between junior and senior year, followed by a paid, year-long internship during senior year
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school juniors on track to graduate; able to work in the U.S.; able to adjust their senior year schedule to accommodate internship hours; attendance at a Genesys Works partner school; not open to international students

You join Genesys Works Bay Area as a high school junior and complete eight weeks of rigorous business technology training, building skills in information technology, business operations, and professional development. You then move into a paid, year-long internship at a partner company site, working around 20 hours per week in an entry-level business role.

You practice workplace communication, teamwork, resume building, and professional presentations while contributing to real company operations at Bay Area employers. Alongside your internship, you receive more than sixty hours of guidance, counseling, and planning relative to your future career, plus college application and financial aid coaching. After graduation, the Alumni Program continues supporting your education and career path.

Why it stands out: It lets you earn roughly $10,000–$13,000 while gaining a year of real corporate business experience at major Bay Area companies before you even finish high school, completely free of program cost.

4. Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship – Business Track

Location: Various locations in the U.S., including California (e.g., Los Angeles, San Francisco)
Cost/Stipend: Free; paid internship (partner companies determine compensation)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 150 fellows annually across all tracks
Dates: May – August (minimum 8 weeks, full-time)
Application Deadline: Late January
Eligibility: High school seniors planning to attend a 4-year U.S. college; minimum 3.0 GPA; must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and 18+ by internship start; not open to international students

The Emma Bowen Fellows Program is a multi-year paid internship program for high school students interested in careers across business, media, technology, and communications. You’ll be matched with a partner company and complete a full-time summer internship, typically working 35–40 hours per week in areas such as marketing, public relations, sales, human resources, and digital marketing.

The program continues through college, allowing you to return for additional internships and build deeper industry experience over time. Alongside on-the-job training, you’ll interact with mentors and professionals who can help with your academic and career goals. 

Why it stands out: Few high school opportunities offer paid, multi-year internships that continue in college, building substantial work experience and professional connections over several years.

5. SFUSD Summer Internships with Industry Partners 

Location: San Francisco, California; worksites vary by industry partner placement
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by career sector
Dates: Six-week internships during Summer; exact start and end dates vary by placement and work schedule
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Eligibility: Currently enrolled and continuing SFUSD high school students; intended for current sophomores and juniors; priority to 11th graders who have not previously interned with SFUSD; not open to international students

As an intern, you spend six weeks working at least 20 hours per week inside a real San Francisco workplace, gaining direct exposure to business operations through sectors such as Office Management (Human Resources and Non-Profit), Event Planning, and Culinary/Hospitality. You work alongside industry mentors who guide you through day-to-day professional responsibilities and career exploration within the host organization.

You attend a weekly Work-Based Learning seminar led by your SFUSD Supervisor/Mentor, where you build workplace readiness and reflective professional skills. You complete a formal hiring process, including documentation and direct deposit setup, mirroring real-world employment. Along the way, you develop networking, communication, and career skills while earning an hourly wage.

Why it stands out: It gives SFUSD sophomores and juniors a paid, district-coordinated six-week placement with real Bay Area industry partners, combining hourly wages, mentor guidance, and a formal hiring experience.

6. JCYC – SF YouthWorks 

Location: San Francisco, California
Stipend: $19.18 per hour (Youth Leadership Team members earn $19.93 per hour)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: Summer and school-year sessions (Late October through early May)
Application Deadline: Summer: April 10th; School-year: Mid-September
Eligibility: 11th or 12th grader (rising junior, rising senior, or graduating senior); reside or attend school in San Francisco; able to obtain a work permit (program staff assist with this); not open to international students

As an SF YouthWorks intern, you work inside San Francisco city government departments, including business-oriented offices such as the Controller’s Office, Human Resources, Assessor-Recorder, Treasurer and Tax Collector, and Purchasing and Contract Administration, giving you real exposure to public-sector operations and administration. You complete paid job readiness workshops and professional training covering workplace skills, and receive help building resumes and cover letters that strengthen your professional toolkit.

You are paired with a city department employee mentor who guides your growth on the job. Returning interns can join the Youth Leadership Team, planning and facilitating workshops while developing management and organizational skills. The program also supports your transition planning for life after high school.

Why it stands out: It places high school students in paid internships supervised by career mentors across more than 30 San Francisco city government departments, combining real workplace experience with structured job readiness training at no cost to participants.

7. Port of Long Beach High School Internship Program

Location: Varies based on placement
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 210 interns annually
Dates: June 22nd – July 30th
Application Deadline: February 20th
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who attend a high school in the Long Beach Unified School District service area or reside in Long Beach; minimum 2.5 GPA; not open to international students

For participants interested in international trade and logistics, few business internships in California for high school students provide the same direct industry exposure as the Port of Long Beach programme. During the paid six-week placement, you work within Port departments, contribute to day-to-day projects, and learn how one of the busiest ports in the United States operates.

Expect to work up to 30 hours per week and receive mentorship from professionals in your assigned departments. You’ll also complete professional development training about workplace skills, financial literacy, and professional conduct. The program is designed to help you explore career pathways while building experience in a professional environment.

Why it stands out: This paid internship combines hands-on workplace experience with mentorship and career-readiness training, giving students early exposure to industries connected to global trade and transportation.

8. City of Los Angeles – HIRE LA’s Youth

Location: Los Angeles, California (placements at worksites across the City of Los Angeles)
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; thousands of youth placed annually
Dates: Primarily summer placements with year-round opportunities
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Ages 14-24; residency in the City of Los Angeles; family income at or below program income guidelines (with categorical eligibility for foster, homeless, CalWORKs/free-lunch, or disabled youth); U.S. work authorization with I-9 documentation and a work permit for ages 14-17; not open to international students

HIRE LA’s Youth, run by the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department, gives you paid, entry-level work experience designed to prepare you for the 21st-century workforce. You complete workforce readiness training before your first day, then work at least 100 hours at a partnered business, nonprofit, or City worksite.

You can earn a Work Readiness Certificate endorsed by the LA Area Chamber of Commerce, the City’s Workforce Development Board, and the Professionals in Human Resources Association, and you receive financial literacy training during enrollment. Placements span industries including financial services, hospitality, entertainment, government, and healthcare, giving you real exposure to professional business environments.

Why it stands out: It pairs a guaranteed minimum of 100 paid work hours with pre-employment workforce training and a Work Readiness Certificate endorsed by the LA Area Chamber of Commerce, turning a first job into a documented business credential.

9. Project Pull Internship

Location: San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $23/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: June 8th – July 31st
Application Deadline: February 13th
Eligibility: Students entering their junior or senior year, or college-bound freshmen in Fall, who live in San Francisco or attend high school in San Francisco, and have a minimum 2.75 GPA from their most recently completed semester; not open to international students

The Project Pull Internship Program places high school students in paid summer internships within departments across the City and County of San Francisco. You’ll work about 20 hours per week on projects that support city services. The program also includes weekly enrichment sessions focused on topics such as workplace skills, career exploration, and professional development.

Additionally, you’ll interact with city employees and learn how different government departments operate. While the exact responsibilities vary by placement, the experience is designed to provide students with an introduction to public sector work and day-to-day office environments.

Why it stands out: The program offers direct work experience within local government, giving you exposure to public service careers that are rarely available through traditional high school internships.

10. Enterprise for Youth Paid Internships

Location: San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $21+/ hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; over 400 youth across all sessions annually
Dates: Summer runs from early June to late July, Fall begins in October, and Spring varies
Application Deadline: Summer: April 15th; Fall and Spring: Preceding their respective starts
Eligibility: Rising seniors or juniors in high school, attend SFUSD and/or live in San Francisco, identify as a member of an underrepresented community, have significant financial need for employment, and have completed Job Readiness Training; not open to international students

The Enterprise for Youth Internship Program connects high school students with paid summer internships while helping them build workplace skills and professional experience. The program bridges the gap between high school and the professional world, specifically prioritizing students who attend the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) or identify as part of underrepresented communities.

You complete at least 75 hours of on-site work with employer partners and participate in weekly professional development workshops focused on job readiness. You’ll learn to communicate professionally, understand workplace expectations, and develop transferable skills. The experience is designed to help students explore potential career paths while gaining exposure to real work environments. 

Why it stands out: In addition to paid work experience, the program includes structured professional development throughout the summer, helping students strengthen workplace skills while exploring different career options.

11. The Intern Project (TIP) – LA Promise Fund

Location: Majority virtual, with placements across Los Angeles County
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~85 to 115 students
Dates: Summer: June 17th – August 9th; Fall & Spring Sessions: Align with the standard school semester calendar
Application Deadline: Summer: March 15th; Fall & Spring Sessions: Vary by school term
Eligibility: 10th – 12th grade students attending an LA County high school (including DACA/undocumented and foster youth); not open to international students

The Intern Project (TIP) places Los Angeles high school students in eight-week internships with organizations across fields such as business, technology, media, and nonprofits. During the program, you’ll learn how professional teams communicate, manage projects, and collaborate on day-to-day tasks.

The experience also includes workshops on career exploration and workplace readiness, along with guidance from mentors. You can earn college credit and may have opportunities to complete industry-recognized certifications. 

Why it stands out: The program offers a professional internship with college credit, mentorship, and career development workshops, helping you gain both workplace experience and practical skills.

12. Juma Ventures Internships

Location: San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento, California
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by site and term
Dates: Offered year-round in three terms: Fall (late August – late December), Spring (early January – mid May), and Summer (late May – late August)
Application Deadline: Ongoing applications
Eligibility: High school students; in-person participation at a Juma site in California or Seattle; not open to international students

In this program, you join the operations side of the largest youth-employment social enterprise in the United States, gaining hands-on experience in nonprofit development and social enterprise business operations. It allows you to choose business-focused teams such as Marketing, Partnerships & Business Development, Ballpark Enterprise Management, Development/Fundraising, and Finance, so your work aligns with real organizational functions.

You support recruitment efforts, data collection, student outreach, and event coordination alongside program staff. Working from Juma’s California offices, you also see how a mission-driven enterprise manages revenue, partnerships, and community programs. The flexible fall, spring, and summer terms let you fit the internship around your school schedule.

Why it stands out: It places high school students inside the business operations of a nonprofit that began in 1993 as the first nonprofit to grow from a single Ben & Jerry’s shop into the nation’s largest youth-employment social enterprise.

13. Meta Summer Academy

Location: Meta offices across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; roughly 150 students annually
Dates: June 15th – July 24th
Application Deadline: February 14th
Eligibility: Applicants must be 10th graders and full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City; have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA; not open to international students

The Meta Summer Academy is a six-week career exploration program created through a partnership between Meta, Foundation for a College Education, and Mission Bit. You will spend around 30 hours each week building technical and professional skills and engaging in coursework in coding, financial literacy, art, and media.

Participants are matched with departments based on program needs and their interests, giving them exposure to a professional workplace environment. Throughout the program, you’ll also connect with employees and leaders who share insights into their careers and day-to-day work.

Why it stands out: You’ll explore multiple career fields while working closely with professionals at a major technology company, helping you gain a clearer sense of where your interests fit.

14. San Diego Workforce Partnership – Connect2Careers (C2C)

Location: San Diego County, California
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; large regional scale, with over 1,000 young adults annually
Dates: Ongoing, year-round youth employment programming; individual job and internship schedules vary by employer
Application Deadline: Ongoing basis
Eligibility: San Diego County residents ages 16-24; open to all income levels and backgrounds under the current youth workforce system; completion of the online C2C application required; not open to international students

Connect2Careers (C2C) is a San Diego Workforce Partnership youth employment program where you build business-world readiness through real paid work. The program aligns your career aspirations and educational background with community-minded businesses to create paid work experiences preparing you for 21st-century jobs.

You complete work-readiness training covering resume building, elevator pitches, interview preparation and local labor market knowledge, then search an online portal filled with thousands of local job and internship opportunities. A peer job coach you can call, text or message supports every stage of your job search, alongside case management and job coaching. Past placements have included employers such as Qualcomm, SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo.

Why it stands out: It pairs you with your own peer job coach and connects you at no cost to paid work experiences backed by funders including Bank of America, Gap, Hyatt, Walmart and the City and County of San Diego.

15. City of San Jose / work2future – San Jose Works (work2future)

Location: San José, California
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; roughly 375 high school participants
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling submissions
Eligibility: High school students ages 14-18 for the paid work experience internship program; residency in San Jose required; youth ages 16 to 29 qualify for broader employment and career services; not open to international students

San Jose Works earns its place among this list of business internships in California for high school students by combining paid work experience with placements in high-growth sectors such as finance. Through partners including Bank of America and Intuit, you gain practical business exposure alongside training in leadership, financial literacy, mentoring, job counselling, and workplace readiness.

Your work experience connects you to career pathways while you practice professional skills like resume building, workplace communication, and time management. You can access mentorship and job coaches for continued career support, plus supportive services such as transportation and clothing assistance. Placements span roughly 100 different job types across organizations citywide, letting you match work to your business interests.

Why it stands out: It pairs paid business-sector work experience with mentorship from major employers like Bank of America and Intuit at no cost to participants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are business internships in California open to international students?

Almost all paid business internships in California, including Kaiser Permanente’s KP LAUNCH, Genesys Works, and the Port of Long Beach program, require US citizenship, permanent residency, or specific local residency, making them unavailable to international students. Immerse Education’s San Francisco Summer School at UC Berkeley is a clear exception, open to students worldwide aged 15 to 18. If you’re an international student hoping for California-based business exposure, Immerse Education’s program is likely your strongest option among those listed here.

Do business internships in California pay a stipend?

Most do, and rates vary depending on the sponsoring organization. Kaiser Permanente’s KP LAUNCH pays $24 per hour, Project Pull pays $23 per hour, and JCYC’s SF YouthWorks pays $19.18 to $19.93 per hour depending on your role. Genesys Works stands out for its total earning potential, paying roughly $10,000 to $13,000 across a full senior year internship. A few programs, like Juma Ventures Internships and San Diego’s Connect2Careers, offer no direct stipend, focusing instead on workforce readiness training and job placement support.

How competitive are business internships in California?

Selectivity ranges from highly competitive to open enrollment. Kaiser Permanente’s KP LAUNCH and the Emma Bowen Foundation’s fellowship are both described as highly competitive, admitting a limited, defined cohort each year. Government-run programs like San Jose Works and HIRE LA’s Youth are considerably less selective, since they’re designed to serve thousands of students annually. If you’re applying to a highly selective program, submitting early and meeting every eligibility detail precisely will matter more than for broader workforce programs.

What is the difference between a corporate internship and a government-placement internship in California?

Corporate internships, like Kaiser Permanente’s KP LAUNCH or the Emma Bowen Foundation’s program, place you directly inside a specific company’s departments, giving you exposure to that organization’s internal operations and culture. Government-placement internships, like JCYC’s SF YouthWorks or Project Pull, instead rotate you through city or county departments, exposing you to public-sector administration and services. Both types build transferable workplace skills, but a corporate placement tends to offer a clearer view of one company’s business model, while government placements expose you to broader civic operations.

Can you do a business internship in California if you’re not from the Bay Area?

Some business internships in California accept students from outside the Bay Area, though many are tied to a specific city or region. The Port of Long Beach program is limited to Long Beach Unified School District residents, and HIRE LA’s Youth requires City of Los Angeles residency. If you live outside these specific catchment areas, Immerse Education’s San Francisco Summer School is open to students worldwide, making it a viable option regardless of where you currently live.

Is Immerse Education a good fit for exploring business or entrepreneurship?

Immerse Education’s San Francisco Summer School at UC Berkeley is a strong choice if you want fast-paced exposure to entrepreneurship and startup strategy without needing US residency. Over two weeks, you’ll work on startup projects, study real-world case studies, and receive guidance from established entrepreneurs before delivering a polished investor pitch by the program’s end. With just seven to 10 participants per class, you also get close mentorship, and you’ll earn a recognized certificate upon completion.

Start Exploring Careers Beyond the Internship

A strong internship turns classroom interest into practical direction, from healthcare operations at Kaiser Permanente to global trade at the Port of Long Beach.

These business internships in California for high school students help you compare finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, technology, and public-sector careers while building valuable communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

By comparing each programme’s location, pay, eligibility, mentorship, schedule, and career focus, you can identify the opportunities that align with your ambitions and confidently explore the paths ahead.

Ready to discover where your interests and strengths could lead? Explore our Career Exploration blogs for expert guidance, inspiring pathways, and practical insights to shape your future.