13 Internships for High School Students in San Diego, California
Internships can be a great starting point for high school students who want to explore their interests beyond the classroom. By participating in an internship, you get the chance to see how different industries operate while building practical skills that schools often cannot teach on their own. Whether you are curious about medicine, engineering, finance, environmental science, technology, or media, internships allow you to experience real-world work environments and learn directly from professionals.
Why should you attend an internship in San Diego?
San Diego is home to several well-known universities, research centers, hospitals, and innovative companies that regularly offer internship opportunities year-round. Many of these internships allow high school students to work on meaningful projects, such as assisting with scientific research, learning about healthcare and medicine, exploring marine and environmental science, participating in technology development, or gaining experience in business and finance settings. These opportunities can be especially valuable for students who live or study in San Diego and want to engage with local organizations. At the same time, students from outside the city who are interested in specialized programs or summer experiences may find San Diego a great place to explore internships.
To help you get started, we’ve narrowed down a list of 13 internships for high school students in San Diego, California.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
1. Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program at the Salk Institute
Location: Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA
Stipend: $17/hour
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Students 16 years and older who reside and attend school in San Diego County with a minimum 2.75 GPA
In the Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program at the Salk Institute, you spend eight weeks diving into real scientific research, guided by experienced Salk scientists. You’ll be part of ongoing projects in molecular biology, genetics, or neuroscience, learning lab techniques like microscopy, electrophoresis, and data analysis while contributing meaningful results. Along the way, you’ll attend seminars, workshops, and site visits that give you a close-up view of San Diego’s biotech world. You’ll also get to talk directly with researchers, ask questions, and explore how experiments are designed and findings are communicated.
2. Air Force Research Laboratory Scholars (AFRL) Program
Location: Multiple locations across the country, including SSC – CGN, San Diego, CA
Stipend: $506.80 per week
Dates: Fall: 16 weeks (late August/early September – mid-December) | Spring: 16 weeks (mid-January – early May) | Summer: 10 weeks (late May/early June – August)
Application Deadline: January 10 (Summer)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens over 16 years of age with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0
The AFRL Scholars Program offers paid summer internships for high school students interested in advanced research in aerospace systems, satellite communications, and defense technology. During the program, you work alongside scientists and engineers on active research projects at designated Air Force facilities, gaining hands-on experience in areas such as computer modeling, artificial intelligence, and materials testing. You will receive weekly stipends and professional mentorship while contributing to meaningful tasks, including supporting experiments, analyzing data, or developing software, giving students a strong foundation in STEM careers and real-world research skills.
3. Alliance of Chinese Americans San Diego (ACA) API Summer Journalism Internship
Location: San Diego, CA (hybrid)
Stipend: $250
Dates: June 14 – August 15
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Current full-time high school students attending a school in San Diego County; must be a descendant of Asian Pacific Island origin; must commit to at least 60 hours to write, edit, and publish at least three articles before the end of the internship.
The Asian Culture and Media Alliance API Summer Journalism Internship is a 10-week hybrid program designed for high school students interested in journalism and civic engagement within the Asian Pacific Islander community in San Diego. During the internship, students learn to report on local stories by attending community events, interviewing community members, and writing articles exploring themes such as heritage, identity, and advocacy. Selected stories may be published on the organization’s journalism blog and social media platforms, giving interns the opportunity to share their reporting with a wider audience. Beyond reporting and writing, the program also includes service projects and collaborative activities that help interns develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.
4. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Internships
Location: San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA
Stipend: Both paid and unpaid opportunities available
Dates: June 15 – August 21
Application Deadline: November 17
Eligibility: No specific eligibility criteria are mentioned for the internships. All high school students should be eligible.
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance offers a variety of internship opportunities, both paid and volunteer-based, for students interested in wildlife and conservation. One of the standout programs is the Wildlife Care Summer Internship, which allows interns to work closely alongside experienced wildlife care specialists at the San Diego Zoo. This program focuses on conservation, habitat restoration, and understanding animal behaviors, giving students a hands-on, educational experience in wildlife care. While pursuing a degree in biology, zoology, or wildlife management is encouraged, it is not required. You will collaborate with experienced zoo staff, contributing to the animals' well-being and learning about their behaviors, habitats, and conservation needs.
5. Sanford Burnham Prebys SPARK Program
Location: Sanford Burnham Prebys, La Jolla (Sorrento Valley)
Stipend: Stipend funded by California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Dates: 6 weeks (mid-June through late July)
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: California high school students aged 16+ by the start date, with preference for those from San Diego or underrepresented backgrounds. Applicants should be enrolled in school and interested in biomedical research.
The SPARK internship gives you the opportunity to spend your summer exploring stem cells and regenerative medicine. You will work in a real lab, perform experiments, analyze results, and learn directly from experienced scientists. You will also attend seminars and workshops, read scientific papers, and present your own research. The SPARK program deliberately selects students representing California’s diverse population, focusing on those who may not have the opportunity for an internship due to socioeconomic barriers.
6. Scripps Research's High School Student Research Education Program
Location: Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, CA
Stipend: $5,040 stipend
Dates: June 22 – August 7, with June 16 – 18 (boot camp compulsory)
Application Deadline: March 22
Eligibility: San Diego County residents who have completed their most recent semester of high school in one of the six partner schools with a minimum 3.0 GPA; must be at least age 16 at the start of the program
The Scripps Research High School Student Research Education Program lets you explore biomedical research first-hand. You start with a pre-internship training course and then join a lab, where a graduate student mentor will guide you through experiments, lab techniques, and data analysis, while also offering advice on college applications and career paths. You’ll also engage in outreach by visiting local public high schools with Scripps faculty to share what you’ve learned. Plus, through lab tours and hands-on activities, you get a full experience of working in a real biomedical research environment.
7. Navy Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S., including San Diego, CA
Stipend: $4,000 for new participants, $4,500 for returning participants
Dates: 8-10 weeks in the summer, exact dates vary
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school; must be at least 16 years of age on or before your internship start date; must be a U.S. citizen
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is a competitive summer program that gives high school students the chance to work in real Department of Navy laboratories alongside professional scientists and engineers. You’ll participate in ongoing research projects, observe ongoing scientific investigations, and develop practical skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and scientific communication. Interns are selected based on academics, STEM interests, personal statements, and recommendations, and each participant receives a stipend for the summer. This program offers a close-up view of STEM careers, allowing you to explore fields such as engineering, technology, and biomedical research while gaining hands-on experience in a professional research environment.
8. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program type; need-based financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students are eligible; they should be able to work for 5 - 10 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective virtual internship program for ambitious high school students eager to work with high-growth start-ups, which are companies that, on average, raise over $1 million. Start-ups offering healthcare internships span diverse industries, including mental health, neurology, ophthalmology, health tech, and more. Earlier host companies included June Brain, IPMD, and Softenmind. You will work closely with the host company's managers and a Ladder Coach on a real-world project, which could be a product, service, or strategy, and present your work to the host company. You will receive one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other key professional and research skills, and attend group training sessions with other interns in your cohort.
9. SRTI's Scripps Student Research Internships (SURI)
Location: Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, CA
Stipend: Stipend provided
Dates: June 2 – August 8 | June 16 – August 22
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students in high school, college, or professional training with a strong interest in genomics or mobile health translational research; high school students must be at least 16 years of age at the start of the program
The Student Research Internship Program at the Scripps Research Translational Institute offers high school students an immersive introduction to translational medical research. During this program, you can explore areas such as genomics, mobile health technologies, and digital medicine while working in a professional research environment. Each student is paired with a mentor whose work aligns with their research interests, enabling them to learn directly from experienced scientists and participate in seminars, discussions, and collaborative research activities. Throughout the internship, you receive training in essential research skills, including the use of scientific tools, hypothesis development, manuscript writing, and the presentation of scientific findings. The program also focuses on strengthening abilities in communication, critical thinking, biostatistics, and the analysis of scientific literature. With guidance from your mentor, you design and carry out an independent research project and share your results at an internal research meeting and a final poster symposium.
10. JVCI Internship Program
Location: J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA
Stipend: $17.50 per hour
Dates: May – August; 10-15 week opportunities are offered throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and above
The High School Internship at the J. Craig Venter Institute offers students a chance to explore advanced research in fields such as genomics, microbiology, and bioinformatics. During the summer, you work closely with a mentor in one of the institute’s laboratories, where you may assist with experiments, analyze scientific data, and take part in computational modeling projects that support ongoing research. Alongside hands-on lab work, you also participate in seminars, journal clubs, and professional workshops designed to strengthen your research knowledge and scientific communication skills. The program concludes with a formal poster session, where you present your project and share your findings with scientists and researchers at the institute.
11. The San Diego Natural History Museum Youth Internship Program
Location: San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Various opportunities year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students 16 years and older who are enrolled in a school-affiliated internship program for academic credit
At the San Diego Natural History Museum, high school interns have the opportunity to work behind the scenes in scientific departments such as Entomology, Botany, Herpetology, and Paleontology. During the internship, you can learn how biological and geological specimens are preserved, cataloged, and studied, while gaining insight into how museum collections support research, conservation, and public education. The experience may be tailored to focus on a specific department or allow you to rotate across several areas, depending on your interests and school requirements. Students participate through school-affiliated internship programs that offer academic credit, making it a valuable opportunity to explore the natural sciences while gaining practical experience in a museum research environment in San Diego.
12. Internships at the City of San Diego
Location: City department offices across San Diego
Stipend: Varies by placement
Dates: Varies by placement
Application Deadline: Varies by placement
Eligibility: Most internships are open to all high school students. Students are recommended to check their preferred department’s internship requirements before applying.
The City of San Diego offers a paid youth internship program through its Employ & Empower initiative, designed to give high school students real-world experience in local government and public service. You can work across a variety of departments, including environmental services, finance, library services, communications, and public health, depending on their interests and availability. During the program, students gain hands-on experience in data collection, research, project planning, community outreach, and administrative support, while also developing professional skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Some internships include rotations across multiple departments, providing a broad perspective on how city operations function, and all positions aim to help students explore potential career paths while earning a stipend for their work.
13. SDSC StudentTech internships
Location: San Diego Supercomputer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Cost/Stipend: Varies by track
Dates: Varies by track
Application Deadline: Varies by track
Eligibility: Exact requirements vary by track
The SDSC StudentTech Internships give high school students hands-on opportunities to explore computational science and research at the San Diego Supercomputer Center (UC San Diego). Depending on your track, you work closely with SDSC researchers on real scientific projects, learning how to analyze data, use computational tools, and apply technology to solve complex problems. The program also offers mentorship from experienced scientists, exposure to cutting-edge research, and the chance to present your work at the end of the internship. Through seminars, workshops, and practical experience, you gain valuable skills in research, problem-solving, and scientific communication, preparing you for future STEM studies and careers.
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