Top 10 Tech Apprenticeships, Internships and Entry-Level Jobs in Jacksonville, FL in 2026

Table of Contents

• Launching Your Tech Career in Jacksonville
• Fidelity Investments LEAP Program
• Year Up Jacksonville
• Per Scholas Jacksonville
• Black Knight Tech Internship
• Mayo Clinic Jacksonville IT Internships
• Florida Blue IT Internship and Rotational Program
• CSX Technology Management Trainee
• Apprenti Jacksonville
• Amazon Technical Academy
• FSCJ and UNF Career Fair Pathways
• Frequently Asked Questions

Fidelity Investments LEAP Program

For new graduates aiming to immediately land a major player in Jacksonville's FinTech waters, the Fidelity Investments LEAP Program is the premier, high-impact rig. This intensive training pipeline targets graduates with 0-2 years of experience, leading directly to roles in full-stack development, systems engineering, or data engineering at Fidelity’s sprawling Jacksonville campus.

The compensation is a significant catch, with starting salaries ranging from $70,000 to $85,000 per year plus full benefits. This figure is made even more attractive by Florida’s lack of state income tax, allowing you to keep more of your earnings compared to tech hubs in other states. The program involves 4-6 months of training followed by guaranteed full-time placement, designed explicitly as a direct pipeline for long-term careers within the company.

Applications for this coveted program are highly seasonal, typically opening in September for a summer or fall start the following year. To be competitive, candidates must showcase strong foundational skills through academic projects or prior internship experience. With its high return-offer rate and substantive mentorship, LEAP is designed to fast-track new grads into the heart of Jacksonville's financial technology sector, offering a stable and lucrative first catch in the local tech ecosystem.

Year Up Jacksonville

For young adults (18-29) navigating the career waters without a traditional four-year degree, building a wide net of skills is more strategic than casting a single line. Year Up Jacksonville is the quintessential earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship, providing that critical net to bridge into corporate IT and customer success roles at the city's top employers.

The one-year program combines six months of professional and technical training with a six-month, paid internship. Participants receive a crucial monthly stipend - starting at $600 during training and increasing to $900 during the internship - which removes a key financial barrier to entry. With rolling admissions and major cohorts starting in January and August, the program is designed for accessibility and swift entry into the workforce.

This model yields impressive results, boasting an 80% job placement rate and an average graduate starting salary of $53,000. As noted by industry experts, graduates from such guided programs are "well-positioned for immediate employment" due to Year Up's strong ties with local corporate partners, making it a proven vessel for launching a sustainable tech career in Jacksonville.

Per Scholas Jacksonville

When you need to retool quickly for a new career without the anchor of tuition debt, Per Scholas Jacksonville offers a powerful, tuition-free bootcamp solution. This program targets career-changers and the underemployed, providing a rapid 12-15 week launch into foundational tech roles within the local market.

Courses in IT Support and Cybersecurity cover in-demand certifications like CompTIA A+ and Network+, with all exam fees covered. While no stipend is provided, the complete elimination of tuition cost is a significant advantage that removes a major barrier to entry. Cohorts launch quarterly in March, June, September, and December, offering multiple entry points throughout the year.

The outcomes speak to the program's effectiveness, with an 80%+ graduation rate and approximately 85% of graduates placed in jobs within 120 days. With moderate competitiveness requiring an assessment and interview, it's a proven model for building the exact technical skills that Jacksonville employers like VyStar Credit Union and Baptist Health seek for their entry-level IT and cybersecurity positions, offering a direct and affordable pathway into the city's growing tech infrastructure.

Black Knight Tech Internship

For current students aiming to land a substantive internship at a leading FinTech company, the Black Knight (formerly ICE Mortgage Technology) summer program is a top-tier opportunity. Targeting sophomores and juniors, this 10-12 week internship offers competitive compensation of $20 to $25 per hour and is highly regarded for its focus on meaningful contribution over administrative tasks.

The program's key differentiator is its substantive mentorship; interns work on "real, meaningful projects," creating a strong, direct pipeline into Junior Developer and Business Analyst roles upon graduation. Success hinges on perfect timing, as peak hiring for these coveted summer slots occurs from October through February for the following summer.

To be competitive, candidates should prepare by building a portfolio that demonstrates problem-solving with relevant technologies. This internship is less about testing the waters and more about proving you can navigate them, offering a direct route into the heart of Jacksonville's robust financial technology sector and setting the hook for a full-time career.

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville IT Internships

Jacksonville's robust healthcare sector creates deep, specialized channels for tech careers, and Mayo Clinic's IT internships offer a direct line into cutting-edge HealthTech. Targeting students in computer science, IT, or health informatics, these internships provide competitive compensation, typically ranging from $22 to $26 per hour for summer or semester-long placements.

Interns gain hands-on experience with the technologies reshaping medicine, working on projects like integrating AI in clinical settings or managing secure healthcare networks. This specialized experience in the intersection of technology and patient care is highly marketable, providing a significant advantage in Jacksonville's growing health technology ecosystem. Building foundational knowledge in areas like health informatics can be crucial for standing out in this niche.

As with many prestigious programs, timing is critical. Applications for these internships follow an annual tide, typically opening in the fall of the preceding year for placements the following summer. Candidates can distinguish themselves by showcasing a genuine interest in healthcare technology through relevant coursework or personal projects, proving they're ready to contribute to the complex, mission-driven work at one of the region's premier medical institutions.

Florida Blue IT Internship and Rotational Program

As a cornerstone of Jacksonville's corporate landscape, Florida Blue offers a dual-path entry into the region's vital HealthTech sector. For students, the summer internship program provides 10-12 weeks of hands-on experience in high-demand areas like cybersecurity, health data analytics, and cloud infrastructure, with competitive pay ranging from $22 to $28 per hour.

For new graduates, the company's two-year rotational program offers a comprehensive launchpad, allowing hires to gain experience across different IT domains within the organization. This structure is designed to build versatile technologists who understand both the technical and business sides of healthcare insurance.

The program is highly competitive and emphasizes recruiting talent from the local ecosystem, with a strong focus on candidates from schools like the University of North Florida (UNF) and Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ). To catch this opportunity, applicants must be mindful of the seasonal deadline, as applications for summer internships typically close by late January, aligning with the academic hiring calendar for major Jacksonville employers.

CSX Technology Management Trainee

Leveraging Jacksonville's status as a logistics powerhouse, the CSX Technology Management Trainee program offers a unique entry point that combines technical depth with operational scale. This six-month structured training immerses recent graduates in the complex technology driving national rail infrastructure, including logistics software, IoT for rail monitoring, and cybersecurity for critical systems.

The program is designed for candidates with leadership potential, offering an attractive starting salary range of $65,000 to $75,000 per year. This compensation is particularly strong for the region, benefiting from Florida's lack of state income tax. Trainees gain hands-on experience with the large-scale digital systems that keep commerce moving, a skill set highly valued in Jacksonville's distribution and transportation ecosystem, much like the scalable infrastructure discussed in major tech infrastructure initiatives.

Recruiting follows a predictable academic tide, with primary hiring activity concentrated from August to October. Success requires more than technical aptitude; candidates must highlight soft skills like communication and adaptability, which are critical for leadership-track roles in this complex, operational environment. This program is the ideal rig for those looking to anchor their career at the intersection of traditional industry and transformative technology.

Apprenti Jacksonville

The Apprenti model represents a nationally recognized, strategic alternative for those navigating a career change into tech. Specifically designed for career changers, veterans, and underrepresented groups, this earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship provides a structured, paid on-ramp that bypasses traditional academic timelines.

In Jacksonville, Apprenti partners with regional employers to place apprentices in high-demand fields like Cybersecurity and Software Development. The program's phased approach begins with 2-4 months of paid training at a rate of $15 to $20 per hour, followed by a full year of on-the-job apprenticeship at a significantly higher wage, typically ranging from $45,000 to $55,000. This model aligns with effective workforce development pathways that prioritize skill-based hiring.

The one-year commitment functions as a direct pipeline into a permanent role with the host company. For individuals with existing professional experience but lacking formal tech credentials, Apprenti offers a credible and financially viable route to enter Jacksonville's tech ecosystem, providing both immediate income and a clear trajectory toward a sustainable career.

Amazon Technical Academy

For those already working within the vast ecosystem of a major employer like Amazon, an exceptional internal pathway exists. The Amazon Technical Academy offers current employees in non-tech roles - including those at Jacksonville fulfillment centers - a remarkable opportunity to transition into software engineering through a fully remote, structured training program.

This nine-month, full-time program allows participants to train for Software Development Engineer (SDE) roles while continuing to receive their full salary, which for many in Jacksonville positions starts at $60,000 or more. This model removes the financial risk of career transition, providing both income stability and elite technical education. The academy is a prime example of the structured pathways available for career changers within major corporations.

While not exclusive to Jacksonville, its availability to Florida-based employees represents a major local opportunity for career transformation without leaving the region. Application windows are periodic, so interested Amazon employees must proactively monitor the internal portal to cast their line when the chance arises, leveraging their existing company knowledge to reel in a completely new tech career.

FSCJ and UNF Career Fair Pathways

For a direct and prolific channel into Jacksonville's vibrant network of mid-market firms and startups, nothing beats casting your net at the local source. The career fairs at Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) and the University of North Florida (UNF) remain the most effective way to connect with employers actively fishing for entry-level tech talent right in your backyard.

High hiring activity follows a predictable seasonal tide, peaking during the September (Fall) and February (Spring) fairs. These events serve as the primary recruiting grounds for established local companies like SS&C Advent and Forcura, which regularly fill roles such as Help Desk Tier 1, QA Analyst, and Junior Web Developer. The strength of these pathways lies in the deep institutional partnerships; as noted by industry experts, graduates from these local programs are prized for their "real-world readiness" - a direct result of the schools' strong ties with Jacksonville employers like Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase.

Success at these fairs requires the right preparation. Before you go, ensure you have a polished resume, a compelling 60-second pitch, and a portfolio ready to share on the spot. This practical approach transforms a simple networking event into a powerful job search engine. To find your next opportunity, explore the schedule of upcoming events through UNF Career Services channels and prepare to make your first catch in Jacksonville's expanding tech pond.

Frequently Asked Questions