Top 10 Tech Apprenticeships, Internships and Entry-Level Jobs in Springfield, MO in 2026

Table of Contents

• Building Your Tech Career in Springfield
• IT Support Technician I at O'Reilly Auto Parts
• Healthcare IT Service Desk Analyst at CoxHealth or Mercy
• IT & Networking Apprenticeship via OTC
• Data Analytics Intern (Regional)
• Entrepreneurship Internship via the efactory
• Technology Intern at Bass Pro Shops
• Apprenti Missouri Tech Apprenticeship
• IT/Software Development Intern at O'Reilly Auto Parts
• Software Engineer Apprentice at Jack Henry & Associates
• LaunchCode Apprenticeship
• Choosing Your Tool: Application Strategy for 2026
• Frequently Asked Questions

IT Support Technician I at O'Reilly Auto Parts

For career-changers seeking immediate, stable employment with clear advancement, this role is the reliable wrench in your toolbox. It provides hands-on experience with hardware/software troubleshooting and corporate ticketing systems right at O'Reilly's Springfield headquarters. The company is renowned for a strong "promote-from-within" culture, offering structured onboarding and coaching to help technicians advance quickly from the ground up.

This is a permanent, full-time position with a starting salary estimated between $40,000-$55,000, based on regional IT support averages. Positions are posted year-round on the O'Reilly Auto Parts Careers site, providing a consistent entry point.

In this role, you’ll master frontline technical support, employee training, and warehouse technology systems, building essential problem-solving skills applicable to any corporate IT environment. Mentorship comes through structured onboarding and direct supervisor guidance, creating a supportive framework for growth.

The hiring outcome is a reliable foundation. As discussed by employees in local forums, this position frequently leads to internal promotions to System Administrator or Junior Developer roles, validating it as a proven first step on a lasting tech career path in Springfield.

Healthcare IT Service Desk Analyst at CoxHealth or Mercy

Springfield’s status as a regional healthcare hub creates consistent demand for IT professionals who understand clinical environments. This entry-level role at major employers like CoxHealth or Mercy is the diagnostic tool for those who want their tech skills to have immediate, human impact. You’ll support Active Directory, networking fundamentals, and critical clinical software in a high-stakes setting.

This permanent, full-time role offers a starting wage of approximately $17-$21 per hour, with both health systems hiring continuously for 24/7 support. You’ll gain invaluable experience in health informatics and IT troubleshooting, building a unique blend of technical and customer service skills essential in medicine.

Mentorship occurs in a large team environment with clear Tier 2 and 3 escalation paths. This structure provides a proven springboard for earning certifications and advancing into specialized healthcare IT roles. CoxHealth, in particular, is recognized for its supportive environment, having been ranked by Forbes as a "Best Employer for New Grads."

This role is a strategic entry point into one of Springfield's most stable and growing tech sectors, connecting you to a network of innovation that includes collaborations with local incubators like the efactory. It’s a career built on solving real-world problems where technology meets patient care.

IT & Networking Apprenticeship via OTC

For a hands-on, earn-while-you-learn path directly into Springfield’s manufacturing and industrial tech sector, the apprenticeship program coordinated by the Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) Apprenticeship Office is the custom-milled part. This program connects you with local employers for paid, on-the-job training while you earn college credit, blending the classroom with the factory floor.

Apprentices typically earn between $15-$22 per hour in programs that last 1 to 4 years, depending on the IT or networking specialty. Applications are accepted year-round, offering flexible entry points for those ready to start building immediately.

The curriculum is laser-focused on Computer Systems Networking and IT Support, tailored to the specific needs of local partner firms. This ensures you're learning skills that are in direct demand within the Springfield metro area's industrial base.

Mentorship is a dual effort between OTC instructors and on-site employer supervisors, providing both academic support and real-world guidance. As noted in community discussions, this creates a direct pipeline to full-time roles at local manufacturing plants and IT service firms, offering a stable, high-demand career track right here in the Ozarks.

Data Analytics Intern (Regional)

While not always based directly in Springfield, the high demand for data roles makes regional internships with major players like Walmart in Bentonville, AR, or Tyson Foods a strategic measuring caliper for your career. These roles offer exposure to large-scale data systems and can often lead to remote or hybrid positions, allowing you to work for a major corporation while enjoying Springfield’s lower cost of living.

These are typically summer or part-time internships paying roughly $17-$23 per hour. Application timelines vary, so checking career sites for major regional corporations in the fall for the following summer is crucial. Resources like the SimplifyJobs Summer 2026 internships collection can be helpful for tracking opportunities.

You’ll get hands-on with Power BI reporting, SQL, data pipelines, and the fundamentals of transforming raw data into business insights. This project-based work is typically mentored by senior data professionals, providing a realistic view of a modern analytics workflow.

The outcome is powerful. With AI and data skills becoming non-negotiable, this regional experience is a formidable differentiator. As highlighted in industry discussions, it often leads to competitive full-time offers, including remote roles that let you build a high-value career from your home base in Springfield.

Entrepreneurship Internship via the efactory

If you’re driven by innovation and want to see how technology fuels new businesses, this internship is your prototyper’s kit. The efactory, Missouri State University’s incubator, places interns directly with local tech startups, immersing you in the startup forge. As highlighted in the Springfield Business Journal, this program is a direct pipeline to the city’s entrepreneurial energy.

These are paid internships offering $13-$18 per hour, often structured as semester-long engagements or through December for some funded programs. Applications are rolling, so contacting the efactory directly for current placements is the best approach.

Expect to dive into software QA, tech-based marketing, digital operations, and unique business principles like The Great Game of Business practiced by Springfield’s entrepreneurial community. You’ll wear many hats and see the immediate impact of your work.

Mentorship comes from high-exposure interactions with startup founders and CTOs. This experience is invaluable for building a diverse portfolio and is a proven springboard for landing a role in Springfield’s growing ecosystem of small-to-midsize tech firms.

Technology Intern at Bass Pro Shops

Bass Pro Shops’ national headquarters in Springfield offers a unique internship that acts as a professional multi-tool, blending technology with broader business operations. This isn't just a coding role; it’s an immersive experience in how tech drives e-commerce, supply chain, and customer engagement for an iconic outdoor brand.

This is a paid, 10-week summer program that includes professional development perks. Applications typically open in late fall or winter for the following summer on the Bass Pro Shops Careers site, so planning ahead is essential.

You’ll work on live e-commerce systems, business technology projects, and data research, gaining a holistic view of how a major corporation operates from its Springfield nerve center. This provides practical experience far beyond theoretical classroom learning.

Interns work alongside leadership and senior developers in a mentorship-rich environment. The program is strategically designed to identify talent, leading to strong return offer potential for graduating seniors who perform well, making it a powerful launchpad within a beloved and stable Springfield employer.

Apprenti Missouri Tech Apprenticeship

For those seeking a rigorous, formal apprenticeship with a focus on in-demand specialties like cybersecurity or cloud architecture, Apprenti Missouri is a premier certified blueprint. This program provides registered apprenticeship training with a guaranteed job interview upon completion, offering a structured, nationally-recognized alternative to traditional education.

Apprentices earn $18-$30 per hour during a program that typically lasts 1 year, combining intensive technical training with on-the-job work. Rolling admissions are managed through the Apprenti Missouri network, providing flexible entry points for dedicated candidates.

Tracks include Cybersecurity Support, Cloud Architecture, and Network Engineering, delivering highly portable, certification-ready skills that are critical for the modern tech stack. This focus ensures apprentices are building with the most relevant tools for tomorrow's infrastructure.

Each apprentice is paired with a dedicated journeyworker or mentor at the hiring employer. The program boasts a high national placement rate of over 80% with partner employers, as highlighted in discussions on apprenticeship value, offering a reliable and direct bridge to a high-skill tech career in Missouri's growing market.

IT/Software Development Intern at O'Reilly Auto Parts

O’Reilly’s internship program is the precision driver for a deep dive into enterprise systems, serving as a cornerstone of Springfield’s tech scene. It offers students a profound look inside the technology of a Fortune 500 company, working on problems that affect thousands of stores and employees nationwide.

This is a paid, 10-week summer program with competitive hourly wages. The company recruits in both Fall and Spring for the following summer cohort, requiring early and strategic preparation from applicants.

Interns gain substantial, real-world experience by working on software development with Java, Spring Boot, and SQL, or on IT infrastructure projects. This isn't simulated work; it's tackling actual business challenges, a sentiment echoed in discussions among past interns who highlight the program's practical value.

The program pairs each intern with a mentor and a structured "Career Development Plan." Combined with O’Reilly’s strong promote-from-within philosophy, this dedicated support means top performers often convert directly into coveted Junior Developer or IT Associate roles, making it a highly effective launchpad.

Software Engineer Apprentice at Jack Henry & Associates

Jack Henry, a global fintech leader based nearby with a major Springfield presence, runs this highly competitive apprenticeship designed as a master craftsman’s bench. It builds engineers from the ground up with a focus on modern languages and cloud solutions, making it future-proof for an AI-integrated landscape.

The advertised pay is $25 per hour for this formal apprenticeship track. Those interested should seek out the specific listing on the Jack Henry career site or Indeed listing, as applications for the 2026 cohort will likely open in late 2025.

"Your leaders and mentors value autonomy, curiosity, and domain learning from the ground up... designed for early-career engineers to ask questions, take risks, and grow confidently." - Jack Henry & Associates Recruiters

Apprentices gain deep experience in cloud and on-prem solutions using in-demand languages like Scala, Java, and Swift within the critical financial technology sector. Success in this intense, integrated program leads directly to a coveted software engineering role at a stable, industry-leading company right in our region.

LaunchCode Apprenticeship

Ranked #1 for its proven outcomes and community-centric model, LaunchCode is Springfield’s highest-impact tool: the community workshop. This earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship is a national model that thrives locally, offering training before placing apprentices with host companies for a seamless transition into tech.

Paid training starts at $20/hour, rising to $25/hour during the residency. The program includes approximately 20 weeks of training followed by a multi-month paid apprenticeship. As detailed in their FAQ, cohort deadlines are in Fall and Spring, so planning a year ahead is crucial.

Participants learn full-stack development with Java, JavaScript, and Python or specialized tracks through high-quality, cohort-based learning. This model fosters collaboration and mirrors real-world team environments, building both technical skills and professional networks.

The professional development and mentorship are exceptional. The results are definitive: LaunchCode reports an 87% conversion rate to full-time employment after the apprenticeship, with graduates commanding starting salaries between $60,000 and $80,000. In a competitive market, this pathway offers remarkable security and a direct line to a sustainable tech career.

Choosing Your Tool: Application Strategy for 2026

Facing this toolbox, your strategy depends on your blueprint. Are you a student needing summer experience? An aspiring coder with no degree? A career-changer needing immediate income? Each tool requires a different approach.

For Apprenticeships (LaunchCode, Apprenti, Jack Henry): These are highly competitive, with acceptance rates often below 20%, a reality reflected in local discussions on the Springfield job market. Your application must showcase problem-solving aptitude, not just theoretical knowledge. When to apply: Often 6-12 months in advance. How to prepare: Build a small, functional project that solves a real problem. This demonstrates the mindset shift experts recommend.

"Encourage the next generation to form their identities around purpose... Instead of 'I want to be a programmer,' explore 'I want to use technology to solve problems that matter.'" - Springfield Business Journal

For Internships (O'Reilly, Bass Pro, efactory): These are gateways for students. When to apply: For summer 2026, begin your search in September 2025. How to prepare: Tailor your resume and project portfolio to the specific business. For a startup at the efactory, emphasize agility and a wide range of skills.

For Entry-Level Jobs (IT Support, Help Desk): These roles prioritize reliability and customer service as much as technical skill. When to apply: Anytime, but be prepared for quick hiring cycles. How to prepare: Earn a foundational certification like CompTIA A+. In interviews, focus on past experiences resolving conflicts and explaining complex topics simply. As highlighted in industry analyses like "What to Expect from the Tech Job Search in 2026", the entry-level market has contracted, making these certified, structured pathways more valuable than ever.

Frequently Asked Questions