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Laura Grace Tarpley
- People often write off donating plasma as a side hustle for college kids, but my husband and I think the extra money can be worth it.
- It doesn't take a lot of extra effort, and your plasma is used to help people in medical emergencies.
- We earned $1,500 in a month and put it toward 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 along the lines of, "I thought only college kids did that."
After having this conversation a few times, I realized many were under the impression that donating didn't pay enough to be worth the time of adults who already had full-time jobs. But they are always taken aback when I tell them how much my husband and I have earned from giving plasma. In fact, together we made more than $1,500 in our first month of donating.
How donating plasma works
Donating plasma isn't the same thing as donating blood. Plasma is one part (a large, crucial part) of your blood, along with red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and it sends nutrients and hormones throughout your body.
When you donate plasma, a phlebotomist puts a needle in your arm and draws blood into a machine. The machine sorts the plasma from the rest of your blood, keeps the plasma, then returns the other elements to your body. The plasma is used for therapies and treatments for issues like autoimmune disorders and hemophilia (a bleeding disorder that keeps blood from clotting the way it should).
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. From the time the needle goes into your arm, though, donating only takes about 45 minutes. After the first time, donation could take as little as an hour if there isn't a long line — and you don't need an appointment.
Each visit, an employee does a health check to make sure your blood pressure and hydration, iron, and protein levels are strong enough for you to safely give that day. If you pass the health check, you walk into a large room with lines 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 for staying safe is probably this: Don't donate more often than you're allowed. If the plasma center says you can only give plasma twice per week, don't sneak away to a different company to donate on your off days. It's dangerous for your health, and it could even have a negative effect on the plasma that you donate.
How to earn money donating plasma
Donating plasma can be a relatively low-effort side gig. 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 would probably do at home, anyway.
The exact payment structure for donors depends on the company and location, but there's a common theme: You earn a higher amount for your first several donations, then the amount goes down.
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 so within the first 45 days. The exception was the second time, when we earned $125. (The first visit takes a long time, so I'm guessing they pay more for the second donation to entice you back after that lengthy first time.) We can give up to twice per week, but some centers don't let you give that 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 visit, while I would only earn $40 to $45 each time. (This isn't the case at every center, though — we donated at a different center a few months later, and they pay the same amount for each person.)
I made six donations in the initial 45-day mark, but I didn't make it a seventh or eighth time for that extra $200. The center was short staffed as workers 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 reach two big 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 isn't tied to a checking account. After setting up the card with a PIN, you can use it like any other debit card.
My husband used his prepaid debt card to buy a new cell phone online. It was time — his old phone would shut down for hours at a time. We were grateful that 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 toward saving for a car. This was trickier, because we couldn't transfer money from our prepaid debit cards into our savings account.
So, here's what I did. When I got home from donating, I signed into online banking and immediately transferred $100 from checking into savings. Then I used the $100 on my prepaid card the same way I would normally use my regular debit card tied to my checking account — I'd buy groceries, fill up the gas tank, or shop online.
My husband and I finally bought a car, and it was a huge 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 stringent about it now. It all depends on our schedules, energy levels, and whether donating conflicts with our other side gigs.
Donating plasma: Frequently asked questions
What makes you ineligible to donate plasma?
You cannot donate plasma if you're under age 18. 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're eligible.
How much money can you earn by 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 go down.
What are the side effects of donating plasma?
Each person reacts to donating plasma differently. Your arm might bruise where the needle goes in. You could feel lightheaded or dizzy. By the end of donating, I often felt cold, hungry, and tired. It can be a good idea to drink water and eat food afterward.