I Donated Plasma as a Side Hustle
If you’ve ever seen ad and that you can get paid to donate plasma, this is a legitimate way to make money!
When I have compiled a list of the most epic side hustle options, donating plasma is one of the most unique side hustles I have ever tried.
Here’s what you need to know before diving into it.

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What is plasma?
Plasma is the liquid portion of blood and is made up of proteins. It’s an essential part of us to function normally, and makes up about 55% of our blood (plus, it’s almost 92% water).
It’s a requirement for our bodies to be able to heal, remove waste from cells, and help fight off infections! Plasma also regenerates quickly, which is why people can donate often.
Why is it so important to donate plasma if you can? Well, simply put, plasma can’t be replicated in labs.
Because it’s so important for bodily functions, donations aid people who need them most. This includes patients who have severe trauma or disorders that make creating their own plasma harder.
Quick note: If you have type AB blood, your plasma is most in demand!
This is because type AB blood has “universal plasma”, which means anyone in need of a donation can accept this blood type.
While any blood type can donate, type AB blood is most needed. Why not do a great thing and get paid for it?
Who can donate? Who can’t?
Before we dive in to what you can expect when donating plasma, I do think it’s important to let you know about the eligibility requirements that you need to meet.
In order to donate plasma in the United States, you need to:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a minimum 110 pounds
- Have a social security card or legal government ID to prove your citizenship
- Complete a medical history screening
- Be able to pass a medical examination
- Test negative for diseases (including HIV and Hepatitis)
There are other requirements that may vary from donation center to donation center too. For example, some won’t accept you if you’ve had a tattoo or piercing in recent months.
Others may decline you if you have higher blood pressure, diabetes, or were pregnant recently. But of course, this depends on the center, and some are stricter than others. If you fit the eligibility requirements above, it’s always worth a try.
How To Donate Plasma + Steps
Now that you know what plasma is and how you can qualify to start donating, let’s talk about how to actually do so!
The initial appointment
If you are unsure if there is a plasma center near you, do a quick google search or check out CSL Plasma.
Call and make an appointment over the phone. Most plasma centers are open 6 days a week. My center was open from 6 am to 8 pm during the workweek and half a day on Saturdays.
Your first appointment will take around 2-3 hours. During this time you’ll go through a quick health screening to make sure you’re healthy enough to donate plasma.
This screening will include checking your vital signs (like temperature, blood pressure, etc), and seeing if you can handle the needle used to extract plasma.
Once you complete the screening and physical, you’ll be set up on a plasmapheresis machine.
This is what collects the blood from your arm, separates out the plasma, and returns your remaining blood to your body.
You’re also usually given saline via an IV. While your first visit can take up to three hours, this process itself only takes about 60 minutes.
Then you’ll stay seated for that extra 15 minutes or so, and spend that time rehydrating (and/or grabbing a snack) before you head out.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to just sit there while doing this! Many people bring some work to do, read or study, play games on their phones, or even watch a movie and/or listen to music.
Your hands and arms will be free for the most part, so you can find things to do to fill the time while you wait for your donation to be complete.
Scheduling future appointments
Once you have completed your 1st donation, you are now able to schedule all your future appointments!
This means you can donate two times a week with a 48 hour resting period between appointments. This resting period is important because you’re body needs time to recover!
Most centers book appointments via telephone or online. I found it easier to book online.
Once I did, I was able to log on and view the calendar, which listed all the available appointments. I could even book my appointments up to one month in advance.
Most appointments took me 45 minutes to 1 hour. I liked to book mine first thing in the morning or at the end of day, as these were the slower times.
Donating plasma is a lot like donating blood
Before donating, a nurse will check your blood pressure, your temperature and prick your finger to make sure everything looks normal. Once everything is clear, the nurse will start the process.
The actual donation time depended on how fast your body produced the plasma. If you drink a ton of water, you were much more likely to finish faster than someone who came in hungover and dehydrated.
What happens after donating?
After you finish donating, it’s recommended that you rest for around 15 minutes.
The nurses also advised against lifting anything heavy for the remainder of the day. Your sugar levels might be low as well, so many facilities will provide juice and cookies to get your levels back to normal.
What kind of people donate plasma?
All kinds of people! The plasma center I went to was in a really nice area . There was a mix of professionals, students, retirees and just regular people.
I will say that there was another plasma center I look into and it attracted a really rough crowd. I felt extremely out of place and very uncomfortable, and I also didn’t like the facility itself.
Make sure you do your homework first and are comfortable with your environment.
How much money can I make donating plasma?
Donating plasma is fairly low-effort, but the pay can be lucrative if you can handle going twice a week.
While the payment structure for plasma donors depends on the company and location, you can earn bonuses and extras when you first sign up, and also when you refer people.
When I tried this side hustle, (over a decade ago) my pay schedule rotated, with one visit earning $35 and the next visit earning $20.
But now, most centers advertise that a person can earn $500 or more a month! Not bad.
Many new people who donate plasma report earnings of $100-$150 their first few visits, and $50-$125 every visit after that.
And again, some centers will also pay you a bonus if you complete a certain amount of donations in a specific time frame.
For example, I came across a donation center that would pay an additional $250 if you could complete all eight visits in a 30-day span.
If you have multiple centers near you, don’t be afraid to find one that pays a higher amount. And remember, you can also move around! If your earnings start dipping at one, try another.
This is a side hustle! How do I get paid?
Different plasma centers pay differently.
Some facilities pay in cash. The facility I went to gave each person a prepaid Visa card on the 1st visit.
After each donation, a technician loaded payment onto the card, making the funds available immediately.
Why did I personally stop donating plasma?
This was a tough side hustle for me! I donated plasma a couple of different times.
I was never able to go twice a week, because my body had a hard time recovering afterwards and I was tired for most of the day.
The main reason I stopped donating plasma was because I fainted on 2 separate occasions. This was just too extreme for me and not worth the money!
However, if you can handle doing it, so many people have noted how lucrative it is, especially considering the fact that you mainly just have to sit there.
This will all depend on your body and its needs, but some people have donated for years and love it! So I always suggest trying it out and seeing if it works for you.
*If you have a side hustle story you would like to share on this blog, please contact me at [email protected]m
Hello,
Yes, donating plasma could really be an easy part time job if you donate faithfully and regularly. Where I’m from, if you donate twice a week, monthly allowance is somewhere between $400-$550. I think it’s worth it, if you drink lots of water and eat a hefty meal, and also pump your hand the same reps as your heartbeat, the process will take 20-35mins.
That’s great information to share about donating plasma, thanks!
I actually donate twice a week most weeks and make awesome money! With the current coupons I’m using at Biolife Plasma, I’m making $400 this month! I find that donating plasma actually has helped me to be more conscientious of how much water I’m drinking and what I’m eating around and especially before my appointments. It’s soooo crucial that you drink enough water, but when I do, I find that it’s totally worth my time. This month it’s coming out to me making $50 an hour, which is sweet! I just sit there and listen to my pocast 🙂
That’s awesome Adria!
Wow!! Definitely would not donate for that cheap… the place in my town pays u $75 ur first time, next 4 donations $50 then $75…then depends on ur weight but I never stick around long enough…
That’s great! I think this can definitely vary depending on location. This post is also a couple years old, so pricing could have also increased since then 🙂
I’m able to donate pretty frequently. I find that drinking a protein shake made with Spinach helps elevate my levels, as well as recover afterward. I was able to pay for a cruise with my earnings! 🙂
Some people have no issues with it and can really earn a nice side income from it – going on a cruise would be awesome 🙂
I tried donating plasma once despite my fear of needles (I thought maybe this would finally desensitize me).
I spent about an hour there before a technician came out and said that my veins were too small. Oh well.
What really got me was that EVERYONE there was wearing face shields. I asked why, and they were like, “Oh, sometimes we have squirters.” I was floored!
Oh hahahaha, face shields?! Girl, I am with you on this. It is a GREAT way to make money and I have always seen more men at these centers than women. This is definitely where I had to draw the line!
I used to donate plasma 2x a week, $10 each time. Lots of interesting characters, and we used to race to get the blood bag filled the fastest. Pump your fist a bunch to make the bag fill quick.
I was featured in a Marty Stouffer video as I had a hawk that they needed for a shoot, it paid $300 back in the early 80s. I have done a few other things too…
That’s great you were able to donate plasma frequently!
My then-boyfriend (now husband) and I tried to do that once. They wouldn’t take his because he used his inhaler too often. They had trouble finding a usable vein for me. I guess mine just aren’t close enough to the surface or I was dehydrated or something.
But people should know that it’s not just about money (though that’s a plus). The plasma is really important.
I had a rare, severe neurological illness when I was in college. One of the ways they treated it was to cycle out bad plasma for good. I started improving noticeably after the second or third treatment.
But yeah, mainly it’s a great way to make some money to watch movies.
My own side hustles were mainly mystery shopping. It didn’t pay a bunch, but it was relatively easy. Plus I got free meals, stayed at a hotel a few times, and got into an amusement park. Pretty cool!
It is amazing how plasma can save lives! It is really a win-win situation for everyone involved. Mystery shopping is a great side hustle!
Donating plasma always sounded so intense to me, as I was never a big fan of donating blood. $200/ month sounds decent though but that’s so scary how you fainted twice. I think it’s risky because you’re not sure how your body will recover afterward and you might not be as productive while you’re waiting to get your strength back. I actually have a side hustle story to share, I’ll email you!
It is definitely not for the faint of heart! I have always been a fainter (which sounds weird) but this was too much!
I was told how hard giving plasma was on a persons body. I had a friend back in the day who use to do this on a regular for free. I couldn’t do it for I hate clinics and anything that resembles medical.
I am amazed how people do this regularly!