William Lipovsky
Short Answer
CSL Plasma’s donor compensation rate varies by location but is usually around $20 for your first donation of the week and $20 to $45 for your second donation of the week. Most regular donors earn about $270 per month, though it’s possible to earn up to $700 with bonuses and frequent donations.
How Much Does CSL Plasma Pay per Donation?
The amount that CSL Plasma will pay you per donation will depend on which location you visit. New donors receive around $50 for each of their first five donations, which they must complete within a specific period (anywhere from 21 to 45 days). After that, you can expect to earn about $20 for your first donation in a given week.[1]
Payment for your second donation of the week will vary based on your weight. Exact rates may vary by location but were fairly steady among the donation centers we contacted in California, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, and Texas: $25 for donors weighing 110 to 149 pounds; $40 for donors weighing 150 to 175 pounds; and $45 for donors weighing 176 pounds or more.
CSL Plasma has donation centers in 41 states; to find out more about compensation rates in your area, find your nearest location.
How Much Does CSL Plasma Pay per Month?
While it is possible to make up to $700 per month,[2] the average donor earns up to about $270 per month for their donations. You can earn more than the average by taking advantage of bonuses if your location offers them.
For example, some centers offer a $10 bonus for new donors or around $80 to $90 for donors who make eight donations within one month. The donation center may divide this bonus between several visits or pay it in a lump sum after your eighth visit.[1]
Note that you cannot donate plasma more than once in two days or twice in seven days.[2] This means that the maximum number of donations possible in a week is two, with a total of about eight possible donations in a given month.
All plasma centers in the United States must comply with these limitations on donation frequency.
How Does CSL Plasma Pay Donors?
Donors receive payment immediately after each donation on a prepaid debit card.
You will keep the same card throughout your time as a CSL Plasma donor; the donation center will reload the card each time you donate.[3] See our related research for information on how to check your CSL plasma card balance or get a replacement.
iGive Rewards
If you join the iGive Rewards program, you’ll earn loyalty points for each completed donation, in addition to the money you earn. You can redeem iGive Rewards points for cash, merchandise, and gift cards.[2]
The iGive Rewards program has four status levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Membership levels are based on the number of times you donate within a calendar year (January through December).
The more often you donate, the more points you’ll earn and the higher status you’ll achieve. Rewards increase in value for higher-status members.[4]
What Do You Need to Donate Plasma?
CSL Plasma requires that donors submit to a health screening and meet the following criteria:[5]
- Must be between the ages of 18 and 65
- Must weigh at least 110 pounds (find where to weigh yourself for free)
- Must have valid identification and proof of a social security number
- Must have a valid, permanent address with proof of residency
- Must be in good health at the time of donation
- Must have no new tattoos or piercings (within the last four months)
If you are ineligible to donate, CSL Plasma may temporarily or permanently defer you, meaning you will not be able to donate. Deferrals aren’t reversible, but if you receive a temporary deferral, you can get screened again once it ends.[2]
For more information on what to expect when donating plasma, see our related research on the plasma donation process.
How Does CSL Compare to Other Donation Centers?
CSL Plasma is among the highest-paying plasma donation centers (as previously reported). To compare all of your options, see our list of plasma donation centers near you.
Sonya Bateman
Kait Scirri
Cathy Desmet
Lindsey Desmet
Loren Eaton
Hello,,,I’ve been donating at CSL PLASMA for about 3 months now and have never received a bonus,,,,, how can I receive the bonus the keep offering when they space ur donating time out further an further?
Hi Melinda,
Not all centers offer the same bonuses, or any bonuses at all. You’ll have to talk to the center you’re donating with to see whether they offer any, and what you would have to do to qualify for them. As for the higher pay out for a second weekly donation, a scheduling delay at your center could certainly prevent you from receiving that bonus. However, that payment might not necessarily show up as a bonus. Its simply that your second donation in one week pays more than the first. Again though, the specifics of payment plans are different at different centers, so you’ll have to ask them why they have this scheduling delay.
I started donating at CSL plasma in Hazel Crest, IL in Au,gust and they have offered bonuses every month. Like in September they offered a $80 Bonus on your 8th donation of the month. So my total donations earned me $385 for September. Not sure what u mean by saying they space your donations further apart. You can donate twice a week with one day in between donations. I usually go Wednesday and Friday….so for the month of October there are 8 possible chances to donate. This month they are offering a $20 bonus for your 6th, 7th, and 8th donations of the month. So it pays to donate regularly. You would know if the center u go to was offering a bonus because the signs are posted at the vitals check point. Hop this helps
Thanks for the info. I made $270 in the month of August
donating plasma at CSL outside of Chicago.
Hi Lesliedian,
Thanks for sharing your experience with future readers, and glad our article was helpful!
The workers at Octapharma Plasma in Moline, Illinois need to change their gloves between patients. They have many workers that go from one patient to many others without changing gloves. Cross contamination of blood likely to happen and is highly unacceptable.