A paid internship is a great way to get real work experience and earn money while you’re in high school. New York City has a lot of them, across tech, science, the arts, and more. Here are 12 worth knowing, with what each involves and who can apply. Eligibility and dates change year to year, so confirm with each program.
1. NYC Ladders for Leaders
A selective program connecting high school and college students with paid summer internships at major NYC organizations (past partners include Google, American Express, and Morgan Stanley). It includes professional training in things like communication and workplace etiquette.
Eligibility: NYC resident, age 16-21, enrolled in high school or college, minimum 3.0 GPA, and completion of a pre-employment training program.
2. Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
One of NYC’s largest youth programs, placing young people in paid positions across healthcare, education, technology, retail, and more, with a focus on work-readiness skills.
Eligibility: NYC residents aged 14-24, no prior work experience needed. You complete an online application and attend an orientation.
3. Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Offered by institutions like the American Museum of Natural History, SRMP pairs students with scientists for advanced research projects, and pays a stipend.
Eligibility: high school students aged 16+, with a strong interest in science and a commitment to all sessions. The application includes a personal statement and a teacher recommendation.
4. New-York Historical Society Tech Scholars
A program for students interested in technology and history, where you use digital tools to build projects that bring historical stories to life, learning coding and web design and earning a stipend.
Eligibility: high school students aged 14-18 interested in history and technology, able to commit to the schedule.
5. Futures and Options Internship Program
Paid internships across business and nonprofit organizations, plus career-readiness workshops on resumes, interviews, and professional skills.
Eligibility: high school students aged 16-19 who attend school in NYC and are interested in career exploration.
6. MoMA High School Internship
The Museum of Modern Art offers a paid internship where students work across departments, attend workshops, and see how a world-class museum runs.
Eligibility: NYC high school juniors and seniors interested in art and cultural institutions.
7. Pinkerton Science Scholars Program
A STEM-focused internship with a stipend, where students work alongside professional scientists on research projects in labs and research facilities.
Eligibility: high school students with a demonstrated interest in STEM. The application includes essays and recommendations.
8. New York On Tech (NYOT)
New York On Tech (a nonprofit, not to be confused with NYIT) offers a pathway into the tech industry through training, mentorship, and paid internships, where students learn coding and project management.
Eligibility: high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in technology, who commit to the training sessions.
9. Bank of America Student Leaders
This program connects students with paid internships at local nonprofits, plus a leadership summit in Washington, D.C. where they network with peers and leaders.
Eligibility: high school juniors and seniors who show leadership and community involvement. The application includes essays and recommendation letters.
10. American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Youth Initiatives
AMNH runs several paid programs for high schoolers, including internships and mentoring, where students explore science careers and contribute to museum projects.
Eligibility: high school students aged 14-19 interested in science, education, or museum studies. You apply online and interview.
11. PENCIL Internship Program
PENCIL connects students with paid internships in NYC’s corporate and nonprofit sectors, plus training in professional skills like public speaking and teamwork.
Eligibility: NYC high school students aged 16+ interested in career exploration. You apply and interview.
12. Cooper Union Summer STEM Program
For students into engineering and technology, Cooper Union runs a summer program combining academics with hands-on projects and college-level coursework.
Eligibility: high school students with a strong interest in STEM. It’s a competitive application with essays and teacher recommendations.
Building a research project? Try ScienceFair.io
ScienceFair.io is a platform built for high and middle school students, covering everything from finding an idea to presenting your final work. You can schedule a consultation call to map out a plan.
What it offers:
- Idea engine: generate research ideas based on thousands of past projects.
- Step-by-step research guide: work through the research process one stage at a time.
- Tuner: sharpen your project title and abstract so they land with judges.
- AI judging tool: practice the judging Q&A and find weak spots before the real thing.
- Expert coaching: mentorship from past winners through the A-Z Science Fair Masterclass and coaching calls.
Take a look at ScienceFair.io if a research project is on your list.
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