Kindergarten - 12th Grade
Resources for Parents and Educators
Pilots, Flight Attendants, Ramp Agents, oh my! Career awareness is an important part of every student’s journey. We want to inform and inspire you—parents, educators, and high school students—about careers in aviation.
At Southwest®, our Purpose is to connect people to what’s important in their lives through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel. More than 30 departments at Southwest work together to bring this Purpose to life.
Explore this page to learn about meaningful careers, and discover opportunities for students to gain first-hand experience in the aviation industry at Southwest Airlines®.
At Southwest®, our Purpose is to connect people to what’s important in their lives through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel. More than 30 departments at Southwest work together to bring this Purpose to life.
Explore this page to learn about meaningful careers, and discover opportunities for students to gain first-hand experience in the aviation industry at Southwest Airlines®.
Let's connect!
Are you a parent or educator looking for information about Southwest Airlines for your students? Fill out this form, and we’ll contact you each semester about upcoming opportunities.
Prepare for Takeoff: Job Chats with Southwest Airlines Employees
Are you curious about what it's like to work for an airline or what jobs are available after graduation? Southwest Airlines is excited to host quarterly virtual conversations with Southwest Employees to share about possible career paths in the aviation industry! Students can hear directly from several workgroups, learn tips to set them up for success.
- Want to be a Pilot? Hear from Southwest Pilots and learn about our Destination 225° Pilot Pathway program. To register, select one of the times below.
- Date: Wednesday, March 1
- Are you planning to enter the workforce after high school? Hear from Southwest Ramp Agents, Appearance Technicians, and Material Specialists about some of the full-time jobs available immediately after high school. To register, select one of the times below.
- Date: Wednesday, April 12
- Opportunities Coming Soon:
- We are looking forward to hosting more job chats in the future. Complete our Parent/Educator Interest Form to receive registration notifications.
Job Opportunities for
Graduating High School Seniors
Many job opportunities at Southwest don't require a college degree. If you know someone with a driver’s license searching for a job, our Ramp Agent, Material Specialist, or Aircraft Appearance Technician positions may interest them!
Landing a career at Southwest offers several benefits and perks, including unlimited space available flight privileges, a 9.3% 401(k) Company match, career mobility resources, and more. Consider a career with Heart!
Landing a career at Southwest offers several benefits and perks, including unlimited space available flight privileges, a 9.3% 401(k) Company match, career mobility resources, and more. Consider a career with Heart!
- Ramp Agents direct planes on the ground, handle cargo/baggage, and ensure our operations run smoothly. The role is instrumental to our success at Southwest. [Explore open positions]
- Aircraft Appearance Technicians are essential "airplane detailers". These Employees clean hangars, refresh the aircraft and equipment to provide a safe environment for our Maintenance Technicians and Customers. This role could be a great starting point for individuals who hope to pursue a career in aviation maintenance. [Explore open positions]
- Material Specialists maintain Company storeroom logs and records, deliver aircraft parts to various Technical Operations Teams with Southwest Hospitality, and multitask effectively to meet required deadlines. This role could serve as an entry-point into a career in supply chain management or logistics. [Explore open positions]
Organization of Black Aerospace Professional Aerospace Career Education Academies
- Southwest Airlines is honored to partner with the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) to inspire students to explore careers in aviation.
- OBAP Aerospace Career Education (ACE) Academies are week-long summer programs designed to introduce middle and high school students to the history of aviation, fundamentals of aerodynamics, and aerospace careers available. Join Southwest at academies in a variety of cities.
- Girls Learning and Understanding New Career Horizons (LAUNCH) provides interactive experiences and small group conversations with female aerospace professionals. These often boost interest in the unlimited opportunities in aerospace at a young age.
- Register your student for an ACE Academy Camp in 2023 or explore OBAP Girls LAUNCH resources.
High School Internships
High School Internships
Application dates: Monday, Feb. 20 - Sunday, Feb. 27
Interview date: Saturday, April 1
Internship dates: Tuesday, June 20 - Thursday, Aug. 10 (8 weeks)
Southwest offers a paid, eight-week High School Internship Program in several cities during the summer. Our hands-on program provides high school students with exposure to the world of work and emphasizes the importance of education and opportunities beyond a diploma or degree.
Register for our internship prep information session on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 5 p.m. CT: swa.is.HSinfosession.
Interview date: Saturday, April 1
Internship dates: Tuesday, June 20 - Thursday, Aug. 10 (8 weeks)
Southwest offers a paid, eight-week High School Internship Program in several cities during the summer. Our hands-on program provides high school students with exposure to the world of work and emphasizes the importance of education and opportunities beyond a diploma or degree.
Register for our internship prep information session on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 5 p.m. CT: swa.is.HSinfosession.
High school internship details
- Located in Dallas, Texas
- $15 per hour
- Part-time (20-24 hours per week)
Participating departments
- Communications & Outreach
- Flight Operations
- People (HR)
- Technology
High school internship requirements
- Rising high school junior or senior
- 16 years old by June 20, 2023
- 2.75+ cumulative GPA preferred
- Transportation to/from the Dallas office
- Documentation to verify identity and eligibility to work at Southwest
- See job description for full requirements
Preferred experience
- Classroom experience with Microsoft Office Suite
- Ability to work as a member of a Team and individually
- Involvement in extracurricular activities
- Quick learner, self-motivated, organized, and Team-oriented
High school part-time job opportunities
Students aged 16-17 years old; the following opportunities are available in Southwest cities for part-time jobs in aviation that align with school schedules. Please note that these jobs are not with Southwest but with Southwest Contractors. Opportunities are available in the following cities:
Birmingham, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Houston (HOU and IAH), New Orleans, Panama City Beach, FL, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis
Southwest Contractor Huntleigh is hiring Baggage Transporters, Wheelchair Pushers, and Janitorial staff.
Atlanta, Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Denver, Las Vegas, and Tampa
Southwest Contractor Prospect Airport Services is hiring Wheelchair Pushers.
Career exploration
Hear from Greg Muccio, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition, as he shares an overview of what it’s like working at Southwest.
All full-time roles at Southwest require candidates to be at least 18 years old and have authorization to work in the United States.
We look for candidates who care about our Company Values, so consider learning more about their attributes.
We're also known for our amazing benefits, but don’t just take it from us! Check out our Benefits page to learn more about why Southwest could be the start of an incredible career for your student.
All full-time roles at Southwest require candidates to be at least 18 years old and have authorization to work in the United States.
We look for candidates who care about our Company Values, so consider learning more about their attributes.
We're also known for our amazing benefits, but don’t just take it from us! Check out our Benefits page to learn more about why Southwest could be the start of an incredible career for your student.
Coloring pages
Looking for something fun to do at home or in your classroom? Download these Southwest designs and color to your heart's content.
Adopt-a-Pilot® lesson plans
No matter how your plans change, we hope these Adopt-A-Pilot lessons provide some fun and innovative content for your students or at home.
Professional Communications Certification
Southwest Airlines is proud to offer the Professional Communications Certification, designed to prepare the next generation of professionals to communicate effectively in the workplace. The certification validates the knowledge and skills necessary to communicate effectively, think critically, and work with others, resulting in an employee with exceptional interpersonal and customer service skills.
The Southwest Airlines Professional Communications Certification is hosted on the iCEV testing platform. Visit the iCEV website to learn more about the certification and its place in education and the workforce.
Note: While we encourage continued professional development at every stage of life, obtaining the Professional Communications Certification does not guarantee an interview or job with Southwest Airlines.
Questions or comments? Email us at campusreach@wnco.com.
Join our Talent community.
We will notify you about relevant positions and keep you in mind when we have interesting opportunities.