Being Compensated as a Surrogate

Surrogates make parenthood possible for families who may not otherwise be able to have a child. In return for the time, commitment and physical demands of the journey, surrogates deserve fair compensation.

On average, surrogates in the U.S. may earn $55,000–$110,000+ in total compensation. This package can include base pay, milestone payments, allowances and reimbursements for surrogacy-related expenses.

Your exact compensation will depend on factors such as your experience, the agency you work with and the terms of your surrogacy agreement.

Connect with a trusted surrogacy professional to get personalized answers about compensation and understand what you may be eligible to earn.

Base Compensation

Base compensation is the primary payment you receive for carrying the pregnancy. It is separate from bonuses, allowances and expense reimbursements.

Typical base compensation ranges are:

• First-time surrogates: $55,000–$65,000+
• Experienced surrogates: $70,000–$90,000+

Base pay is generally distributed in monthly installments during pregnancy according to your legal agreement.

Many surrogates use their compensation to pay off debt, purchase a home, continue their education or save for their children’s future.

Surrogacy-Related Expenses

In choosing to become a surrogate, you are giving your time and effort to help another family come into existence. You shouldn’t be required to give financially, too, which is why your chosen intended parents will cover your expenses throughout the process.

As a surrogate, all of your expenses will be covered by the intended parents — everything from your screening costs to your medical procedures to your legal expenses. In addition, you’ll likely receive a monthly payment that covers your pregnancy-related costs.

Like your base compensation, this pay for being a surrogate will be decided upon early in the surrogacy process and outlined in your surrogacy legal contract. Even if you choose to complete an altruistic surrogacy, these expenses will still be covered by the intended parents.

The monthly allowance that you’ll receive will usually cover:

• Maternity clothes
• Local travel for doctor’s appointments
• Childcare
• Meals
• Housekeeping
• Telephone calls
• Prenatal vitamins and other health supplies
• Insurance co-pays
• And other miscellaneous pregnancy expenses

In addition to these pregnancy-related expenses, you’ll also receive surrogate compensation that covers any lost wages you and your spouse (if applicable) incur from missing work for surrogacy appointments. Any medical costs not covered by your insurance will be paid for by the intended parents and, depending on your contract, certain elements of the surrogacy medical process may allow for additional surrogate pay.

Your Own Experience

While the intended parents’ budget will play a large role in how much you get paid for being a surrogate, your own experience with surrogacy will also impact your surrogate compensation. Women who have more experience with surrogacy and have proven they can carry a healthy surrogate pregnancy frequently get paid more than women who are going through their first surrogate pregnancy.

When you work with a surrogacy professional, they can give you a more accurate estimate of how your experience will impact how much you will get paid to be a surrogate. In addition, they will help you determine your desired base compensation and help you move forward with finding the perfect intended parents for your surrogacy process.

Discover Your Surrogate Pay

Because how much surrogates are paid varies so much from situation to situation, it’s critical that you speak with a surrogacy lawyer or surrogacy professional to better understand exactly how much your surrogate compensation may be.

To get a better idea of some of the compensation opportunities available to you can contact a surrogacy agency today.

Although there should be s a certain degree of altruism involved in becoming a surrogate, you deserve to be compensated for the amazing service you’re providing for the intended parents.

To get more information about compensation you would be eligible for as a surrogate, or to start your own surrogacy process, contact a surrogacy professional now.