Did you know you can earn money donating plasma at a nearby plasma donation center?
In fact, it’s possible to make up to $300 per month by donating plasma – and it helps people who may need your blood plasma.
If you have experience donating blood, this can be a worthy side hustle to boost your income.
Below, we will explain how it all works, how to maximize earnings, and you won’t want to donate before you learn all about it.
Table of Contents
- What is Plasma?
- How Much Do You Get Paid?
- How to Find a Plasma Donation Center Near Me
- Octapharma Plasma
- Grifols
- CSL Plasma
- BioLife Plasma Services
- BPL Plasma
- KEDPlasma
- ADMA Biocenters
- DonatingPlasma.org
- Who Is Eligible to Donate Plasma?
- What Should You Bring?
- What is the Donation Process Like?
- How Long Does It Take?
- How Often Can You Donate Plasma?
- Are There Side Effects & Risks?
- Why Can You Make Money Donating Plasma but Not Red Blood Cells?
- You Can Donate Plasma for Free
- Is Donating Plasma Ethical?
- Summary
What is Plasma?
Blood plasma is the clear liquid part of the blood. It contains water, some enzymes, antibodies, and proteins. They use it to create products that can help folks with blood clotting disorders and other diseases.
To get just the clear liquid part:
- Your blood is drawn
- the plasma is separated
- and the blood is returned to your body
The plasma donation process takes about an hour and a half and you can make between $20 to $50 per donation.
How Much Do You Get Paid?
How much you can make donating plasma is based on a bunch of different factors. Also, who much you make each month will depend on how often you donate.
You can expect to be paid around $20 to $50 per donation. We show the amount as a range because it depends on the volume of plasma you’re allowed to donate each time you make a plasma donation. The FDA sets the guidelines and it’s based on weight – the ranges are 110-149 pounds, 150-174 pounds, and 175-400 pounds. The more you weigh, the more plasma you’re allowed to donate, and the more money you’ll make.
Most places will pay you via a debit card to make the payment process faster too. You’re not in the charitable arena of the Red Cross anymore, these are businesses and so are you.
Also, each plasma donation takes approximately 1 hour versus 10-15 minutes to donate red blood. You must also make two donations before the plasma center can start using your donation – and before you receive payment.
Look for First Time Donor Bonuses
Blood plasma is a competitive business. You should compare how much you can earn when there are multiple donation centers nearby.
You may be able to get higher than typical payouts, but not always.
Start by searching for a first-time plasma donor bonus to increase your payout (at least the first few times). Many centers publish their promotions on their website. For instance, you might be able to earn $600 in your first month instead of the standard $300 monthly payout.
A lot of plasma donation centers run promotions where you get paid more if you donate more often. For example, BioLife Plasma has a coupon that will pay you up to $800 for your first eight donations ($90, $90, $90, $100, $100, $110, $110 and $110) as long as you make the first one by the end of the year.
It feels a little weird, seeing coupons and promotions on a blood plasma donation site, but that’s how this world works.
Is Donating Plasma Taxable?
Yes.
Plasma centers load your payments onto a prepaid debit card. However, they are may not provide you with a tax form reporting your taxable income like your day job.
Not getting an IRS Form 1099-MISC doesn’t let you off the hook at tax time. The IRS requires you to file a tax return if you made more than $400 doing “gig work – and donating blood counts as gig work. You are required to declare all income you earn, whether you get a form or not.
You are responsible for reporting your donation income when filing your taxes. Setting aside a few dollars from each payment can help you avoid a tax surprise come tax time.
How to Find a Plasma Donation Center Near Me
The FDA inspects plasma donation centers for compliance with laws but the FDA doesn’t manage them. They’re run by companies so there’s no central clearinghouse, you need to just search for a local one near you, confirm it’s in compliance, and then see which one makes it worth your while.
Not all plasma centers pay the same rates, you can review or list of the highest paying plasma donation centers if you want to know which pays the most.
Here are the major companies with many locations across the United States:
Octapharma Plasma
Octapharma Plasma has over a hundred locations spread out across the United States, chances are you’ll be able to find one of their plasma donation centers near you. The website is a little strange in that there are locations without hours or contact information, so they may be closed or future locations.
Octapharma Plasma pays with a prepaid debit card and payments for future donations will be put on that card. Pay varies by location.
They even have occasional frequency bonuses and a $250 New Donor bonus on the website. For example, in the month of February, you can earn extra if you donate more often. The bonus varies from location to location so check to see what the local promotion is.
The donor promotions can be higher when plasma demand is high but there are few donors.
Grifols
Grifols has over a hundred locations across the United States under a variety of names. You can search for Grifols, Interstate Blood Bank, Plasma Biological Resources, Talecris Plasma Resources, and Biomat USA. It depends on where in the U.S. you’re located.
Grifols pays with a prepaid debit card as well.
CSL Plasma
CSL Plasma has locations in 39 states and oftentimes many locations within a state. Alabama, for example, has four locations (Auburn, Birmingham, and two in Montgomery). They say new donors can earn up to $400.
Grifols pays with a reloadable prepaid card and has an iGive Rewards Program where you can earn points and redeem them for different rewards.
BioLife Plasma Services
BioLife has locations in 28 states across the United States. New donors at select centers can earn up to $600 in the first month. Each center may run their own local promotions.
Your income loads onto a BioLife Debit Card. This debit card works at any merchant accepting Mastercard and over 900,000 ATMs.
BPL Plasma
BPL Plasma has centers in 13 states primarily in the southern United States. It’s possible to earn up to $300 per month. Promotions vary by donation center to earn more.
KEDPlasma
KEDPlasma has locations in 11 states. You will need to contact your local donation center for payment details. Returning donors might be able to redeem a “$20 lapse bonus coupon” if it’s been at least 14 days since your last full donation.
All compensation loads onto a Wirecard prepaid debit card. You can also enroll in the loyalty rewards program (Kedrewards) for additional bonus opportunities.
ADMA Biocenters
Atlanta residents can visit ADMA Biocenters in Marietta. New donors who live within 50 miles of the center can schedule an appointment. It’s possible to earn up to $400 per month and potentially more if you qualify for specialty programs.
ADMA pays you with a “cash card” that links to an electronic payment account. You can access your funds electronically or by making debit card purchases.
DonatingPlasma.org
DonatingPlasma.org isn’t itself a plasma donation company but a website set up by the donation industry to help educate and inform potential donors. They also have a plasma center search tool that will find a plasma donation center near you from their list of 450+ locations.
Search for reviews of the centers and see what others are saying, then pick one that works for you.
Who Is Eligible to Donate Plasma?
To be qualified to donate plasma, you need to be 18-69 years old and over 110 pounds.
Local and state laws may override center requirements. For example, in Nebraska, you must be 19 years or older or produce written consent. Other centers may have a maximum age limit of 65 years to donate.
Each company will have its own donation requirements, from weight to age to general health, but you can check their website for specifics.
If you are in good health, you’re generally eligible. Many of the eligibility rules are the same as red blood donation. If you have any recent piercings or tattoos within the last 12 months, you may not be eligible.
You cannot donate plasma while pregnant. It’s possible to start donating again between six and twelve months after having your baby.
What Should You Bring?
Proof of address, a valid photo ID and proof of your Social Security Number. Your name must exactly match on those documents. Proof of address can be what’s on your photo ID.
In preparing, make sure you eat regularly and drink plenty of fluids.
What is the Donation Process Like?
My blogging friend Melissa Blevins has donated plasma and shares her experiences with the plasma donation process: (below is just a small excerpt, read her entire post for the full details)
During the blood plasma donation exam, you’ll be moved to an exam room where a staff member will ask several questions about your medical history and any tattoos, brandings, and/or piercings you have currently or have gotten in the past 12 months.
They clean the injection site with iodine, and they insert a needle for the plasmapheresis process (extracting your blood, separating the plasma, and putting your blood back into your body).
The needle feels exactly like an IV. It only hurts if they can’t get a vein, blow a vein, or you wiggle around a lot during the process.
I suggest taking a stress ball to squeeze so that your flow isn’t interrupted and you’re able to complete the process faster.
Sounds just like donating red blood.
How Long Does It Take?
Your first plasma donation takes longer than future visits. The first donation will take around two hours because you’ll need to fill out paperwork. Return donation visits should only take around an hour and a half.
If you are larger, the process will take a little longer because you’ll be donating more plasma (and be paid more).
Be sure to bring a book or a streaming device to help pass the time and to help you relax. Many plasma centers offer free Wi-Fi.
Remember that a complete plasma donation requires two separate visits. The minimum waiting period is one day between the two donations. It’s possible to donate on Monday and again on Wednesday.
The maximum interval between donations can be 14 days or you forfeit your payment and the plasma center disposes of your first donation. Some centers hold your first donation for up to six months until you make your second donation.
You won’t earn money donating plasma if you only visit the plasma center once. Plasma centers issue payment after you donate the second part.
How Often Can You Donate Plasma?
This will vary from place to place, the American Red Cross only lets you donate once every 28 days.
Private centers let you donate up to twice in seven days with at least one day in between. You want to check with the center to see often you can safely donate. Frequent donors can receive weekly payments.
Donating plasma weekly is how they come up with figures like “make $300 a month.”
Are There Side Effects & Risks?
Donating plasma is a relatively safe and well-understood process but some people can experience side effects after donating plasma. Many of these side effects are similar to donating red blood cells.
Since the process involves needles, some donors can experience bruising and/or tenderness at the needle injection site. There may be swelling, discoloration, or pain but should generally subside relatively quickly. Donors can also react to the disinfectant being used to clean the site, often iodine.
Since the process removes fluid from the body, some donors can experience dizziness or feel faint. It’s a reaction to the stress on the body and the loss of blood volume. You can prepare to mitigate this by ensuring you drink plenty of fluids ahead of time but it’s not a foolproof preparation.
Less common is a citrate reaction. Citrate is used as an anticoagulant so that your blood doesn’t clot during the collection process. Donors can react to it and it often presents itself as a tingling feeling in the fingers or around the nose and mouth.
In more severe cases, it can cause shivering, a rapid or slowing pulse, twitching, and shortness of breath.
Why Can You Make Money Donating Plasma but Not Red Blood Cells?
It’s not illegal to make money donating blood but there are ethical concerns for paying blood donors. Paying for blood donations can reduce the quality of donations as people with underlying conditions have more incentive to lie and scam the blood donation center.
Blood donations are easier to make. Red blood cells only require a single 10-minute donation but plasma donations require two 90-minute donations for the donation to be usable. People are less likely to provide a bad sample because plasma donations require more effort than going to a local blood drive.
Here’s another kicker about why you can earn money donating plasma – you’re not donating to the Red Cross. You’re donating to a business. They will sell your plasma to companies that turn them into products. It’s only fair they compensate you for the time and your plasma, right?
You Can Donate Plasma for Free
Does the idea of selling plasma for money irk you? Do stories of people selling plasma for money leave a bad taste in your mouth? No problem – you can donate it for free if you want.
The American Red Cross collects plasma too and will let you donate every 28 days. Just call 1-800-RED-CROSS to schedule an appointment.
Is Donating Plasma Ethical?
As an aside, I’ve been asked whether I think donating plasma is ethical.
Yes, it’s perfectly ethical.
It’s your blood, your time, and you should do whatever you want with it. I’ve heard stories of people earning a nice supplemental income donating plasma and paying off their debts with it.
Summary
Being able to earn money donating plasma is a legit way to help others while paying your bills. You only need up to two hours a week to donate plasma. No special skills are necessary which makes this an easy way to earn extra income–if you’re comfortable with needles.
Have you donated plasma?
Mel @ brokeGIRLrich says
The pf blogger in me really wants to give this a shot sometime, just so I can write knowledgeably about it – but regular old Mel is a little too terrified of needles to pull that off probably.
Regular me isn’t really comfortable with the idea of the blood going back in… the needles and whatnot, whatever. Blood leaving? Sorry, gone, bye.
I know this doesn’t jive with blood transfusions, where you’re getting someone else’s blood, but that’s an emergency situation and all bets are out the window.
The experimental part of me wants to kinda try it to see what it’s like though…
robert says
I have been doing it for 2 years. It is safe and not a big deal. The hardest part, is staying awake. The chairs are so comfortable lol.
Amanda says
Robert,
I have AB+ and am barely at the 110-149 range. Any idea how much/frequently I would be paid and able to donate? Also, how do you confirm that a facility is safe and reliable? Thanks!
Javi says
You’ll get about 26 dollars for that weight
BN says
I did it and I’m in between that weight and got 55 every time I went . I only stopped because where I lived was to much of wait to even be worth it
Kristen says
I’m exactly 110, 111 with my shoes. I received $60 for my 1st donation and $80 for my second with new donor coupons. My center even has supervised child care in a separate room so I’m essentially getting paid to study for my nursing classes for an hour while they watch my 2-yr-old. Inprocessing and waiting in line probably takes another hour though.
Wendy says
i have been a plasma donor for 5 years plus, your blood stays in a tube in is give back,all the machine does is seperate the plasma from the blood. The thing to keep in mind is,.
1. Try To stay away from fatty foods,Your blood clogs,becomes fatty,which takes longer for donation.
2. drink lots of WATER
3. No caffeine, 24 hours before,
4. if you have had a tattoo within 12 months You cannot donald. THIS is due To the ink.
5. when starting out on first time expect to be there for at least 2 hours.
6. most ppl like going as early as possible, if this is the case, be aware you will not be the only one. (i got there at 5am once and there were 7 PPL in front of me waiting, the Office didn’t open till 7am…)
7. most imporatntly remember, your there to help out someome who needs this for a life threating reason. it’s worth it because many PPL do Not have the ability To produce plasma .
Shannah Love says
How do I go about getting paid to give blood in the Sherman, Tx area?
I don’t think anywhere will pay you to donate regular blood, but if you Google search for plasma you can usually find several places.
Bishop Lake says
Actuly, i know that lifeshare will give you like a 25$ gift card for 10 donations. its not enough to explicitly donate for, but if your gonna donate anyway, why not right?
shana says
jersey is the only state that doesnt pay you to donate. i enjoy donating an also because i can use the extra money when needed.
Mstep57 says
Not true. I have a friend in Jersey who donates twice a week to pick up some extra cash.
Kristen says
where? i live in nj and the only place i can find is b positive but theyre only in cherry hill and you have to live within 35 miles but im too far away
Brittney says
I’m a donor. I think you should try it! As long you keep yourself hydrated & eat a solid meal, it’s a breeze & has no bad affects. (Keep in mind, you should donate at least twice, or else your first donation cannot be used to produce medicine)
It’s my peaceful time away from home & everything. I let them stick me (painless!), watch tv & chill for about an hour, then get paid! Easy peasy & you’re doing an amazing thing for patients.
katie says
yeah it takes about an hour from the time the needle goes in. but everytime i go, i have to wait up to 5 hours before i even get to that part. unless i get their an hour before they open and am one of the first ones in line. yes people get their and stand in line up to 2 hours before they even open.
b l says
There are down times that are not so busy.. I’m in Indiana and I go between 10 and 2.. theses are slowest times and have no more than one or two people in front of me… in and out in 1 1/2 hr eady
Great tip, thank you!
Jaydin says
Is it an I.V. ? ?
Selena says
Yes it is an I.V
Tamara says
Donating plasma is as easy as it gets. The money is pretty good also. For my weight, excluding any bonuses, I earn $70 a week for two donations.
Where do you donate?
lynn says
where do you go
Amanda says
Hello,
I am AB+ (universal plasma&rare) and barely at the 110-149 range. Any idea on how much/frequently I would be paid and able to donate? How do I know if a facility is safe and reliable?
I would contact a plasma donation center and ask them directly, they’ll be able to tell you this pretty quickly.
As for the facilities, you want to Google them and read reviews.
Thirst says
I donate and its easy. Figure out what times are slower times and the waiting line will be short. I have timed my donation times and mine personally range from 32-39 minutes. I get 20 the first time every week and 40 the 2nd time. The place I go CSL does bonuses etc. January I will make $240+$90 bonus if I go 8 times in January. Not a bad chunk of change for a short amount of time spent. I try to go before work at 6:00am so I can be to work by 8:00am. I have no idea why you would donate for free.
MsRobin says
I use Octapharma in Houston Texas. The facility is clean and comfortable. All new donors receive $50 each donation for the first 5 donations. This is reguardless of the persons weight. We are able to donate twice each week. The rates and bonuses change after the first 5 visits. Call or go by the center for an explanation of the rates. I have only been once and don’t understand clearly the future payments and bonuses. The total I can earn each month is just a bit over $300. My weight is over 200 pounds.
Donor says
I recently donated plasma for the first time time, here is a real life example of someone who actually did it and went through it all (by now I donated a second time).
I arrived to the plasma center no appointment needed, there were a handful of people waiting to be called.. they asked me to answer a questionnaire about my health and answer some questions through a kiosk, after waiting for about 10 – 15 minutes they called me. I filled an application and they asked me to get into a office booth where they ask further questions, ask you to sign related documents and measure your weight and take a sample of your blood from your finger, if they do it right it does not hurt a bit, if they don’t do it right, it will hurt a little but just for a few seconds, I get this from the two times I donated. First time it hurt a little as the person that pinched me didn’t do the appropriate finger massage that the second did (that is what I noticed and felt).
Then I I was to go into an lab where they had me do a urine test, It was pretty quick. Then I with into an office with the medical specialist to get a full examination and medical questionnaires, and medical history and overview of my answers from kiosk. The examination included heart check, reflexes check, basically a full medical screening and questions.
After the check, and everything, the medical specialist he handled me a VIP card, I assume because of my awesome health (I didn’t ask). I suppose not everyone gets this card. He told me I could bypass waiting in line by using this card, so I was to donate again, I do not need to get in line of after other donors that may have been waiting.
After the examination I was asked to proceed to the donating area where the process begin.
They insert a needle in your vain and the process begins. I was actually dehydrated so I didn’t complete the plasma flask recipient, but was pretty closed. I would recommend you drink a lot of water the day before you go donating plasma and don’t drink alcohol because I was told that dehydrates you (I did drink some beer the day before and didn’t drink enough water).
Just as I begin the process, they handled me an envelop which contained a debit card with 75$ loaded into it.
The second time was smoother since I had drank lots of water, the problem the second time was that I drank so much water that I really needed to go to the restroom while in the donation process. There was no people waiting when I went in the second time, and I didn’t even need to use my VIP card.
As far as the blood going back inside, it is all done by a machine, all they do is replace the equipment for every donation. They use new needles and everything new every time for every donor, and they have biohazard labeled carts where they dispose any used equipment or materials once a donor has completed the donation. They have around 6 rows of booths where donors donate their plasma.
How I ended up donating? I friend of mine had recommended doing it because he used to do it he said it was a quick way to make cash and that I was primed and healthy and would do good.
My feeling the first time I donated? I just took it like it was a job, yes I donated my time, my plasma, and did feel some level of discomfort but would I have had I been doing other jobs, so I just did it and didn’t make much of it , nor I was nervous or anything, just get the job done and get out that was my goal. Though since I am not used to doing things like these, for a moment I thought jokingly “Did I just sold my soul”, but it was cool, I then came back the second time, and received 50$. Not bad for extra cash. Though I would not do it for a living Lol.
Kristy says
I am thinking about donating Plasma. I am a female age 36 and weigh about 200 lbs. How much would I receive to donate? I have also read the needle is just a bit bigger than giving blood so it hurts just a bit more for this?
I’d recommend contacting your local donation center for specifics, they’ll be able to give you that information.
Danielle says
My weight is 190 and I’ve been thinking about donating, any idea how much I would get for donating? And is it anything like donating blood? I use to donate blood in school but stopped. Im AB+
Your best bet is to reach out to the donation center to get specific information.
Robin Burke says
I’m a 55 year old female. I weigh 220 lbs. I don’t drink, smoke or use street drugs. I have attempted 2 times to sell my plasma. I have been rejected at different stages of my interview and screening. My first rejection was due to low iron in my blood. I took 2 weeks and used iron supplements. I went back to the center. I was eagor to get started and gain the first of 5 initial $50 payments. Well, the second visit to clinic was also a waste of time. This information should be made available very early on in the first educational video shown to new comers ! I take a total of 5 prescriptions. The limit for a donor that wishes to sell plasma is 4 prescriptions. Wow ! My son weighs 130. He has been selling plasma. No matter what weight all new clients get $50 each on the first 5 sessions. He uses Octapharm in Houston Texas.
Michele says
Sounds better than the Red Cross. They both charge but at least plasma centers pay you for what they’ll sell. Red Cross DOES sell the blood you donate.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=117431&page=1
LeAnn says
I do not donate anymore but 15+ years ago I did on a regular basis. It was my fun money. Even then I made $200+ per month. The only time I was rejected was due to low iron but they said I could come back after 24 hours. The needle is a little larger than giving blood. Another thing if you plan on doing this regularly that you might want to know is that since I gave regularly for about a year and I had only one really good, large vein I still have a scar from it that is somewhat noticable. As a bonus now when I need blood work done the phlebotomist knows right where to stick me.
Matt says
Been selling plasma for years. In my experience, it takes 3-5hrs the very first visit, because they do a physical. They also redo physicals every 6months, so that can be a pain.
They do not take people with diabetes, or take heart medications. They drug test, but marijuana is okay i guess. :D. They do not accept men who have ever had sex with another man, or ever paid for sex. If you have had a tattoo in the past year, you have to show documentation.
Be honest, or you could get banned. They test for a heart rate above 70bpm but less than 100bpm, and prick your finger to get a tiny bit of blood to test basic protein, iron and other nutrients.
If you go after the initial early morning rush, it is pretty fast, but every place is different. I got $50 for each of my first 4 visits, then $25 for 1st visit of the week, then $35 for second visit of the week. If I donate 6 times in one month, I get a bonus $100 (on top of the $25-$35) That is tough cause it does leave you feeling hungry as hell each time. I get deferred mostly for my heart-rate being too high. I walk to get there, so it is best to rest before signing in.
It isnt that big of a deal. One needle, the nurses do it all day, so they know how to stick really skillfully. Takes about an hr after being stuck, but getting to that hot seat will take more or less time depending on how busy it is in there. -Shreveport, LA
Maddi says
I just went to donate plasma yesterday in Utah and am going again tomorrow. Since it’s my first time, I’ll make $150 this week–definitely worth it, most of all because you are helping people receive the health care they need. I am terrified of needles and being pricked, but most nurses realize that it’s not the most pleasant thing in the world and so they were all super nice. That kinda made up for it?
The finger prick hurts worse than the actual IV going in, and afterward I felt glad it was over and that I actually did it. I will advise, as others have done, to make sure you drink tons of water before AND after. While they were taking my plasma I felt really nauseous and like I was going to pass out, so they stopped the machine for a couple minutes until I felt okay enough to continue. That was not a very pleasant feeling at all, but I was able to complete the donation due to helpful staff.
Kate says
Where in Utah did you go? I am thinking about doing our and $150 would be nice.
chris says
Grifols on 800 South is SLC is where I go.
Neida Dearmas says
I never donated before I weigh about 300+ pounds how much would I get paid for a donation
Devon says
Actually, you don’t get paid at biolife based on your weight or amount of plasma you donate. At least at my center anyway in Montana. We get $20 our first donation and $50 for our second in the same calendar week. It doesn’t matter how much you weigh here.
Jack says
Places like these got me through rough times when I have been laid off from full time jobs and unemployment was taking too long to become available.
I now donate to fund my rock climbing gear and trips. I’ve been in pharma work for 5 years and getting $70/w33k is not even close to the pay out of the final product.
Felice G says
Do we have to report this income on our taxes?
All income is taxable and should be reported.
Max says
It has been found that people who donate red blood regularly live longer and are less susceptible to the killer diseases — cancer, heart disease, also: type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s and dementia. It’s a statistical fact. I have not read through all the responses here, but it seems you don’t get paid for red blood; on the other hand, there is a great reward — more life and health. It is especially beneficial for males.
O Positive says
need more studies and statistical research references to back this claim up please!
Shelly Coyne says
I have O+ blood and I weigh 136. How much would I get for my blood.
Max Cottrell says
A good place to start is the book/ebook: “Dumping Iron: How to Ditch This Secret Killer and Reclaim Your Health”. The accumulation of excess iron in the body is a condition that affects the majority of adults, esp males over 50. It leads to much higher risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and shorter lifespan. The best way to reduce excess iron is to draw blood repeatedly until iron levels are reduced to normal.