Although all surrogates will receive compensation for their pregnancy and time, the amount of money you can get depends on if you are a:
- First-time surrogate: First-time surrogates typically receive a base pay of $45,000
- Experienced surrogate: Repeat surrogates often get a similar base pay, plus an additional amount of money depending on the number of surrogacy pregnancies they have had.
Whether you are a first-time or repeat surrogate, you always have the right to be compensated fairly.
If you have questions about surrogacy compensation, we encourage you to contact a surrogacy professional. Every surrogacy specialist has a different policy regarding first-time and repeat surrogate compensation. In the meantime, continue reading to learn more about surrogate compensation rates.
How Much Do First-Time Surrogates Make?
Before we get into experienced surrogate compensation, let’s address first-time surrogate compensation. This is the rate that all repeat surrogate compensation is eventually based upon.
Just like every state’s laws on surrogacy differ, the amount of compensation a first-time surrogate can expect varies in each state, too.
First-time surrogate compensation is based on many factors, including:
- The number of available surrogates
- The number of intended parents
- The state of the economy
- How established the surrogacy industry is in your state
A Note: While surrogates in states such as California can ask for much higher first-time surrogate compensation, we’ll stick with the average across the United States.
Typical First-Time Surrogate Compensation
In most situations, a first-time surrogate can expect to make about $45,000.
We know that many surrogacy professionals will advertise first-time surrogate compensation rates as high as $60,000 or $80,000, but those rates typically include more than your take-home surrogate compensation.
Don’t forget: In addition to the base compensation you receive, the intended parents will cover all your medical and pregnancy-related expenses. It will never cost you anything to become a gestational carrier.
How Much Does an Experienced Surrogate Get Paid?
Generally, every surrogacy professional has a different policy concerning how much experience surrogates receive in compensation.
For example:
- Some professionals offer a flat increased rate for experienced surrogates
- Other professionals will increase experienced surrogate compensation by each surrogacy journey a woman completes — for example, an additional $5,000 per previous gestational pregnancy
The following are the reasons professionals offer higher repeat surrogate compensation rates:
1. If You’ve Already Completed one Surrogacy Journey, You Know What to Expect on Another
You understand the challenges and rewards that come with surrogacy. You also can be trusted to handle the stresses and responsibilities of the process better than a first-time surrogate.
2. You’ve Shown you can Carry a Gestational Pregnancy to Term
This is one of the most important aspects for intended parents. They are looking for a woman who can help make their parenthood dreams come true, and a surrogate candidate stands out when she’s already served as a surrogate.
It’s common for intended parents to pay a higher experienced surrogate compensation rate for the assurance of using a repeat gestational carrier.
Determine Your Personalized Surrogate Compensation
These steps can help you figure out what your first or second-time surrogate compensation will be:
Step 1: Research Different Surrogacy Professionals
Your area’s average first-time or repeat surrogate compensation rate will be unique. So, ask around before requesting a specific rate from a local professional. Talk to a few surrogacy professionals and read the fine print of rates you find online.
Step 2: Think About Your Needs
It can be tempting to try to get the most surrogate compensation possible. But, remember that the intended parents will have to pay your compensation in addition to all the expenses they are responsible for during the surrogacy process.
Think about what kind of compensation you think is acceptable for your situation and put yourself in the intended parents’ shoes. Fair compensation is essential to a successful surrogacy process, but your primary surrogacy goal should be helping the intended parents build their families.
Step 3: Talk with a Surrogacy Professional
The best way to determine your compensation rate is by talking with a professional. Every agency and lawyer’s policies are different. They will evaluate your situation (including your surrogate and health history) to decide what compensation rate is fair for all involved.
Next Steps to First-Time or Repeat Surrogacy
Surrogacy compensation can be a complicated topic, but it doesn’t have to be. Take the time to research appropriate compensation rates in your area, and don’t be afraid to talk to as many professionals as you need. You can start with this list:
Every program’s fee schedule will be different, so consider reaching out to these professionals to compare the possibilities for surrogate mother compensation to find one that meets your needs:
Choosing the right professional is essential for a smooth surrogacy journey, so consider all surrogacy aspects when making a decision.
Want more information? Contact a surrogacy professional today.