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

Table of Contents

• Introduction to Orlando's Tech Opportunities
• Universal Orlando Tech Internships
• Tech Startup Roles
• Per Scholas Orlando IT Support Program
• Disney Professional Internships
• AdventHealth IT Career Pathways
• Electronic Arts Orlando Internships
• Year Up United
• Lockheed Martin College Internships
• Disney Technical Apprenticeship
• Lockheed Martin T.A.L.E.N.T. Apprenticeship
• Choosing Your Tech Career Path
• Frequently Asked Questions

Universal Orlando Tech Internships

For a practical entry into Orlando's massive hospitality-tech sector, Universal Destinations & Experiences offers internships that place you at the operational heart of a world-class theme park. You'll gain hands-on experience with the digital infrastructure and guest-facing systems that ensure seamless experiences for millions, working on areas like IT operational excellence, backend support, and guest experience technology.

These paid positions offer approximately $18.00 - $22.00/hour during a 10-14 week summer or semester-long stint. The program is known for its collaborative environment and serves as a primary pipeline for Universal's own entry-level IT and tech operations roles, providing a unique perspective where engineering meets entertainment.

Securing a spot requires vigilance, as applications are typically rolling. Consistently monitoring the Universal Destinations & Experiences careers portal is essential. To stand out, showcase any personal or academic projects related to system reliability, user support, or logistics in your application.

Tech Startup Roles

For those who thrive in fast-paced, agile environments, Orlando’s growing startup scene presents high-reward opportunities with immediate impact. Companies like fintech leader Stax and automotive sensor innovator Luminar offer roles in full-stack development, cutting-edge Lidar technology, and SaaS platform building, placing you at the new frontier of technology and innovation in Central Florida.

Compensation for junior developers typically ranges from $60,000 - $80,000/year for these permanent, full-time positions. The trade-off for less formal structure is significant growth potential and rapid skill diversification, with mentorship following a "learn by doing" philosophy alongside founders and senior engineers.

Breaking into this scene requires a proactive approach. Networking is paramount; engage with the Orlando Tech Community on meetup platforms and attend local demo days. Startups value proven ability over pedigree, so prepare a robust portfolio of personal or bootcamp projects that demonstrate initiative and hands-on skill to stand out among other entry-level candidates.

Per Scholas Orlando IT Support Program

For career changers in Orlando seeking a rapid, debt-free launch into tech, the Per Scholas IT Support Program stands out as a powerful, nationally recognized model. This program provides a tuition-free launchpad, focusing on equipping students with in-demand foundational certifications and the professional skills to secure their first IT role, effectively preparing them for the high-demand vocational trade school outcomes in Florida's tech market.

The commitment is 12-15 weeks of full-time training, with graduates reporting average entry-level earnings of $20.00 - $25.00/hour as IT Support Specialists or Junior System Administrators. The curriculum is designed to deliver critical industry credentials, including the CompTIA A+ and Google IT Support Professional Certificate.

Outcomes are a major draw, with the program boasting an 80%+ job placement rate within Orlando's IT ecosystem. To join a cohort, prospective students should check the Per Scholas Orlando location page for upcoming dates and apply early, as spots in this no-cost model are highly competitive.

Disney Professional Internships

Beyond the magic, The Walt Disney Company in Orlando operates a sophisticated tech enterprise where creativity meets complex engineering. Their professional internships place you at the heart of data analytics, cloud computing, and guest-facing application development, solving technical problems that enhance experiences for millions of park visitors and streaming subscribers.

These immersive internships are paid an estimated $22.88/hour over 4-6 months, with specialized roles like a Decision Science Product Internship offering a rate of $42.00/hour, underscoring the high value placed on this talent. Interns receive dedicated guidance from "Intern Managers," and the program has a strong track record of converting participants into full-time Technical Specialist roles within the company.

Application windows are seasonal, typically opening in January for Fall internships and August for Spring. Disney highly values candidates who can artfully blend technical skill with user-centric thinking and creativity. Tailoring your resume and portfolio to demonstrate this unique fusion is key to standing out in a competitive field where, as noted in broader apprenticeship success stories, such programs can be truly "path to success."

AdventHealth IT Career Pathways

As a cornerstone of the Central Florida economy, AdventHealth offers a structured apprenticeship-style program perfect for those drawn to the critical and stable field of healthcare IT. This earn-while-you-learn pathway provides clear progression within one of the nation's largest health systems, focusing on healthcare-specific technologies like ServiceNow and clinical software support.

Participants start with a salary around $51,551/year ($24.78/hr), with a guaranteed 15% increase upon successful completion of the 6-12 month training period. This model is designed for high retention, embedding talent directly into the AdventHealth Orlando network to support its vast operational needs.

Openings are posted on the AdventHealth Careers portal. To make your application stand out, demonstrate not only an understanding of IT service management but also a genuine passion for the healthcare mission. As highlighted in the company's own career resources, aligning your skills with their commitment to whole-person care is a significant advantage.

Electronic Arts Orlando Internships

For aspiring game developers, EA's Tiburon studio in Orlando is a dream destination, offering a pure-play software engineering internship within a globally renowned entertainment company. Summer interns here get hands-on with AAA title development, working in critical areas like C++ programming, game engine tooling, and quality assurance, contributing directly to live projects that reach millions of players.

The compensation is highly competitive, estimated between $25.00 - $40.00/hour during an intensive 12-week summer program. Interns work under the mentorship of seasoned developers, and the program is a primary feeder for coveted full-time Software Engineer I positions at the studio, offering a proven pathway for career transformation similar to outcomes seen in other leading tech apprenticeship programs.

The recruiting cycle starts exceptionally early, often running from September to January for the following summer. A strong portfolio is non-negotiable; it should feature personal projects, game jam entries, and demonstrable skill in C++ or C#, proving a deep, practical understanding of game development principles to stand out among other computer science candidates.

Year Up United

Year Up United is a transformative national program designed to bridge the opportunity gap for young adults, offering a direct pipeline into Orlando’s corporate tech and business sectors. This intensive one-year model is specifically crafted for those who may not have a four-year degree but possess the drive and talent to succeed, combining six months of professional skills training with a six-month corporate internship.

Participants receive a paid stipend during the program, with data showing graduates see average starting salaries jump to approximately $53,000/year ($25.48/hr). The program provides strong corporate mentorship and wraparound support, with 72% of graduates employed or enrolled in further education within four months of completion, as highlighted by success stories from the organization itself.

Cohorts typically begin in Spring and Fall. Applicants must be prepared to demonstrate professionalism and commitment, as the program is rigorous. For those seeking a structured, high-support alternative to traditional education, Year Up represents a proven pathway, with further details available on the official Year Up website.

Lockheed Martin College Internships

A legacy defense and aerospace employer with a massive Orlando presence, Lockheed Martin offers college interns unparalleled access to mission-critical national security technology. These summer internships focus on advanced fields like cybersecurity, software engineering for simulation and training systems, and mission systems integration, providing hands-on experience with technologies that have real-world impact.

The internships last 10-12 weeks and offer compensation between $22.00 - $35.00/hour, often scaling with academic progress. Interns receive one-on-one expert guidance while working on real-world projects, and the program is renowned for its high conversion rate, with top performers frequently receiving return offers for prestigious full-time engineering leadership programs.

Securing one of these competitive positions requires strategic timing. Peak hiring occurs from August to October for the following summer. The company actively recruits from local institutions like UCF, Embry-Riddle, and Florida Tech, as highlighted in a recent work-based learning presentation. To get noticed, candidates should showcase relevant coursework or projects in embedded systems, cybersecurity, or C++ on their applications through the Lockheed Martin careers portal.

Disney Technical Apprenticeship

Within The Walt Disney Company lies a rare, arts-meets-engineering pathway: the Technical Apprenticeship. This program places apprentices in technical production roles, such as lighting for animation or technical design for immersive park experiences, offering a unique blend of creative problem-solving and engineering rigor found nowhere else in the Orlando market.

This earn-while-you-learn opportunity pays an estimated $24.67/hour over a 6-12 month period. Apprentices benefit from industry-leading mentorship directly from Disney artists and engineers, making this a proven internal pipeline to permanent Associate Engineer and technical artist roles within the company's creative divisions.

These specialized positions are posted seasonally, typically 4-6 months before start dates on the Disney Careers site. A successful application hinges on a portfolio that demonstrates both technical skill - such as scripting or tool development - and a strong artistic sensibility. As with other Disney technical training programs, showcasing this dual competency is crucial for standing out in a competitive field where candidates are evaluated on both creative vision and technical execution.

Lockheed Martin T.A.L.E.N.T. Apprenticeship

Topping our list is the premier earn-while-you-learn program in Central Florida: Lockheed Martin's T.A.L.E.N.T. Apprenticeship. This program sets the gold standard for structured, paid, on-the-job training, offering a direct, debt-free route into high-stakes engineering and tech roles with full benefits and tuition support.

Apprentices earn an impressive $25.00 - $42.00/hour while learning, with programs typically lasting 1 year or more in specialized tracks like Software/Systems Engineering. They engage in real-world projects - from hardware assembly to software testing - under high-quality internal mentorship, with a clear design for transition into permanent roles.

Requisitions appear year-round but often close within 90 days, so consistent monitoring of the company's careers portal is essential. As highlighted in a recent Lockheed Martin presentation, the company actively seeks talent from local technical colleges and career training programs, valuing hands-on technical aptitude demonstrated through personal projects or bootcamp work over a degree alone.

Choosing Your Tech Career Path

Choosing your pathway in Orlando’s 2026 tech market requires the discernment of a master chef at the farmers' market: look beyond the shiny surface to assess the quality of the soil. Your decision isn't just about a company's logo or a starting salary; it's about aligning the program's ecosystem - its mentorship, project work, and growth pathways - with your personal career crop and learning style.

Consider your goals. Do you seek the rapid cultivation of a tuition-free bootcamp, the immersive seasonal growth of a major corporate internship, or the deep-rooted, long-term investment of a formal apprenticeship? Each serves a different purpose. As experts note, the market favors specialization and the ability to work with tools like AI to drive innovation and reduce risk, so choose a program that builds those in-demand, durable skills.

Remember, you are planting yourself in uniquely fertile ground. With Central Florida projected to lead the state in job growth and unparalleled cross-sector mobility between defense, simulation, and entertainment tech, your first role is just the beginning. Leverage Orlando's advantages, including no state income tax, to nurture your skills, maximize your earnings, and cultivate a career that doesn't just grow, but truly flourishes.

Frequently Asked Questions