High School Work Study Program

The NSA High School Work Study Program (HSWS) is a paid, part-time job at the National Security Agency for high school juniors who will join a school-sponsored work experience program in their senior year. Students work in areas such as business, computers, engineering, manufacturing, construction, intelligence analysis support, and Chinese or Farsi language. The program runs from September through August. Students work Monday through Friday, at least four hours a day, and no more than 32 hours a week. Pay is about $15 per hour, and students earn annual and sick leave as they work. The 2026 posting listed openings in Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia, and the work is not remote.

Open to high school juniors who will take part in a school-sponsored work experience program during senior year. Must be a U.S. citizen, be at least 16 by December 31 of the application year, and be eligible for a security clearance (Top Secret; drug testing applies). Unweighted GPA of 2.5+ preferred. Must have reliable transportation, live within commuting distance of the site, and complete at least two courses in the chosen field by the end of junior year (site-specific course rules apply). Start by talking with your school's Work Experience Coordinator, then apply online. The 2026 application window ran from September 2 and closed September 30, 2026.