Top 10 Tech Apprenticeships, Internships and Entry-Level Jobs in Sacramento, CA in 2026

Table of Contents

• Launch Your Tech Journey in Sacramento
• State of California IT Apprenticeship Program
• Intel Folsom Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship
• Year Up United Sacramento Campus
• Per Scholas Sacramento
• Intel Folsom Software and Hardware Internships
• Sutter Health IT and Healthcare Internship
• State of California IT Student Assistant Program
• UC Davis Technology Services Internships
• Sacramento State IT Student Assistant Jobs
• Regional Startups and Incubators
• Choose Your Best Career Pathway
• Frequently Asked Questions

State of California IT Apprenticeship Program

For a stable, high-impact entry into tech with the region's largest employer, the State of California IT Apprenticeship is unparalleled. This joint effort between SEIU Local 1000 and the Government Operations Agency is designed for current state employees to pivot into IT, offering a rare "earn while you learn" model with a clear promotion track.

Apprentices receive a full-time salary, with starting wages in some state-funded tech sectors averaging around $50.29/hour, and engage in up to two years of on-the-job training combined with instruction at Sacramento City College. The program focuses on client services and help desk fundamentals, providing direct mentorship.

The most significant advantage is the outcome: successful completion allows participants to promote directly into IT classifications without additional testing. This program is part of a broader state initiative, with Governor Newsom announcing significant funding to fill high-demand jobs in technology and other sectors. Recruitment for the 2026 cycle typically opens in late summer or fall 2025.

Intel Folsom Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship

As the cornerstone of the region's corporate tech scene, Intel's Folsom campus offers a cutting-edge, registered apprenticeship for those drawn to the physical heart of technology. Launched as Intel's first US apprenticeship for manufacturing technicians, this program is ideal for career-changers and beginners interested in semiconductors, mechanical systems, and complex machinery.

Selected apprentices are full-time Intel employees from day one, earning a salary while gaining college credit and a certificate. This one-year program provides hands-on training covering vacuum systems and manufacturing processes, with direct mentorship from Intel veterans.

This pathway feeds directly into a critical, high-demand field as part of Intel's 5-year regional training initiative. For those with strong mechanical aptitude, it represents a deep-tech current with immense growth potential. The 2026 application window is expected to open around December 1, 2025.

Year Up United Sacramento Campus

Year Up provides one of the most robust bridges for young adults (ages 18-29) from underrepresented backgrounds into top-tier tech companies. This intensive, one-year program combines six months of professional and technical training in fields like IT support and software development with a six-month corporate internship.

Participants receive an educational stipend of approximately $600/month during training and $900/month during the internship. The program's strength is its deep connections with employer partners and a structured support system, resulting in 72% of graduates employed or enrolled in school within four months of completion.

The Sacramento campus places talent directly into the local ecosystem, acting as a critical tributary feeding the region's corporate tech demand. Enrollment for Fall 2026 cycles begins in spring 2026, with the program valuing potential over pedigree and a demonstrated commitment to the full-year schedule.

Per Scholas Sacramento

For career-changers seeking a fast, tuition-free track into technical roles, Per Scholas Sacramento is a powerful accelerator. This national nonprofit provides free, instructor-led training over 12-15 weeks in high-demand areas like Cybersecurity, AI-enabled IT, and Data Center operations.

While training itself is unpaid, stipends of around $1,000 are sometimes available through partners. The outcome is compelling: graduates are placed with "High Road" employer partners at starting wages of $20-$26/hour and often see a 32% wage increase in subsequent roles.

This pathway is highly competitive due to its no-cost model and strong outcomes, requiring candidates to treat the full-time schedule as a job itself. Applications for 2026 cohorts are accepted on a rolling basis, offering a direct and accelerated channel into Sacramento's technical workforce.

Intel Folsom Software and Hardware Internships

For current university students, Intel's internships at its Folsom hub represent the pinnacle of deep-tech experience. These highly competitive roles involve designing and testing processors, platforms, and silicon hardware, placing participants at the core of the region's semiconductor current.

Compensation is significant, ranging from $18-$30/hour for undergraduates to up to $120k/year equivalent for graduate interns. The experience is highly regarded, with 98% of interns recommending it, supported by an extensive Career Connections mentor network.

These internships are typically 10-12 weeks in the summer or can be longer co-op arrangements, offering unparalleled exposure to advanced engineering. Applications for Summer 2026 are reviewed in late 2025/early 2026, requiring a strong academic record in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science, supplemented by relevant project work.

Sutter Health IT and Healthcare Internship

Sacramento's massive healthcare sector, led by employers like Sutter Health, offers unique tech-adjacent pathways. Sutter's Administrative Healthcare Internship is ideal for those looking to merge technology with healthcare operations in areas like Healthcare Information Services (IS) and facilities engineering.

The estimated compensation is $19-$35/hour for a summer internship running from May through August. Interns benefit from a central physician/mentor relationship, and high-performing interns often transition into full-time fellowships or junior roles. This supports Sutter's broader initiative to train 5,000 students by 2030 for healthcare careers.

This pathway represents a distinct health-tech tributary within Sacramento's ecosystem. The application window for the summer 2026 cohort opens on December 1, 2025, and candidates who can articulate a dual interest in technology and patient care operations have a significant advantage.

State of California IT Student Assistant Program

This is the largest and most accessible channel for students to gain real government tech experience. The IT Student Assistant Program places students in various state departments, such as the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), to work on software engineering, system support, and other IT projects.

The pay scale ranges from $18.27 to $28.16/hour, with work limited to 1,500 hours per year. It offers unparalleled exposure to state hiring processes and massive IT infrastructure, with high potential to return as a full-time IT Associate after graduation. As detailed on the CDPH Internship Program page, these roles provide a critical foot-in-the-door to the public sector tech current.

Hiring is rolling, but departments often open Fall 2026 cycles as early as April 2026. The process requires patience and attention to detail, but even basic IT support experience can make an application stand out for this foundational government tech pathway.

UC Davis Technology Services Internships

UC Davis, a major research institution and talent pipeline, offers numerous student assistant and internship roles within its own technology services division. These positions involve user support, network assistance, and working with research IT groups, providing a foundational current within the academic tech ecosystem.

Pay starts at $16-$19/hour for student assistants, with a 3.2% general salary increase planned for 2025-2026. The environment is built for students, offering flexible schedules and policy-covered staff mentorship.

This pathway provides a low-pressure way to build a professional tech resume while contributing to the university's extensive IT infrastructure. Hiring follows the academic calendar, and being an existing UC Davis student is a significant advantage when applying through the UC Davis Jobs board.

Sacramento State IT Student Assistant Jobs

Similar to UC Davis, Sacramento State provides abundant on-campus IT roles across its divisions, serving as a practical skills builder within the region's educational current. These positions offer hands-on experience in hardware repair, software troubleshooting, and data entry, with pay ranging from $16.50 to $24.00/hour.

The management is student-centric and flexible, making it an excellent way to build foundational skills while studying. Detailed hiring processes and resources for student employment are outlined on the university's internal resource pages, facilitating a smooth entry into the campus tech workforce.

This experience is highly respected by local government and private sector employers familiar with the Sac State talent pipeline. Summer hiring often starts in June, and Fall hiring begins in late August, with applications handled through the Sac State career portal or individual department sites.

Regional Startups and Incubators

For those drawn to versatility and direct impact, Sacramento’s growing startup scene is an exciting channel. Incubators like the Carlsen Center for Innovation and events like Capital Region Small Business Week connect beginners with early-stage companies, creating agile currents within the tech delta.

Roles are often project-based internships (3-6 months) in AI, DevOps, and full-stack development. Compensation varies, often starting at minimum wage ($16/hour) up to $25/hour. The trade-off is unparalleled experience: you’ll wear many hats, work directly with founders, and build a network critical to the local ecosystem.

Acceptance is less about formal credentials and more about demonstrated initiative, passion, and a willingness to learn quickly. This pathway peaks during networking events in May 2026, offering a high-impact, if less structured, route into Sacramento's collaborative tech community.

Choose Your Best Career Pathway

As the Sacramento tech delta continues to expand, the best pathway isn't the highest-ranked, but the one whose current aligns with your starting point and destination. The paradox of choice in this robust market requires strategic navigation rather than a search for a single best route.

Industry experts emphasize that success in the 2026 landscape comes from recalibrating your approach, combining technical skill-building with networking and tailoring projects to your target channel. Seek the depth of a paid apprenticeship if you need to earn from day one, the exploratory breadth of an internship if you're solidifying your specialty, or the immediate immersion of an entry-level role if you're ready to contribute.

Ultimately, your launch depends on leveraging Sacramento's unique advantages - its major employers, talent pipelines from UC Davis and Sacramento State, and collaborative spirit - within a region that's become a thriving tech hub. By choosing the channel that matches your skills and growth style, you can build a lasting tech career right here in the capital region.

Frequently Asked Questions