Have you ever considered donating plasma to make money? You may have come to the conclusion that it’s not a realistic way to add another income stream to your budget. However, plasma donation is actually a viable way to earn extra cash.
I made $400 per month selling plasma when I was paying off debt. That was cash I could use to kill my debt faster and improve my financial health.
If you want to make money donating plasma, this guide will help you decide if it’s right for you. You can also read our other popular articles if you want different ways to make money.
Table of Contents
What is Plasma?
Blood plasma is the clear, straw-colored liquid portion of your blood. It includes:
1. Water
2. Enzymes
3. Proteins
4. Antibodies
Plasma is nearly 90 percent water, according to WebMD.
Once removed, your plasma is used to create products that help individuals with blood clotting disorders and other diseases. The process to donate plasma is a bit more involved than giving blood, so most donation centers pay for your donation.
Who is Eligible to Donate?
It’s important to find out if you are qualified to donate plasma before you head to a donation center. The standard requirements mandate that you:
- Be between the ages of 18 and 69
- Weigh at least 110 pounds
- Be free of certain infectious diseases
- Not be pregnant
- Have adequate blood and hemoglobin levels
- Have a legal government ID or Social Security card to prove you’re a citizen
Your state may have different requirements for giving plasma. These could include not having visited certain countries within a specified time period and more.
You have to be a healthy adult to donate. Since you go through the screening process each time you want to give, always remember to be careful with what you eat, drink, or do beforehand.
For example, drinking ice-cold water may lower your internal temperature. This might make you ineligible that day. Or, if your iron tests a little low before donating, the donation center has the right to turn you away.
Can You Donate Plasma After Having COVID-19?
Yes, you can donate plasma after recovering from COVID-19. Both the FDA and Red Cross have published guidance for the process.
If you test negative and have been symptom-free for 14 days, you can pursue convalescent plasma donation. COVID-19 is a new virus, so you never know how your donation could help studies and heal people.
How Much Can You Make Donating Plasma?
There is no set amount of money you can earn through plasma donation. You can expect to earn between $20 and $50 per donation. The amount you receive depends on several factors, including:
- Your weight
- The amount you donate
- How often you donate
- The plasma donation center you choose
You’ll likely get paid more for your first donation because it takes a little extra time. Additionally, you can expect to receive more if you weigh more because the FDA allows you to donate more if you weigh more. The ranges are:
- 110 – 149 pounds
- 150 – 174 pounds
- 175 – 400 pounds
Some donation centers will offer a first-time visitor bonus. Others offer more if you’re a regular visitor. You could earn at least $400 per month if you’re in a higher weight range and donate several times each week.
I earned $300 to $400 per month when I donated plasma. My earnings went to paying off debt.
Many centers pay you in prepaid debit cards. While selling plasma for money is taxable, most centers will not provide you with a 1099. As a result, it’s important to keep track of what you earn each time you make money donating plasma.
How to Find A Plasma Donation Center
Donation centers are self-managed, but the FDA inspects and regulates them for compliance purposes. When looking to donate plasma, you only want to select centers that are FDA-approved.
You can do an internet search for “plasma donation centers near me” to find local options. Here are the most popular businesses that likely have a center near you.
Biolife
- Locations: AZ, AR, CO, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
- Payment per donation: up to $50
BPL Plasma
- Locations: AR, AZ, CO, FL, IL, KY, ME, MN, MO, NC, NM, OH, OK, TX
- Payment per donation: up to $50
CSL Plasma
- Locations: AL, AZ, CO, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, WA, WV, WI
- Payment per donation: up to $50
Grifols
- Locations: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, NC, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI
- Payment per donation: up to $25
KEDPlasma
- Locations: AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, NE, NY, OH, PA, SC, TX,
- Payment per donation: up to $50
Octapharm
- Locations: AL, AR, CA, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NV, OH, OK, SC, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI
- Payment per donation: up to $50
If you’re unable to find a plasma donation center near you, DonatingPlasma.org is a good resource to identify where to sell plasma. It offers education and a search tool to find nearby centers that have been approved by the FDA.
What Should You Bring?
You don’t need a lot to donate. Most centers require just three things. These include:
- A valid photo ID
- Proof of address, such as a bank statement or utility bill
- Proof of your Social Security Number
Your name must match on all of the documents. If you meet the qualifications and can provide the above documentation, you can start donating.
How to Donate Plasma
You need to follow a few steps to donate plasma. Those are:
- Hydrate
- Eat healthy
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol
Proper hydration is critical when selling plasma. You will want to pair this with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Also, make sure to avoid fatty foods.
It’s important to also follow these steps after you donate to ensure hydration and nutrition.
Most centers will have paperwork for you to complete. Additionally, they will ask questions you must answer verbally. Each center operates differently, so call beforehand to see if you need an appointment.
How Long Does it Take?
It takes about an hour to donate plasma. If you’re larger, it will take a little longer since you’ll have more to donate.
Expect your first visit to take approximately two hours because you will have extra paperwork to complete.
Most centers have TVs and magazines for you to entertain yourself during your visit. Many also offer Wi-Fi.
Even if your donation time approaches two hours, receiving $50 total works out to $25 per hour. That’s not too shabby!
Better yet, you can double up and take paid surveys on Survey Junkie to further monetize your time while you donate. The site pays between $1 and $3 per completed survey.
Consult our guide on how to make money in one hour to identify other quick ways to earn cash.
How Often Can You Donate Plasma?
Each plasma donation center operates differently, but expect to be limited to two donations per seven-day interval. You must also have at least one day in between donations.
Ask the center what they allow. With bonuses, it’s possible to earn up to $400 per month. This is pretty good for a relatively passive side hustle.
What Are the Benefits?
The top benefit of donating plasma is knowing that you’re helping someone who needs it. By donating, you are increasing the chance of someone’s life being saved.
Helping someone in need isn’t the only perk. Other benefits include:
- You can donate plasma for free
- Flexible donation times
- You can make money, often weekly
- It takes less than two hours
- You can work on other side hustles while donating
- It encourages you to pursue other healthy habits
For most, donating plasma for money is an easy and flexible way to earn extra cash.
What Are the Risks of Donating?
It is generally safe to donate plasma. However, some people can experience side effects.
Here are some of the common side effects of donating plasma:
- Tenderness or bruising at the needle injection spot
- Dizziness since fluids are being removed
Other side effects can occur as well. A more severe reaction some people experience is shortness of breath. If you have any concerns, consult with your physician before trying to earn money donating plasma.
A non-medical risk is the donation center can turn you away at any point. If they have no need or determine you’re not qualified, you will lose out.
Is Donating Plasma Ethical?
This was something I was asked when I was selling blood plasma. The answer is yes, it is ethical.
It’s your time and it’s your blood. You can do whatever you wish with both.
If you’re ok with needles and you want to help someone else, you’re good to go.
Summary
Many people believe you need special skills to make money on the side. Plasma donation is proof that’s not the case.
You only need a few hours per week to make money donating plasma. It’s also possible to work on other side hustles while donating.
Not only can you earn several hundred dollars per month, but you can also help people in need. That’s a win-win!
What is the oddest thing you’ve done to make money on the side?
Kim Suazo has been a freelance writer and business owner for over four years. When she's not writing for Frugal Rules, you can find her on other publications like Chime, Discovery, and Due. She also owns her own websites The Entrepremomer and Part-Time Profit, where she teaches overworked moms how to streamline their new businesses so they can scale without a team.
Have you been a plasma donor? For how long? To say that there are no long term side effects of donating is to show that you haven’t done your research or talked to people who have been doing it regularly for years.
I have been a twice a week donor for 10 months, and within 2 or 3 weeks of the process I became EXHAUSTED all of the time. Replenishing plasma is a tiring process for your body. I started having protein shakes daily (an added expense) and it helped significantly, but I’m never at 100%. I have also developed a scar at the puncture site that makes donating take more time than it used to.
I’ve listened to other people’s stories online about this who have been doing it for longer than I have and discovered that I am far from the only person this has happened to. I have a choice to continue donating and accept the consequences or not, I choose to accept them because the $330/month I make for 8 donations a month is emotionally difficult to let go of. But to write an article that doesn’t mention these side effects and the toll it can take on the rest of your life (being tired at work, decreased performance, extra hours on your weekends devoted to sleeping, etc) is an incomplete article.
We’re sorry to hear about your experience Katherine. That said, yes, I personally donated plasma for at least 9-12 months back when I was paying off debt. I personally did not experience any of these side effects you’re speaking about, nor did I develop any scars from it. We did do proper research on this article, as we do all our articles. Most other articles online do not mention any side effects and speak of the safety/legitimacy of donating plasma. Each situation is different and most centers go over things to look out for prior to you donating so you can make an informed decision if you see something.