12 Paid Robotics Internships for High School Students
Robotics internships can be a strong option if you’re a high school student interested in engineering, coding, and emerging technologies. They allow you to build technical skills while gaining experience in the development, testing, and application of robotic systems across different settings. Many of these opportunities also offer a stipend, which can help offset costs or provide financial support while you participate.
What are the benefits of a robotics internship?
Through these opportunities, you may work on projects in areas such as artificial intelligence, mechanical design, or data analysis while contributing to ongoing research or technical work. You can also develop problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills as you work alongside researchers, engineers, or industry professionals. Overall, a robotics internship can help you explore your interests more deeply while gaining experience that supports your academic and career goals.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 12 paid robotics internships for high school students.
If you’re looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. Texas Tech University - Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Stipend: $750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective | 12 students
Dates: June 21 - August 6
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 years old by the start date
Hosted at Texas Tech University, the Anson L. Clark Scholars is a seven-week program that places high school students directly into faculty-led research across multiple disciplines. Students interested in robotics can request placement with mentors in mechanical engineering or electrical and computer engineering and shape an independent project around those areas. Research topics may involve machine learning, artificial intelligence applications, data-intensive computing, or virtual and augmented reality systems that intersect with robotics. You spend most of the program conducting original research, analyzing results, and preparing a formal presentation of your findings. Weekly seminars and discussions broaden exposure to academic research beyond your assigned lab. By the end of the program, you present your research publicly, documenting both process and outcomes developed over the summer.
2. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 - August 14
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are New York residents
NYU’s ARISE program is a ten-week paid internship that combines remote instruction with in-person laboratory research in advanced STEM fields, including robotics and engineering. The program begins with a virtual phase focused on lab safety, research ethics, and college preparation, to establish professional research standards before entering a laboratory. You then transition to a six-week, in-person placement at NYU, where you work alongside graduate mentors on active research projects. You may collect and analyze data, test systems, or assist with technical problem-solving in computer science or applied engineering. Communication training is integrated throughout the experience, with theater professionals helping you strengthen presentation skills as you formally prepare to present your research findings. Participants receive a stipend upon successful completion of program requirements.
3. Air Force Research Laboratory Scholars (AFRL) Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: None | weekly stipend of $501.60 for high school students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Late May/Early June - August
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: U.S. citizens at least 16 years of age with a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0
The AFRL Scholars Program places high school students in paid summer research positions within the U.S. Air Force laboratories, including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Interns are assigned to research teams working in areas such as aerospace systems, artificial intelligence, materials science, sensors, and space-related technologies. Depending on your placement, students may contribute through software development, computational modeling, experimental testing, or data analysis connected to defense research. Mentorship is a central component, with Air Force scientists and engineers guiding your daily work. By the end of the internship, you will have gained documented research experience in a federal laboratory environment.
4. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various Department of the Navy laboratories across the country
Stipend: $4,000 (new participants) | $4,500 (returning participants)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective | about 300 students
Dates: Not specified | typically May to June
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 - 12 who are 16 years old by the start of the program and are U.S. citizens
The SEAP is an eight-week paid summer internship sponsored by the Department of the Navy. The program places high school students in one of more than 38 Navy laboratories nationwide. You work directly with Navy scientists and engineers on research projects that may involve robotics, electronics, systems engineering, or materials testing. Specific assignments vary by lab, but interns contribute to real technical investigations rather than simulated classroom activities. Responsibilities may include supporting experiments, running analyses, or assisting with engineering development connected to naval applications. Mentorship, lab tours, and seminars provide context related to defense-related research pathways.
5. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Apprenticeship
Location: Various U.S. Army Research Labs and university research centers nationwide, including Cambridge and Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Varies depending on the location | typically June - August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Applicantsmust be U.S. citizens and at least 16 years old to qualify
Through the AEOP High School Apprenticeship, students spend the summer working full-time in the U.S. Army research laboratory or an affiliated university laboratory. The paid internship focuses on applied STEM research, with potential placements in robotics, engineering, materials science, cybersecurity, or biological sciences. You are paired with a professional scientist or engineer who supervises your day-to-day responsibilities, including conducting experiments, operating specialized equipment, and analyzing technical data. Projects are connected to ongoing active federal research initiatives rather than hypothetical case studies. In addition to lab work, AEOP offers workshops, webinars, and career panels focused on STEM pathways. This paid robotics internship also connects you to a national peer and mentor network.
6. University of New Hampshire, InterOperability Laboratory – HighTech Bound
Location: Varies depending on the placement
Stipend: Competitive wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 - August 7
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are U.S. residents
HighTech Bound, hosted by the University of New Hampshire’s InterOperability Laboratory, is a four- to six-week paid summer internship for high school students. You work in a professional laboratory environment on team-based software and hardware projects involving network technologies and smart systems. Mentors provide guidance in areas such as coding, system testing, FPGA design, and protocol troubleshooting, using real-world devices and industry-standard protocols. Project technologies reflect those used by companies such as Apple, Dell, and Cisco. The internship also includes visits to regional technology organizations and structured conversations with engineers about career paths. Participants may earn high school credit through Virtual Learning Academy Charter School (VLACS).
7. Los Alamos National Laboratory Internship
Location: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
Stipend: About $14/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Fall/Spring: Part-time during the school year | Summer: 10 weeks full-time
Application Deadline: Fall: September 30 | spring: February 13 | summer: April 15
Eligibility: Highschool seniors who are at least 16 years of age with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and who attend a high school in northern New Mexico
The Los Alamos National Laboratory offers paid internships to New Mexico high school seniors, with part-time opportunities during the academic year and full-time placements in the summer. You may work in STEM divisions such as robotics, physics, materials science, or engineering, as well as professional departments that support laboratory operations. Interns work closely with experienced mentors on tasks that can include data collection, experimental support, or systems analysis. Summer placements typically run for about ten weeks and involve structured integration into research teams. Workshops and meetings expose you to how interdisciplinary teams collaborate on large-scale scientific projects.
8. Evodyne Robotics Internship
Location: Evodyne Robotics Academy, Mountain View, CA
Stipend: Paid | amount unspecified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: School-year and summer opportunities available
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Must be a current junior in high school, at least 16 years old, and have completed the Genesis Track
During this internship, participants work directly on the development and refinement of robotic systems used in education and advanced research. Interns contribute to projects such as improving existing robotic platforms, such as EvoDog and EvoArm, or designing new robotic platforms from concept through prototype. Technical responsibilities can include CAD modeling in Fusion 360, 3D printing, control algorithm development, Python or C++ programming, soldering, and computer vision integration using ROS. Some interns may also serve as teaching assistants during the summer, helping younger students troubleshoot robotics challenges. Projects are hands-on and technically detailed, often involving balance control systems or mechanical gear optimization.
9. The Intern Project Program
Location: Various companies in Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in the fall, spring, and summer
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: 10th-12th graders in LA County
The Intern Project places high school students in paid, eight-week internships across LA in fields such as technology, engineering, healthcare, media, and government. Depending on the host organization’s needs,some placements can involve robotics or technical engineering roles. You contribute to ongoing workplace projects while participating in structured workshops focused on communication, planning, and project management. Internships may be remote or on-site, depending on the employer's arrangements. Mentors support professional expectations and coordinate informational interviews with industry professionals. The program combines career exploration with practical job responsibilities. Participants earn both a stipend and college credit upon completion.
10. Youth Opportunities Unlimited – High School Tech Internship
Location: Various businesses across Ohio
Stipend: $12/hour minimum
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Minimum 120 hours during the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified | interest form here
Eligibility: Current high school students in Ohio | must be 19 years old or younger on the start date of their internship
Youth Opportunities Unlimited administers Ohio’s High School Tech Internship, placing students in paid roles with a minimum commitment of 120 hours. Internships are designed to mirror entry-level positions in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, broadband/5G technologies, advanced mobility, and other high-demand technical fields, including robotics. Host employers include private companies, nonprofit organizations, and local government agencies participating in the statewide initiative. Students perform defined job responsibilities and gain practical experience in Ohio’s technology workforce. Work-based learning agreements establish expectations and project goals prior to the start of the internship.
11. HighTech Bound | InterOperability Laboratory, University of New Hampshire
Location: Varied locations according to company placement
Cost/Stipend: Interns are paid at a competitive hourly rate
Dates: July 6 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are U.S. residents
The HighTech Bound internship at the UNH InterOperability Laboratory provides high school students with an opportunity to explore tech work in a research and engineering setting. Interns collaborate with mentors and lab engineers on projects that involve current network technologies, software, and hardware development. Past student work has included software development and hardware design, such as FPGA board development and web interface creation. This experience helps students build practical technical skills such as coding, systems testing, and debugging, while also giving insight into how complex tech systems are built and evaluated in industry‑grade labs.
12. Stony Brook University – Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Stipend: Stipend offered at completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 29 - August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: Current high school juniors | U.S. citizens and/or permanent residents | at least 16 years old by the start of the program
At Stony Brook University, the Simons Summer Research Program matches high school students with faculty mentors in science, mathematics, or engineering for hands-on laboratory research. Students with interests aligned to robotics or computational systems may be placed in a lab where those themes guide their project work. You join an active research group and contribute to experiments, mathematical modeling, or technical analysis throughout the summer. Weekly faculty lectures and research workshops introduce broader scientific methods and communication strategies. Throughout this paid robotics internship for high school students, you are expected to document findings and refine your analytical approach. The experience concludes with submission of a written research abstract and presentation of a poster at a formal symposium.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
With Veritas AI, which was founded by Harvard graduate students, you can work 1-on-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. Check out a past student’s experience in the program here. You can apply here!
Image source - Stony Brook Uni Logo