15 Internships for High School Students in Boston
If you are a high school student interested in gaining experience outside the classroom, internships can help you understand what different fields actually involve on a day-to-day basis. Through internships, you may assist with research, support ongoing projects, analyze data, help run programs, or contribute to office and community operations, depending on the organization. These experiences allow you to build practical skills such as communication, time management, and collaboration while learning how professional workplaces are structured.
Why should you intern in Boston?
Boston is home to universities, museums, research institutions, hospitals, government offices, and nonprofits that regularly offer internships for high school students. Many of these opportunities allow you to work alongside professionals in fields such as science, technology, public policy, education, law, healthcare, and the arts. Whether you live in the city or commute from nearby areas, Boston’s concentration of institutions makes it possible to explore a wide range of interests while gaining experience in settings closely connected to higher education and industry.
In this article, we’ve listed 15 internships for high school students in Boston that offer meaningful learning and career exploration opportunities.
If you are looking for summer programs in Boston, check out our blog here.
1. Museum of Science Internship Program
Location: Museum of Science, Boston, MA
Stipend: Varies by position
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by internship and semester
Application Deadline: Varies by specific internship posting
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 - 19
The Museum of Science Internship Program offers hands-on learning opportunities for those interested in science education, public engagement, and professional development. You’ll work across departments that support the Museum’s mission to inspire a lifelong love of science, gaining authentic workplace experience in a dynamic, public-facing environment. You’ll focus on developing transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, and professionalism through structured learning goals and supervised work experiences.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12 - 15 week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling Deadlines
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship applicants should have prior AI/Python experience or have completed the AI Scholars program
Veritas AI is a virtual work-learn style program that allows you to gain applied experience in artificial intelligence through structured coursework and mentored projects. The program emphasises learning by doing, with those building AI and machine learning projects over multi-week cohorts. You’ll typically start in the AI Scholars program, where you develop foundational skills in Python, data science, and AI through guided instruction and collaborative projects. Through sustained mentorship, project ownership, and optional publication support, Veritas AI models a work-learn approach that blends skill development with practical output.
3. Technical Trades Work and Learning Program
Location: Clean Energy Employers Statewide, Boston, MA
Stipend: Hourly wages, exact rate TBA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: October 28 - August 21
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in MA
The Technical Trades Work and Learning Program is a paid, year-round internship initiative run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Centre that connects vocational and technical students with hands-on work experience in the clean energy sector. You’ll earn wages while gaining practical skills in construction, maintenance, and installation roles across high-performance buildings, offshore wind, net-zero grid, and clean transportation sectors. Internships are designed to align with your academic programs and may begin during the school year and continue through the summer.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can commit 10-20 hours per week
Ladder Internships is a selective, project-based work-learn internship program that places you with high-growth startups and nonprofits around the world. You’ll work remotely on real business-critical projects in fields such as technology, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, consulting, journalism, and operations. You’ll collaborate closely with startup managers, gaining exposure to professional workflows, deadlines, and team-based problem-solving.
5. Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) Internship Program
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer internship (Exact dates TBA)
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore year and are enrolled in Boston Public Schools
Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) is a paid work-and-learning internship program run by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston for eligible Boston Public Schools high school students. The program begins with a structured summer internship that emphasises job coaching, professional skill development, and exposure to real workplace environments. You’ll participate in workshops focused on interpersonal and career-readiness skills such as problem solving, communication, and conflict resolution. The program reflects decades of partnership with community organisations and incorporates research-backed best practices in youth development and workforce preparation.
6. Paul Revere House One-Week Internship for High Schoolers
Location: Paul Revere House, North End, Boston, MA
Stipend: Volunteer program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 21 - July 25
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10 - 12
The Paul Revere House One-Week Internship is a short, immersive summer program that introduces you to the inner workings of a history museum. Over five days, you’ll observe museum professionals, learn how historians research and interpret the past, and explore how museums present history to the public. You’ll engage with real museum artefacts, participate in discussions about contemporary issues and controversies in the museum field, and collaborate with peers to create historical content.
7. Urban Scholars Program
Location: University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA
Stipend: Volunteer program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Academically motivated Boston public high school students
The Urban Scholars Program is a long-standing pre-collegiate initiative at UMass Boston designed to support those in preparing for and succeeding in college. The program focuses on academic enrichment, college readiness, and personal development, helping you build the skills and confidence needed for higher education. You’ll participate in structured academic programming, advising, and mentoring while gaining early exposure to a college campus environment. The program places a strong emphasis on equity and access, serving those who have historically faced barriers to college attainment.
8. Tufts STEM+M CONNECT Program
Location: Tufts Medford campus, Boston & Medford, MA
Cost/Stipend: Residential program plus $2,175 stipend upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: 4 weeks during June – July
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current sophomores or juniors
The Tufts STEM+M CONNECT Program is a paid, four-week summer work-and-learning experience designed to support those interested in STEM and health-related careers. You’ll participate in either the Tufts Mini Med School or Lab Science Investigations program, engaging in hands-on labs, simulations, and research-based learning. CONNECT extends beyond the residential component with structured mentoring, professional skill-building workshops, and exposure to diverse STEM+M role models.
9. YouthWorks
Location: Boston, MA
Stipend: Hourly wages; exact amount TBA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: September-May; exact dates TBA
Application Deadline: Varies by local YouthWorks provider and municipality
Eligibility: Teens and young adults ages 14–25 who meet program and local provider requirements
YouthWorks is a state-funded employment initiative administered by the Commonwealth Corporation that provides paid, short-term work experiences for those across Massachusetts. You are placed in public, private, and nonprofit worksites during the summer and, in some cases, throughout the academic year. In addition to earning wages, you’ll receive structured training in essential workplace skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, and professionalism.
10. Teen Arts Council (TAC)
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid; stipend rates not publicly specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Academic year program
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who attend a Boston public school
The Teen Arts Council (TAC) is a year-long leadership development program. You’ll serve as advisors to the MFA on teen engagement strategies while developing workplace, communication, and teamwork skills. TAC members design and implement public programs and events for their peers, gaining hands-on experience in arts programming and youth leadership. The program includes opportunities to lead teen-focused tours, collaborate with contemporary artists, and connect with other cultural institutions across Boston.
11. Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Stipend: Volunteer program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 - July 30
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are permanent Massachusetts residents
The Young Scholars Program (YSP) is a selective, summer research program for those interested in science and engineering. You’ll engage in hands-on laboratory research within Northeastern University’s Colleges of Engineering, Science, and Health Sciences, working alongside faculty and researchers on practical scientific and engineering problems. In addition to lab work, you’ll take part in a structured seminar series introducing major engineering disciplines and emerging research areas such as robotics, biotechnology, materials science, and energy systems.
12. Judicial Youth Corps (JYC) Program
Location: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid summer internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July - August; exact dates TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students who are residents of Boston
The Judicial Youth Corps (JYC) Program is a six-week paid summer internship that introduces you to the Massachusetts court system and the rule of law. You are placed in local courthouses, where you gain hands-on experience while working alongside judges, clerks, probation officers, and other court professionals. In addition to the daily courthouse placements, you’ll attend weekly paid educational sessions featuring interactive lessons, group discussions, and mentorship from legal professionals. The program incorporates experiential learning activities such as mock trials, shadowing, and field trips to deepen your understanding of legal concepts and civic institutions.
13. Architecture/Design High School Internships
Location: Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 6 - August 14
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Boston Public School students in grades 9-12
The Architecture/Design High School Internship is a paid summer program run by the Boston Society for Architecture in partnership with the Boston Private Industry Council. The program connects you with local architecture firms for a six-week immersive internship experience, offering early exposure to architecture and design careers. You’ll work Monday through Thursday at participating firms, gaining hands-on insight into professional practice across firms of varying size, focus, and design approach. On Fridays, you’ll participate in the BSA’s “Summer Fridays” series, which includes tours of architectural, cultural, and historical sites across Boston.
14. STEAM Team Fellowship
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid fellowship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Academic-year program; exact dates vary by cycle
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Rising sophomores who attend a Boston public school
The STEAM Team Fellowship is a paid workforce development program that introduces you to careers across Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics within a major cultural institution. You’ll participate in hands-on, behind-the-scenes learning experiences at the MFA, working closely with staff mentors across multiple STEAM disciplines. The program emphasises professional skill-building, including teamwork, leadership, and workplace readiness, while exposing you to a wide range of academic and career pathways.
15. New England Aquarium Summer Teen Internship Program
Location: New England Aquarium, Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid internship; amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Summer program; exact dates TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Teens aged 14 and older; most positions are open to residents of Boston and Cambridge
The New England Aquarium Summer Teen Internship Program offers paid, hands-on work experience for those interested in marine science, climate education, and public engagement. You’ll complete a week of training before beginning six weeks of supervised work in visitor-facing roles such as Visitor Services Assistant or Interpretation and Engagement Aquarium Guide. Throughout the program, you’ll build skills in public speaking, customer service, time management, and responsibility while learning about marine ecosystems and ocean conservation.
Image source - Ladder Internships