Our programs
6 pathways · summer through year-roundSummer Youth Employment
Six paid weeks. Ages 14 to 21. Real work, real paychecks, no résumé needed.
Annapolis residents 14 to 21 are matched with city departments based on interests. You might end up assisting the Library Manager, working in the Rec Department, or supporting the Mayor's office. Every participant earns a paycheck, gets a financial-literacy workshop, and finishes with a presentation to City Council.
City Internship Program
For undergrad & grad students. Real projects with department leadership.
Departments post specific internships matched to majors — GIS & planning, finance, public health, communications, environmental policy, IT, HR. You'll work on a real project (not coffee runs) with a department-assigned mentor. Most interns publish a project memo at the end.
Annapolis Civic Fellowship
12 months. Three department rotations. A direct path to a full-time city role.
Our flagship program. Fellows do three 4-month rotations across departments (e.g. Finance → Planning → Mayor's Office), attend monthly seminars with department heads, and complete a capstone project. 8 of last year's 10 fellows took permanent city positions.
Trades Apprenticeship
Earn a paycheck while you learn a trade. No tuition, no debt.
DOL-registered apprenticeships in skilled trades. You earn a wage from day one, get classroom instruction (paid for by the city) at Anne Arundel Community College, and finish with a journeyman license. Apprentices typically continue as full-time DPW employees. No tuition. No degree required.
Civic Cadets Program
For high schoolers interested in government, law & public safety.
After-school program for high schoolers interested in government, public safety, or law. Cadets shadow officers, attend Council meetings, visit the courthouse, and complete a capstone civics project. Optional summer extension to a full Summer Youth Employment placement.
Second Chance Pathway
For returning citizens. Real work, fair pay, no hidden barriers.
A six-month pathway for returning citizens, run in partnership with Anne Arundel County Workforce Development. Placements in DPW, Recreation & Parks, and the City Dock crew. We don't ask about felony history at application. Wraparound case management is included.
One way of growing a career here
Real arc · from intern to department headHigh school
College
Recent grad
Specialist
Leadership
Open positions right now
14 active · applications rollingGIS & Mapping Intern · Comprehensive Plan Update
Work alongside city planners on the 2027 Comprehensive Plan update. Build interactive maps, analyze parcel data, support neighborhood meetings. Strong skills in ArcGIS or QGIS required.
Policy Research Intern · Office of the Mayor
Research support for the Mayor's policy team. Draft memos, attend community meetings, prepare briefing materials for the Mayor and Chief of Staff. Best for political science, public policy, or pre-law majors.
Budget Analyst Intern · FY27 Budget Cycle
Support the Director of Finance during budget season. Build financial models, analyze department requests, attend budget hearings. Accounting, finance, or public administration background preferred.
Civil Engineering Intern · CIP Project Support
Field and office support across active CIP projects (currently 6 in design phase). Site visits, drawing review, contractor coordination support. Civil engineering major required, junior or senior preferred.
Cybersecurity Intern · Network Operations
Support our Security Operations Center. Vulnerability scanning, log analysis, response runbooks, end-user training. Active Security+ or equivalent strongly preferred. CS or cybersecurity majors.
Watershed Monitoring Intern · Chesapeake Bay
Field and lab work supporting our stormwater and bay monitoring programs. Water quality sampling, data entry into Maryland DNR systems, public outreach at Bay Days events. Field-heavy role.
A spotlight on the trades
Earn while you learn · zero debtYou can have a $70K job & zero student debt by age 24.
Our trades apprenticeship is a registered U.S. Department of Labor program. From day one, you earn a wage and receive paid classroom instruction at Anne Arundel Community College. The city covers 100% of tuition, books, and tools.
After 3 to 4 years (depending on the trade), you finish with a journeyman license — a credential that travels anywhere in the country — and a permanent role with the City of Annapolis. No four-year degree required.
Learn more about apprenticeships →Open apprentice tracks
From intern to colleague
Stories from current staffI came in as a summer youth at 16 stuffing envelopes in the Rec Department. Now I run our after-school program. The city literally watched me grow up.
I did my Civic Fellowship rotations in Planning, Finance, and the Mayor's office. I had no idea any of that work even existed before the Fellowship. Now I'm a Senior Planner.
The apprenticeship changed my family's trajectory. I make more than I would have with my associate's, and I never took a loan. My kid's college fund actually has money in it.
How to apply
4 steps · designed to be approachablePick a program
Use the audience picker above. Each program lists open positions, deadlines, and minimum eligibility. One application per program — not per department.
Submit one application
For most programs: short application, transcript or work history, one short essay (300 words max), and one reference. Takes ~30 min. No GPA minimum.
Brief interview
If selected, a 30-minute conversation with the program coordinator and the department lead. Casual, no test, no whiteboard. We're checking fit and interest.
Start working
Onboarding day, paid orientation, a mentor on day one, and a paycheck the first Friday. Most programs include a check-in halfway through.