What Are Paid Clinical Trials?

A paid clinical trial is a research study that offers participants compensation for their time, travel, and commitment. Like all clinical trials, these studies are designed to answer critical questions about new medications, devices, or procedures. The only difference is that participants also receive payment in recognition of the effort and potential risks involved, beyond reimbursement for actual expenses.

These payments are not tied to the study's results. Even if organizers or sponsors were to end the study early or due to the item not producing the desired effects, you'd still get paid. These payments are also not tied to the level of risk you're taking on. All clinical trials carry some risk, which will be fully explained to you before you participate.

As a participant, your payments may require tasks and certain documentation such as:

• Keeping a symptoms diary
• Staying at a clinic or hospital for overnight observations
• Travel to a lab or clinic to provide samples

How Are Paid Studies Regulated?

Oversight comes from agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), which review both the safety of the study and the fairness of participant compensation. This ensures that payment is never so high that it becomes an unethical incentive, but always enough to recognize the value of participants’ contributions to science. (1)

Why Participate in a Paid Clinical Trial?

People join paid clinical trials for many reasons, and money is only one part of the decision. For some, volunteering is a way to help advance medical science and contribute to treatments that may benefit thousands of patients in the future. For others, participation offers information and possible access to investigational therapies if prior treatments haven't worked for them.

You may gain no-cost access to study related medications, treatments, scans, blood tests, and even stays in the hospital that you might have had to pay for otherwise. You'll also have access to researchers who will want to check in with you to see how you're doing much more frequently than your primary provider may inquire.

These study-related healthcare services are covered by the trial sponsor. This means you won’t have to pay out of pocket. For patients living with certain medical conditions, additional testing and attention can be a meaningful advantage — especially when it's at no extra cost.

With that said, studies generally need healthy volunteers, too! Some healthy people join because they have a loved one with a condition and want to help however they can. So, whether you consider yourself healthy or are living with a specific illness, you can help move science forward.

How Much Do Clinical Trials Pay?

Let's dig into the big question: how much can I make in a clinical trial? The amount depends on:

• Study design
• Time required
• Type of procedures involved

While some trials may only offer a small stipend of $100 or so, others — especially early-phase studies — may provide thousands of dollars.

In addition to general compensation, you may also receive additional per-item compensation for things like:

• Phone or video call check-ins
• In-person visits with investigators
• Blood work, imaging, or other tests
• Logging symptoms or keeping a patient diary
• Length of time spent in the study

According to a 2025 report, the median payment for Phase 1 studies was about $3,070, with a wide range from $150 to $13,000. Later-phase studies often pay less and often involve people with a specific condition. But they can still provide hundreds or even a few thousand dollars, depending on the requirements.2

Which Clinical Trials Pay the Most?

Trials that ask for minimal effort, such as answering survey questions or providing a saliva sample, pay the least. You're not giving much of your time, comfort, etc.

Studies that involve more complex commitments, like overnight hospital stays or multiple rounds of testing, tend to pay more.

Can I Make a Living as a Clinical Trial Participant?

While compensation can be a nice perk, it's important to mention that these studies aren't a big money-making opportunity. Even regular participants are unlikely to pocket more than $10,000 after expenses. If you do have extra time on your hands, this is certainly a way to earn a little extra money if you meet certain conditions. But it's not going to replace your day job.

Who Can Get Paid for Participating in Clinical Trials and Research Studies?

Not everyone is eligible for every study. But many people can qualify for paid participation depending on the trial’s purpose and criteria. Here's a closer look at the types of people clinical trials are often looking for. You'll want to consider which of these categories you might fall into. It will help you find the right paid clinical trials and studies for you.

Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are critical for Phase I research as well as vaccine trials. While Phase I trials are often time-consuming and can require longer stays in a clinic, vaccinated trials (such as yearly flu shots) require large numbers of participants and recruit healthy patients every year.

People Living With a Specific Condition

Later-phase trials typically need participants with the disease or condition being studied. You may get a lot of free testing, care, and consultation as well as compensation for your expenses.

Your compensation may also be lower in these phases. But it's still comparable to the amount of time and effort you'll need to put into the study. These studies may have hundreds or thousands of participants.

People Who Struggle to Manage Their Condition

Often, the clinical trials available to those with a specific condition state that the condition must not be well-managed with existing FDA-approved treatments. This is because they want to potentially show that their treatment can help people when other treatment options cannot.

Special Groups

Most clinical trials will be looking for people between 18 and around 65. This is a large enough age range to understand how an intervention affects people across age groups without putting people at increased risk for those who may have additional vulnerabilities.

Some studies focus on particular age groups (children, older adults) or populations with specific risk factors. So, they may be specific. You should always look at the study inclusion criteria to see who they need for the study. Also, look at any exclusion criteria, referring to people who could be kept out of a study to ensure reliable results.

Do I Get Paid if I'm Excluded from a Study?

Regardless of which group you think you might fall into, know that all participants will go through screening early in the process to ensure they meet the criteria needed for that role. While the compensation structure varies by study, some trials may pay for your time, effort, and expenses up to the screening even if you are eventually excluded.

Footnotes

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Payment and Reimbursement to Research Subjects: Guidance for Institutional Review Boards and Clinical Investigators. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/payment-and-reimbursement-research-subjects U.S. Food and Drug Administration
2. Nielsen, Eric Mago. Paid Research Studies: How to Join and What You Can Earn (Patiro, April 15, 2025). Retrieved from https://www.patiro.com/insights/paid-research-studies-how-to-join-and-what-you-can-earn
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report / Data & Research. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data-research/index.html