by Saeed - Verified & Updated December 7, 2016 (This post may contain affiliate links.)
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I have talked about donating blood plasma for money before.
I truly think it’s a great way to earn some extra cash when you need it.
While it is true that there are many diseases that people can get from plasma biotherapies, on the flip side, so many households who suffer economically have also been helped financially from plasma donations.
And the good thing is that there are donation centers around the country, from Florida, Wisconsin, Virginia and Michigan, to Washington, New York, Chicago and everywhere in between.
Table of Contents
How much do Plasma donors make?
This is one of the main questions I see being asked when it comes to plasma donation for money.
The answer…
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It depends!
There are a few different factors hat determine just how much money you get each time you donate plasma. But the biggest factor probably is the donation center you use.
There are a few major centers around the country, so I will give you the info on how much they pay.
1. Biomat USA (Grifols)
Biomat USA will pay $40 for the first time you donate and $60 for the next time that you do so? Keep in mind that there is a waiting period for this and you will have to wait a few days before you can donate another round.
2. Biolife Plasma
Biolife Plasma, on the other hand, pays you $40 for the first two donations, while CSL Plasma pays $50.
3. Talecris Plasma Center
Talecris Plasma Center is the highest paying among all of them, however, with $60 for the first donation, $50 for the next, and $30-40 for the following weeks.
4. BPL Plasma (Bio Products Laboratory)
BPL Plasma compensation program pays donors $250 for 5 visit, so $50 per visit (they do, from time to time, have specialty plasma donation programs where they pay much more.)
5. CSL Plasma
CSL Plasma, on the other hand, gives you points for every successful donation which you can redeem for cash or other prizes.
6. OctaPharma
OctaPharma pays $50 for each of your first 5 donations, though some centers pay $75 for the first donation and $50 for the other 4 visits.
So, I guess in general you are looking at around $40 per donation, which isn’t bad for something that takes 30 minutes or so.
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How do you get paid?
Once upon a time, plasma centers paid in cash or wrote checks to compensate donors.
Today, however, many of them use Money Cards, which are like debit cards.
Here is how it works…
After the donation is done, someone, usually the nurse, will scan your plasma donation bag with your identification details. After which, money automatically be credited to your account.
Some of these plasma donation centers may even have ATMs inside so people can check their balance immediately.
Believe it or not, money cards from CSL Plasma even have a My Visa Z rewards feature where you can earn points and redeem for prizes such as coupons, MP3 downloads, and cashback.
Your Turn
Have you ever donated plasma?
If so, what was the most amount of money you ever got paid?
For those who have never donated plasma for cash, will you do it if you need some quick cash?
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Discussion
Wrong Info If you THINK it takes 10-15 minutes to donate plasma, you’ve obviously never have done it. There will be a lot of waiting. Sign in, wait to have the intake (asked questions and protein sampled), wait to be seated on a bed, then wait to be verified and stuck. Expect the time you are attached to a machine to be about an hour. Though this varies based on amount of plasma being donated, your veins and equipment. 30minutes to 1.5hours is the usual range.
In total you’re looking at a minimum 2 hours usually about 3 hours though.
Your first donation requiring education/explanation of diseases and process is almost guaranteed to take 4-6hours.
Drink sips of water regularly the day before and day of donating. AVOID eating fatty foods the day of donation! Too much fat in the blood can lead to a rejected sample, machine problems and an early disconnection and just $5.
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- Satrap
It really depends on the location. Also, normally the first time takes more time. Once they have you in the system, it becomes much faster on the subsequent visits. Thanks for the suggestions.
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- Coleman
It is never going to be 15 min, though. You’re going to be over an hour even if you get on a machine right away.
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- Satrap
I see what you are saying, Coleman. It was more of a expression that an exact time frame. But you are right, it would probably be closer to 30 min or so. I updated the article to reflect that. Thanks for that.
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- Pamela
No not 30 minutes. More like almost an hour or so. NEVER 30 minutes. I’ve done it a lot. We just don’t want you to be surprised. Depending on the place, if you don’t get the opportunity to make a reservation, then wait time just to get in!!!!
- Ronda
It’s never 30 minutes. At least one hour. 45 mins At least on the machine. CSL pays 100 for the first three visits. 50 for the next 3 and 100 for the next two. I donated the fourth time today.
- Shawna
This is so true. My fastest time on the machine was 40 minutes. That’s just being on the machine. You wait in line a lot plus they have to stick you and that takes time. If the center you go to is fast and efficient you are looking at about 2 hours.
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- g money
Dont bullsh*t yourself…the only reason to go to these places is a desperate need for money…and if you are stupid enough to believe you arent being cheated then you arent researching these organizations and how much they are making off your donation. They lie about your payments and will cheat you when its convenient for them. You people who believe that bullsh*t lie that these places are trying to save lives have allowed your desperate need for a few extra buckscto cloud your thinking. These people are getting rich off your lack initiative to find a better way to get a couple extra dollars in your pocket. Even the devil comes across as being your friend and looking out for your best interests
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- Satrap
I don’t deny that these companies make money off of donations. After all, operating huge centers are costly and not many of these companies are doing it for free.
And yes, I agree that there are risks involved, which is why we mentioned it in the post. Again, this is one of those “last resort” kinds of option.
- robbie
These companies make huge profits. When the donation center has a armed guard that should tell you something to. Your gonna see all kinds of people your gonna hear alll kinds of language. My center got me on a rabies vaccine program. I was susposed to get a certain ammount extra every month. After a couple of months they cut the ammount i get paid. Good way to increase profits right. They still get their product from me they still sell it and they cut their cost that equals more profit. So don’t trust any of these places the will screw you every chance they get. I’ve been danoting since the 80’s you can believe what i say.
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- Sheila Lauderman
Yes they do make money off your plasma but you do get paid. You don’t get paid for your plasma you get paid for your time and I live in Gainesville so when I go to the plasma center the very first time it took me 3 hours because there was a lot of paperwork and a lot of FDA and medical exams to do. But after the first time it only took me one and a half hours to donate and the very first time you get $60 because it takes an extra hour and a half and the second time you get $50 then the third time you get it $40 so on and so forth you usually don’t get anything less than $30 which is not bad for sitting on your ass saving somebody’s life 4 a little over an hour so stop whining. I am a nurse and I used to do this for free at the hospital for which I worked but sometimes when I needed money I would go to the clinics I know that these clinics are FDA-approved they are inspected regularly and it is just as safe as giving blood a blood bank or at a hospital. So again all in all all you do is sit in a chair watch TV or play on your computer and make about on an average $40 for an hours worth of doing nothing. Oh yeah did I say nothing? You’re saving somebody’s life because plasmapheresis and the plasma that they get is used to help save people.
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- Kathleen Dragomir
Amen! It’s supposed to be about saving lives!
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- Emmy
If they stick u no matter what happens they have to pay you. I’ve had the machine mess up and I still got the full amount.
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- Jack
We get paid and the patient still pays but understand this. THE PLASMA DONATION CENTER GETS $ 1,500 to $ 2,000 for your precious bodily life saving fluid. They make many things from it like medications ect. I can tell you we do it because we need the money. It is very humbling to go and do this and I doubt very few go because of there fellow man. The centers needed more bodies to extract these fluids from so they had to seduce us with money. They found out they could get us in there for just that little bit they give us. I guarantee if we all got together and stopped giving our extremely valuable life saving fluids until we were compensated at a reasonable and respectable level of income, it would not take very long for the business owners to make the necessary adjustments. This would absolutely get the money where it is needed and that is the people who are temporarily down on there income for many reasons. I know we are being dis-respected and looked down on as the low lives. We are nothing of the sort and we are letting them do this to us. You can come up with many reasons for why they can\’t pay us more and you can say it will raise the cost of meds ect. but you are mistaken. WHY? If we take the lower number of $1,500 per donation that the center gets paid by these laboratories for our fluids that we were paid appx. $20 to $50 and knowing that there are at times 5 or more booths open getting us processed. I know that each individual does more than 50 people in 8 hrs. Lets go with a very low 40 people processed and multiply that by a low 3 booths open for processing us. So 40 people processed from just one booth and multiply that times three booths open with employees processing donors. 3 x 40 = 120 donors at $1,500 a pint. The company we help gets 120 x $1,500 = $180,000.. That is 8 hrs. not 7am to 7pm. try 4 processing desks open for 12 hrs. at 60 people each and CSL gets $1,600 for each persons body fluids. minus the pennies we were insulted with by them they took in 240 x $1,600 = $384,000 minus our income. If we went high at $50 for each of us its 240 x $50 = $12,000 so CSL takes in $384,000 and slides us $12,000 leaving them with $372,000 to pay there employees just above minimum wage and a very reasonable overhead of rent ect. and the machines are likely paid off. you keep going boys and girls times 7 days times 52 weeks times multiple locations times multiple states and I don\’t know if they are global. I don\’t care, I have owned businesses and took care of my employees. That\’s what you are not just expected to do that is what you should want to do.
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- Satrap
Thanks for such a detailed explanation, Jack. Much appreciated.
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- Skip
Whole process 1hr 15minutes almost every time, BioLife
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- Tricia
When I looked up your links about plasma donating, I phoned a few of the places. They said it takes 2 1/2 hours the first time because they do a health screening first, then you get to go back and donate. The second time it’s 1 1/2 hours to donate plasma, which they said is typical. This is because you get your red blood cells back, they only keep your plasma, so that slows it all down some. Still it saves lives so a worth venture.
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- Satrap
Yeah, I would imagine the first time it would take that long since they do have to check everything to make sure you are qualified to donate.
But yeah, I agree with you 100%; it saves lives, so it is worth it, and you get a little extra money for it.
Thanks for sharing what you have found, Tricia.
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- katie
ya’ll r forgetting the wait to even get in the back where they stick you. everyone i have ever been at has been so packed with people. i have waited up to 5 hours and im a return donor. your best bet is to get up early and be in the line that is forming over a hour before they even open. yes free money and all, just want you to be prepared.
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- Satrap
Thanks a lot for sharing your tips, Katie.
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- John
I usually go to donate plasma in the morning and there is no line to get in the back. It usually only gets crowded on the weekends and in the afternoons when people get off of work.
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- L.
You need to read, The Twisted Business of Donating Plasma, an article in the Atlantic for a more informed view of the plasma business. It can have serious health consequences, especially for donors in the US that can donate twice weekly where in other countries donation is only allowed once every two weeks. The paid process also encourages many people desperate for the money to lie in answer to health related questions in order to donate. It really is a twisted business. I considered it and have decided to pass for now, not worth the risks. Also, it benefits big pharmaceutical companies and that doesn’t sit well with me.
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- Satrap
I respect your decision for not wanting to participate, L. But yeah, there is always risks involved and as with most other things in life it is a balancing act.
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- Desiree brannon
I was scared but it was all good no marks on my arm or anything
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- Casey
3 hours first time. 1.5-2 hours every day after.
$50 for first 5 times.
If you are over 150 lbs, it’s $40 every time.
Two times a week is $80.
That’s 75% of my rent.
Screw the consequences.
I’d rather do that than get food stamps.
I go on my days off.Reply
- Sal-e
Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me the location where they give you $50 dollars for the first 5 times for donating plasma please. I’m in need of money. I’m a single mother.
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- Kimberly Deaton
Octapharma plasma pays $50 for each of your first 5 donations with some centers paying $75 for the 1st donation and $50 for the next 4
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- Donna Kopenhaver
BPL IN largo fl is $60 for 1st 5ubtil DEC 31 2016 then 6time is $20 more then 8th is $40.
Now on the 6 the time it goes BT your weight how much you get regular plus the $ 20.
They have Specials every month.. I don’t know if its for all BPL centers in FL. CALL THEM
OH & trust me it is very cold so bring Janet etc!- Satrap
Thanks for sharing, Donna.
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- Tdub
They went up first two donation $100 and the 3rd and 4th donation $50 and 5th donation $75. They aint lying they making killing off our plasma and bad part is how expensive it is to get yo own plasma if you needed it. 🤦🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾 and whoever said they did plasma in 30mins before pandemic lying. It take 30mins just go through process. But now I can see 30mins cause you can do questionnaire on yo phone and just scan go. And if you got enough water and protein in yo body you in and out.
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- carolina flores
Csl plasma pay 50 for the first 5 donations. Regular donors get paid based on weight but almost every month they have promotions i just have 90 dollars extra for my 8 donaton of the month
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- Shawna
The CSL I go to its $825 for the first month. Then $50-$60 depending on weight and frequency of donation. That is for twice a week.
That payment started January 2021
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- Marina
Why are sooo many people writing negative comments and have to disagree. Every has a different experience and how they look at the situation. No one is wrong. If you want to donate for the cause or the money that’s your preference. $40 to $50 for an hr of donating is well worth it considering its extra money do didnt have to work very hard to get. Anytime you donate whether its first time or frequently expect to be there for a while. My first time i was in there for about 2 and a half hours. Not that i go often its more like an hour on a good day. Yeah there are risks obviously this is your body anything can go wrong.
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- Satrap
I agree 100%, Marina. Everyone has a different situation and needs. So just because it doesn’t work for one person, it doesn’t mean it won’t work for no one else.
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- Cookie
I donate at grifolis and have always been treated well and with dignity. Yes it’s for money but has the perk of helping someone else. So it’s a win win for everyone and at this point I’m great full for the little things
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- Satrap
I totally agree. There is nothing wrong with getting paid for donating plasma.
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- robbie
Gmoney is right. I’ve been donating for several years. I’m on a special program at my center. It’s a rabies vaccine the first couple of months they paid me what they said then they cut my extra money from my first donation of the week. No explanation nothing. They still get my plasma they save 20.00 a month on what we agreed to multiply that be thaousands and you can see over a year how much profit they can make. The time this person tries to sell you is bullsh*t. There is no plasma machine that will get your donation done in 15 minutes about 35 is the fastest i’ve seen. You still have to register and get screened then wait to get stuck. Aplace i used to go i never got out in less than two hours. I went there for about 4 years because it was near my work. There were times when i got there at five and didn’t get paid until 9. I have laid on the couch for 20 minutes waiting to be unhooked from the machine. About three months ago i saw a woman pull the needle out of her arm grab a bandage and walk out cussing she had been waiting while the attendants bullsh*ted. I’ve seen fights at these places people wacked out on meth people that are drunk. I don’t live in a big city either.
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- Jacob Walch
But how much do these companies sell the plasma for? You may get paid $50 but how much do they sell it for to these pharmaceutical companies?
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- Satrap
I’m not sure to be honest. But does that really matter? I mean, there are a lot of things we sell and buy that the original buyers and sellers pay much more for. Not to mention that even though the hospitals and centers may sell the plasma for more than they pay you, they also have to cover the cost of running their whole operation.
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- carolina flores
They really don’t pay for your plasma. They give you a compensation for DONATING… a big difference.
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- Satrap
You are absolutely correct, Carolina. But at the end of the day they are paying you for the plasma in the blood you donated.
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- Red
Actually it is a gift
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- Blair
Yeah they get a lot of money to sell our plasma to big pharma companies but that money is paying for all the centers employees salaries and machines and supplies. It’s all on the up and up if you ask me. Don’t complain about getting paid for a choice you made in donating plasma lol that’s just an oxymoron.
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- Kim Ambrose
It is not donating if we are getting paid. I supplemented my income with this SALE of my bioproducts in school and the euphemism always rang false to me, especially when most companies were extracting more plasma for the same payment from people over a certain weight. Thanks for the tip about the Atlantic article. .. I will bring it along for something to read the next time financial necessity demands I sell my body for money.
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- K.
I used to always wonder why thy would call it donating but then pay you. You are essentially selling you’re blood. But the way they get around the legality and how they justify barely paying a fraction of the price it’s worth is the word donation. Technically you are donating the plasma, but you’re getting payed for the time you sat in their store. It’s a very fine line they walk.
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- Amber
I’ve been donating for 2 years and I have never had any problems or complications. My boyfriend and I go twice a week which is almost $200 extra dollars a week! It’s pretty nice to have the extra cash after we are broke from paying all of our bills! Plus we are helping make life saving medicines. Don’t talk sh*t on it because you never know when someone you love could be saved with plasma. Just think, it wouldn’t be possible if some of us didn’t “waste our time” to give something from ourselves to save an unknown person.
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- Satrap
100% agree with you, Amber. It does save lives. And there is nothing wrong with getting paid for it. It’s not like you are holding a sick person hostage saying if you don’t pay me, I won’t give you my blood. These places are offering cash incentive. There are plenty of free places for blood donation as well that anyone can use. Either way, it’s a win win.
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- Celia
Grifols in FL pays $50 for your first 5 donations and then after that, the first time you donate for the week you get $25 and the second time for that week you get $40 ( sometimes they will give a additional $10 bonus on the second donation of the week) Make sure you have 3 to 5 hours to spare because you will most certainly need it. CSL is the lowest paying place here in Fl. They give you $50 for your first 3 donations, then $18 for the first donation of the week and $22 for the second donation which most of it gets eatten up by card fees smh
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- Satrap
Thank you for taking time to share what you know, Celia.
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- •lom@h@ptew@•
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Therefore my opinion in that matter is this; I’ve been donating CSL Plasma Center since 2007. And I’ve never had any complaints with any of the staff. And I’m going to continue donating at CSL Plasma Center.
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- Kimberly Deaton
I donate 6 months on 6 months off which gives my body a break in between and also gives me the advantage of getting the new donor amounts once per year.
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- Satrap
Sounds like a good strategy, Kimberly. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe.
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- v
I have been donating plasma for years, I go twice a week. I donate at CSL and have always been treated with respect. The CSL I go to pays $50 for your first 5 donations, then they go by yoiry weight, which determines the amount you can donate. I donate the 880 which is the most you can donate. I am paid $20 for my first of the week and $40 for the second. Plus there are usually monthly bonuses, which varie each month. As for the length of time it takes that depends alot on you, how much water you drink and what you are the day before. The more hydrated you are the quicker you donate and stay away from cheese, and fatty foods. These things all factor into the time it takes to donate. I usually on a typical donation day figure 2 hrs, 45 minutes for intake,then 35-40 minutes after I am hooked up, then 10 minutes to finish up, sometimes it takes less time sometimes a little longer. I started because a family member was severly burned and I learned that others plasma was helping to heal him, so I wanted to give back. Yes the money helps. But so does knowing I am helping others.
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- Satrap
Thanks for sharing your experience, V.
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- Rose Marie Buchert
Talecris (Grifols) in Rockford, IL pays $50 for the first 3 or 4 donations. After that, the 1st donation is $20 and 2nd donation is $30. Once in a while they’ll have a bonus which varies. Make sure u have a lot of time–they r so unorganized there have been times when I was there for 6 hours. Best bet–if u drive, go to CSL in Beloit, WI. New donors get $50 for the first 4 or 5 donations. After that, it’s $20 the first donation and $25, $40 or $45 the second donation depending on your weight. They always have bonuses each month. This months bonus was $90 for the 7th donation of the month. Its worth it and this center is quick.
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- Satrap
Thanks, Rose Marie!
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- Cyndi
Are there usually fees the donor pays with those prepaid cards?
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- Satrap
I don’t believe so.
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- Lulu
Just seems weird that they only pay between $40-60 dollars. In 1981 they paid $50. What gives? And, I read of the importance and value of RH negative blood.
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- Scott
Reading the truth just made me sick to my stomach.
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- Iwillpassmouthdrugtest
I’m on my way to donate only bcuz it’s a court order, court offers option of plasma donation to cover drug diversion program fee here in Tucson Arizona. I’ll update on the experience when I return I’m either going to CSL or Bio Life
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- Emma Torrento
Ok. So if you want to rant and be angry, then DON’T DONATE YOUR PLASMA!
You see, the key word here is DONATE.
As someone else expertly pointed out, you are donating plasma. The payment is for your time.
I go to BioLife and get $20 for my first donation of the week and $50 for the second. The more frequently you go, the more potential you have to earn. (Awards and special coupons are sent per person.)
When the lines are low it takes me an hour. When it’s busy and we have to social distance it takes close to two hours.
Is the money worth it to sit (or stand in line) to read a book and help others? DEFINITELY!
My mom and my little sister (age 9) both benefit from my plasma donation because of their autoimmune diseases.
So no, it is not just for the poor. (Sometimes it’s nice to have extra spending money or extra to put into savings!)
No, we are not being tricked and taken advantage of! Heavens!Thank you for the article! Hopefully those wanting to donate plasma will male the jump and do it!
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- Jane Doe
Aren’t there certain health benefits for the donor ? Like maybe producing more new blood which is recommended for optimum health- or does that not happen when donating plasma?
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- Lauren
Wow. Lots of complaints here on how big pharma is profiting off of you, and how you are being ripped off with how low you are getting paid. Keep in mind that it’s a DONATION and there are plenty of people donating their blood and platelets for free just to help someone in need, and that’s much more taxing to the body. Also, it is a business. They have overhead, staff on payroll, equipment, testing and processing to do, and that all costs money.
I’m not complaining. In my opinion, donating plasma is one of the easiest ways to make cash, and per hour has been higher paid than just about any job I’ve had, and all you have to do is sit there. I have even had some bad experiences, but I will still go back. Twice, I went into tetany in my arm because the anticoagulant robs calcium from your blood, and prevents nerves from firing. Now I make sure to take Tums before I go in every time, and drink plenty of water and electrolytes and don’t have problems.
This happened when I donated during my period, so I highly recommend not going during this time. I also had a random SPE test during this time, which was unfortunate, and I ended up being deferred for 2 weeks due to low protein. If you go twice a week EVERY week, continuously, you may end up feeling weak and failing protein tests, so take a break from it once in awhile to recover.
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- Lauren
Also, to concur with the others, it has never once taken less than an hour for a donation. A typical donation for me was 30 mins just to get in the chair, and another hour after that hooked up to the machine (maybe 45 min if I was having a good day and really well hydrated). Sometimes I have had to wait 10-15 mins in the chair just for a phlebotomist to acknowledge me and hook me up. Covid made things take even longer, and several times just the wait took over an hour (with an appt).
The first visit I was there for 4-5 hours, so definitely be prepared to not have plans right after, because you can really get held up on the first visit. They had all sorts of problems with me in their system, because I had previously donated at another one of there locations 10+ years ago, and apparently that was really challenging for them to handle for some reason.
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