Top 10 Tech Apprenticeships, Internships and Entry-Level Jobs in Austin, TX in 2026

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Austin Startup Scene
• Per Scholas
• Amazon Technical Apprenticeship
• Dell Internship Program
• Oracle Internship Program
• Tesla Internship Program
• Year Up
• Google Apprenticeship Program
• Cybersecurity Apprenticeship
• IBM Apprenticeship Program
• Frequently Asked Questions

Austin Startup Scene

For those who learn best by building, Austin's startup ecosystem offers immediate immersion. Entry-level developer or customer success roles here typically offer salaries between $60,000 and $85,000 per year, providing a solid financial foundation without the rigid structure of corporate ladder-climbing.

Hiring is year-round, with platforms like Built In Austin being essential for discovering roles at scaling AI, SaaS, and fintech companies. Mentorship is often organic rather than formal, creating a "hands-on-everything" environment where you'll rapidly gain experience in full-stack development, growth marketing, and customer-centric problem-solving.

The career velocity is a key differentiator. According to outcomes tracked by organizations like Year Up, which places talent in high-growth companies, promotion cycles in Austin's startups can be significantly faster than in legacy tech. You're not a cog in a machine; you're helping build it, which creates an unparalleled resume narrative for a self-starter.

Startups vs. Established Tech: The Entry-Level Trade-off

This path is ideal for the resilient learner who sees the direct line between their daily work and the company's success, leveraging Austin's dynamic environment to accelerate their professional growth from day one.

Per Scholas

For individuals seeking to build foundational tech skills without the barrier of tuition, Per Scholas provides a powerful, no-cost launchpad. The program requires a full-time commitment of 12 to 15 weeks of intensive training, with rolling admissions for cohorts leading to job placements.

The curriculum is laser-focused on in-demand, practical skills essential for Austin's infrastructure. Trainees dive into tracks like IT Support, Cybersecurity, and End User Desktop Support, gaining both the technical competencies and critical professional skills employers demand.

The investment of time yields a significant return. According to their 2024 Annual Report, Per Scholas alumni see post-training incomes averaging $54,606. More importantly, the program boasts a 82% job placement rate for graduates within 12 months, a testament to its effective model and industry connections.

This pathway is perfectly aligned with Austin's tech economy, which has a consistent demand for ready-to-work, practical talent to support its growing base of large employers and startups. It transforms the initial hurdle of education cost into a direct sprint toward a stable, in-demand career.

Amazon Technical Apprenticeship

Amazon’s Technical Academy and Mechatronics Apprenticeship offers a direct route into the high-tech world of logistics and industrial automation, a sector with a massive footprint in Central Texas. The program begins with training compensation starting around $18 per hour, representing a true earn-while-you-learn model over approximately 12 months of combined instruction and on-the-job hours.

Apprentices receive structured, hands-on training in industrial robotics, mechatronics, and warehouse automation systems directly from technical leads. This applied learning is critical for maintaining the advanced infrastructure that powers modern commerce, a skill set in high demand. According to Amazon's own reporting on workforce development, this pathway is designed to upskill employees for the future of work.

The financial outcome is substantial. Upon full completion, apprentices can transition into roles with six-figure salaries. Program data indicates graduates can earn up to 58% more than typical entry-level wages in comparable technical fields.

For Austin, this apprenticeship is a strategic pipeline. With Amazon's expanding logistics and operations presence in the region, apprentices gain specialized skills that are directly applicable to maintaining and advancing the physical tech hubs that support the city's broader digital economy, offering a stable and high-growth career track.

Dell Internship Program

Getting playtime with the hometown team is a unique advantage in Austin, and Dell Technologies' internship program offers exactly that. As a cornerstone of the Austin-Round Rock metro's tech identity, Dell provides interns with highly competitive compensation, often exceeding $40 per hour plus relocation benefits for the typical 12-week summer immersion.

The application window is critical, with summer opportunities often closing by January or February. This program is a serious tryout where, as noted in professional reviews, interns don't fetch coffee - they work on actual product cycles in hardware engineering, software development, and operations. This hands-on responsibility is supported by high-quality mentorship from experienced engineers.

The outcomes solidify its value. The program is renowned for its high return offer rates for top performers, creating a premier summer pathway to a long-term career at a global tech infrastructure leader. Data from salary reports in Austin show strong earning potential, which is further amplified by Texas's no state income tax. For those aiming to build a career anchored in Austin's tech legacy, a Dell internship is a powerful first step.

Oracle Internship Program

Securing an internship at Oracle means gaining access to cutting-edge enterprise software and cloud platforms. Interns in Austin can expect a wide pay range from $18.17 to $38.32 per hour (approximately $37,800-$79,700 annualized) during the typical 12-week summer session from May to August.

Timeline strategy is crucial. To land a spot for Summer 2026, proactive candidates should be monitoring for applications that open as early as August 2025. This early window is your first test in initiative.

Learning in the Oracle Ecosystem

Once in the program, interns are integrated into projects involving AI capabilities, cloud ERP (like NetSuite), and database research. The learning is structured with guided onboarding and, notably, includes connection to Oracle's military community for veteran interns, providing a built-in support network.

The program is explicitly designed to accelerate your impact and build a long-term career network within the competitive cloud software arena. With Oracle's significant and growing investment in its Austin campus, a successful internship here provides a formidable credential and a direct pathway into the enterprise technology sector that forms a major pillar of the local economy.

Tesla Internship Program

For an internship defined by high-stakes responsibility, look to Tesla. The compensation is robust, ranging from $34 to $45 per hour, supplemented by housing stipends of approximately $2,800 for the required minimum 12-week commitment. This financial support underscores the program's intensity and value.

The application process is a marathon that starts early. Recruiting for Summer 2026 begins around May or June of 2025, with deadlines for Winter or Spring terms typically by September 2025. This timeline tests your planning and commitment from the outset.

A True Immersive Experience

Once on the court at Tesla's Austin gigafactory, you're in the game. Interns work on critical projects in engineering, manufacturing controls, and vehicle software. Professionals within the industry note that Tesla interns are given "as much responsibility as full-time engineers," making it a profoundly immersive proving ground. This hands-on philosophy is a hallmark of their program structure.

The pathway to a full-time role is clearly defined, with standardized conversion bands for return offers. This clarity, combined with the experience of contributing to the electric vehicle and clean energy revolution at a flagship facility, makes a Tesla internship one of the most impactful entries into Austin's manufacturing and software innovation hub.

Year Up

The Year Up Austin program serves as a critical bridge for young adults without a four-year degree to access the city's tech economy. This one-year, full-time commitment is split into 6 months of intensive training followed by a 6-month corporate internship. Participants receive an educational stipend that increases during the internship phase, supporting them through this transformative year.

For those targeting a March 2026 program start, the application deadline is September 11, 2025. The curriculum in the Application Development track is rigorous, covering programming fundamentals, application development, and AI for developers, paired with essential workplace and career readiness coaching. This dual focus on technical and professional skills is designed for immediate workplace impact.

The model delivers proven results. According to Year Up's reported outcomes, 72% of graduates are employed or enrolled in further education within 4 months of completion, with an average starting salary of $53,000. In an Austin market hungry for diverse, job-ready talent, Year Up provides a structured, high-support pathway that turns potential into a tangible tech career.

Google Apprenticeship Program

While Google's physical campus in Austin continues to grow, its apprenticeship program offers a nationally recognized credential that holds immense weight in the local market. Compensation for roles like the IT Apprenticeship in Austin averages around $20.92 per hour (approximately $43,522 annually), with the Software Development Apprenticeship beginning with a structured 12 months of training, including blocks of offsite work with an educational partner.

The application cycles are specific and require diligent tracking. For instance, the Software Development Apprenticeship starting in October 2026 will have its own dedicated application window, typically announced well in advance on the Google Careers site.

Apprentices dive into focused tracks like Data Analytics or Software Engineering, working on applied, project-based learning within Google's ecosystem from the very start. This direct exposure to their methodologies and tools is a form of elite training.

The hiring outcome extends beyond a potential job at Google. As noted in Austin salary data, this apprenticeship provides a coveted network and a credential that opens doors across the city's tech landscape, where many companies highly value the problem-solving approach and technical rigor of Google-trained talent.

Cybersecurity Apprenticeship

For those drawn to mission-driven work with exceptional stability, the pioneering partnership between Austin Community College and the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) creates a unique public-sector pathway. This first-of-its-kind apprenticeship offers competitive state wages and benefits while you learn, directly embedding you in the work of protecting Texas's digital infrastructure.

Apprentices gain hands-on experience defending the networks and data of state agencies, learning from expert cybersecurity professionals in the field. This isn't simulated training; it's real-time protection of critical public assets, providing an unmatched depth of practical experience from day one.

The Austin Advantage in Cybersecurity

• Direct Response to Demand: The program is a direct pipeline into one of the highest-demand tech fields identified for 2026, specifically addressing the urgent need for cybersecurity professionals.
• Public Service Mission: You contribute to a clear, impactful mission - safeguarding the state's operations and citizen data.
• Unparalleled Job Security: A career in public-sector tech, especially in a capital city like Austin, offers significant stability and growth potential within the government tech ecosystem.

This apprenticeship provides a formidable entry point into a sector where Texas is a major employer, combining cutting-edge skill development with the purpose and security of public service.

IBM Apprenticeship Program

Widely regarded as the gold standard for earn-while-you-learn in Austin, the IBM Apprenticeship Program offers elite training with compelling financial upside. Apprentices in systems support roles earn an average of $60,800 to $66,880 per year, while those on the software engineer track can report salaries up to $123,084 per year over the approximately 12-month program.

With rolling applications that often open in late summer for the following year, this is a highly structured pathway. Apprentices collaborate directly with expert mentors - or "IBMers" - on real projects using agile development methodologies, gaining deep, applicable skills in software engineering, cybersecurity, or systems support.

The culmination of the program is powerful. Graduates earn a U.S. Department of Labor credential and are positioned for full-time roles. As seen in listings like the Software Engineer Apprentice role, this is a direct tryout for a permanent position. With IBM's major campus deeply integrated into Austin's tech fabric, this apprenticeship provides an unmatched combination of high pay, profound mentorship, and a stable, high-impact career at the heart of Texas technology.

Frequently Asked Questions