Affiliate links to the products on this page are from partners who compensate us and the terms apply to the offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate banking products to write unbiased product reviews.
- People often write off donating plasma as an extra hustle for college kids, but my husband and I think the extra money can be worth it.
- It doesn’t take much extra effort and your plasma is used to help people in medical emergencies.
- We made $1,500 in one month and used it for a new phone and a bigger down payment on a car.
When I tell family and friends that I donate plasma, their response is usually something along the lines of, “I thought only college kids did that.”
After having this conversation a few times, I realized that many were under the impression that donating didn’t pay enough to be worth the time for adults who already had full-time jobs. But they are always taken aback when I tell them how much my husband and I have made from donating plasma. In fact, we collectively earned more than $1,500 in our first month of donating.
Overview of plasma donation
Donating plasma is not the same as donating blood. Plasma is part (a big, crucial part) of your blood, along with red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and it carries nutrients and hormones throughout your body.
When you donate plasma, a phlebotomist inserts a needle into your arm and draws blood into a machine. The machine sorts the plasma from the rest of your blood, keeps the plasma, and then returns the other elements to your body. The plasma is used for therapies and treatments for problems such as autoimmune disorders and hemophilia (a bleeding disorder that prevents the blood from clotting properly).
Steps to donate plasma
The first time I donated was a longer process than any other time. It took about two and a half hours because I had to create an account and watch safety videos. However, from the time the needle goes into your arm, it only takes about 45 minutes to donate. After the first time, donating can take as little as an hour if there isn’t a long queue – and you don’t need an appointment.
Each visit, a staff member performs a health check to ensure your blood pressure and hydration, iron and protein levels are strong enough for you to safely give for the day. If you pass the health check, you go into a large room with rows of chairs that are like a hospital bed mixed with a recliner, and a phlebotomist hooks you up to the machine.
The most important tip to stay safe is probably this: Don’t donate more often than you’re allowed to. If the plasma center says you can only give plasma twice a week, don’t sneak off to another company to donate on your days off. It is dangerous to your health and it can even have a negative effect on the plasma you donate.
How to make money by donating plasma
Donating plasma can be a relatively low effort. That’s what sold us on the idea – our friends told us they give plasma and read books or watch movies on their phones, which are things they’d probably be doing at home anyway.
The exact payment structure for donors depends on the company and location, but there is a common theme: you earn a higher amount for your first several donations, then the amount decreases.
At the plasma donation center closest to our home, we would earn $100 per visit the first eight times we donated as long as we did it within the first 45 days. The exception was the second time we made $125. (The first visit takes a long time, so I guess they charge more for the second donation to lure you back after the long first time.) We can donate up to twice a week, but some centers won’t let you donate it often.
After that, our earnings decreased depending on our weight; the more someone weighs, the more they earn, presumably because you can usually give more plasma. For example, my husband passed his eight-donation mark and started making $50 to $60 per donation. visit while I would only make $40 to $45 each time. (However, this is not the case at every center – we donated at another center a few months later and they pay the same amount for each person.)
I made six donations in the first 45 days, but I didn’t make it a seventh or eighth time for the extra $200. The center was short staffed as workers were quarantined due to COVID-19, so wait times were longer during my fifth and sixth visits. I got hungry and dehydrated and I passed out both times. I decided to take a break until I felt comfortable donating again.
We used the money to achieve two major savings goals
Every donation center is different, but the company we used pays you by loading money onto a prepaid debit card, which is similar to a regular debit card, except it’s not linked to a checking account. After setting up the card with a PIN code, you can use it like any other payment card.
My husband used his prepaid debit card to buy a new cell phone online. It was about time – his old phone shut down for hours at a time. We were thankful we had the money to replace it without dipping into our emergency fund or using a credit card.
After buying the phone, we put the money towards saving for a car. This was more difficult because we couldn’t transfer money from our prepaid debit card to our savings account.
So here is what I did. When I got home from donating, I logged into online banking and immediately transferred $100 from checking into savings. Then I spent the $100 on my prepaid card the same way I would normally use my regular debit card linked to my checking account — I would buy groceries, fill up the gas tank, or shop online.
My husband and I finally bought a car and it was such a relief to have an extra $1,000 for the down payment thanks to donating plasma. We still donate plasma from time to time, but we are less strict about it now. It all depends on our schedules, energy levels and if donation conflicts with our other side gigs.
This article was originally published in March 2023.
Frequently asked questions about donating plasma
Most donation centers pay a higher amount for your first eight visits or so, but the exact amount depends on where you live and which company you use. After your first several donations, the amount you earn will decrease.
Up to twice a week with at least 48 hours between donation sessions.
Each person reacts differently to donating plasma. Your arm may bruise where the needle goes in. You may feel lightheaded or dizzy. By the end of the donation, I often felt cold, hungry and tired. It may be a good idea to drink water and eat food afterwards.
You cannot donate plasma if you are under 18 years of age. If you fall into a certain category – for example, you have a disability or are a sex worker – contact your local center to see if you are eligible.
