A surrogate mother is an exceptional person that provides others with the generous gift of having a family. Although many surrogates enjoy the experience of being a surrogate, and they do it selflessly to help others, it is also essential to receive generous compensation for all the effort involved in carrying a pregnancy to cover all the surrogacy-related costs. Here you'll find: how much does a surrogate mother make?
Click below for a guideline of what typical compensation packages look like:
How much do surrogates get paid?
A surrogate can earn between $40,000 to $80,000, including expenses. Every surrogacy case is unique; therefore, how much a surrogate makes depends on her experience (first-time surrogate vs. experienced surrogates), the health insurance used, the state she lives in, and the specific arrangement.
Surrogacy compensations vary from state to state. For example, in states where surrogates have a higher demand, they may get higher pay. Also, the cost of legal services and other services vary in different places.
When women join surrogacy agencies in Florida, like First Step Surrogacy, there is complete transparency on all the benefits and no hidden fees or out-of-pocket expenses. You will find the compensation package outlined, so you can clearly understand how much money a surrogate mother receives as remuneration.
The total money surrogate receives is divided into two pieces: the base compensation and the additional compensation. Therefore, to calculate how much you will earn, you must know the base compensation and estimate the other payments depending on your situation.
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Base compensation package
During the gestational surrogacy process, women get paid a fixed base compensation for the effort, emotional, and physical demands involved in carrying a surrogate pregnancy. This base compensation (also known as direct compensation) is a flat rate negotiated before the embryo transfer and specified in your surrogacy contract.
The base pay for surrogates in the USA ranges from $30,000 to $60,000+. The total compensation package depends on various factors, including the surrogate’s state of residence, the number of babies carried, health insurance used, prior surrogacy experience, and the agency you work with.
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Additional benefits and compensation
Apart from the monthly base compensation, women can receive additional cash payments and reimbursements to cover other surrogacy-related things before and during the pregnancy and after the baby’s birth. Therefore, although surrogates generally earn a base compensation of $30,000 to $60,000+ in most agencies, they can receive a total amount of $46,750 to $79,900 with the added benefits and payments they get during the process, paid for by the intended parents.
Also, surrogates receive no monetary benefits such as counsel, legal support, insurance, and social work support that help you have a smooth surrogacy journey.
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Pre-pregnancy payments:
You will receive some payments before you are pregnant. Pre-pregnancy expenses include medical screening, sign-up payment, social work clearance, and embryo transfer payment.
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Medical screening covers the medical appointments and tests you will take before the embryo transfer.
Depending on the agency and specific arrangement, you can receive a sign-up payment when you sign the surrogacy contract.
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Transfer payment covers the costs associated with embryo transfer medical procedures.
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Home care and personal payments:
Surrogates receive money to cover home care and personal things related to surrogacy. For example, to cover maternity clothes, pregnancy needs, and housekeeping. Surrogates receive child care and housekeeping remuneration when the doctor orders the gestational carriers to be confined to bed during pregnancy.
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Childcare, travel, and lost wages payments:
During pregnancy, surrogates receive other payments to cover the travel expenses for her and her primary support person to attend medical screenings. Also, agencies can cover childcare and lost wages or workers compensation for traveling to the screening and transfers.
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Recovery payment:
During the 4th trimester, the surrogate needs to heal, recover and spend time with her family. Therefore, she will receive some post-pregnancy pay to cover some expenses. Also, you will receive emotional support after the delivery.
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Additional compensation (varies by Journey)
If there are any additional unexpected costs, your intended parents will cover those costs. Surrogates receive additional payments to cover situations such as delivery via C-sections; multiples; invasive procedures such as termination, CVS, D&C, Amnio, and Selective Reduction; breast milk provision; bed rest, etc.
How much do surrogates get paid in Florida?
Are you considering becoming a surrogate mother in Florida and curious about compensation? Florida is a surrogacy-friendly state that follows well-regulated medical procedures.
Surrogate pay in Florida is typically between $30,000 - $65,000, depending on factors such as insurance. Surrogates can also receive additional compensation for reaching certain milestones during their surrogacy journey. At some agencies, compensation packages can reach up to $79,900.
We understand the vital role our surrogate mothers play, and we strive to ensure they receive the compensation they deserve. We know each of our surrogates has unique priorities and circumstances. That’s why our surrogate compensation and benefits as health insurance are customized to you. By working with us, both intended parents and surrogates in Florida benefit from a fair and supportive arrangement.
When choosing a surrogacy agency, it's essential to consider compensation and benefits packages. At First Step Surrogacy, we offer competitive base compensation starting at $42,200. We offer one of the best compensation fees in the state of Florida. Consider that the money a surrogate receives can vary depending on her situation. Therefore, if you have doubts about your circumstances, contact our office to provide a more accurate estimate of the specific benefits package you could receive.
Estimated Surrogacy Compensation Plan and Benefits
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Compensation Package
The total package depends on various factors, including the surrogate’s state of residence, the number of babies carried, health insurance used, prior surrogacy experience, and more.
Start of medications
Embryo transfer
Maternity clothes
Twin or triplet pregnancy. Multiples fee (for the additional fetus)
Cesarean section (C-Section) Fee
Total
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$42,200 - $67,400+
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$500
$750
$800
$8,000
$2,500
$46,750 - $79,900
When you work with a top surrogacy agency such as First Step Surrogacy, you get your base compensations and are also compensated for other things during your journey.
First Step Surrogacy is a well-known surrogacy agency in the United States based in South Florida. We offer advice on becoming parents, egg donors, and surrogates. Contact us for additional information.
Overall, how much a surrogate makes in Florida depends on many factors. As you can see, gestational surrogate remuneration is divided into surrogacy base fees and extra additional expenses and allowances. This is an estimated gestational surrogate compensation plan and benefits; please contact us to review your specific compensation package.
How often do surrogates get paid?
Surrogates don’t have to wait until the surrogacy process finishes to get paid; they get competitive compensation throughout the process and even before pregnancy to cover surrogacy-related costs.
Overall, surrogates get paid monthly the base compensation and some additional payments. You get a base compensation monthly in nine installments after detecting the fetal heartbeat (around six to eight weeks gestation). Also, although most of the additional payments are delivered once, some expenses and other allowances are paid monthly.
Other fees are not paid monthly but are paid throughout the pregnancy when you reach certain milestones. It is important to note that you can arrange certain aspects of your compensation within the initial contract or agreements with the intended parents. Rest assured that your expenses will be covered every month during your entire surrogacy journey.
How can Surrogate agencies help you?
First Step Surrogacy is a well-known surrogacy agency in the United States based in South Florida. They offer advice on becoming parents, egg donors, and surrogates. You can now visit our website for additional information.
Do surrogates get paid if they miscarry?
Surrogacy professionals take many preventive measures to reduce the chances of failed transfers and miscarriages. For example, they screen the gestational surrogates and genetically test the embryos to improve the chances of successful implantation, pregnancy, and delivery.
However, although miscarriages in surrogate pregnancies are rare, they can happen, and it’s not the surrogate’s fault. We consider there shouldn’t be a risk to the surrogate, and there must be additional support. That’s why surrogacy contracts specify what will happen in those circumstances.
So do surrogates get paid if they miscarry? In general, if you experience a failed transfer or a miscarriage, you will be compensated until that point, covering all the front expenses related to the pregnancy.
How much do surrogates make for twins?
How much do surrogates make for twins? When a surrogate mother agrees to have more than one embryo transferred and has twins, she receives additional pay on top of her base compensation. At First Step Surrogacy, we offer $8,000 for each additional fetus in a twin or triplet pregnancy.
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Knowing how the remuneration works in case you have twins is very important to know since twin pregnancies are very common in surrogacy and in vitro fertilization. Most surrogates who have carried multiple pregnancies, have experienced a twin or even triplet pregnancy. According to different sources, the possibility of having twins in your pregnancy as a surrogate is around 12%, far from the common 3.2% in a regular pregnancy.
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If you have questions about the surrogate benefit package, contact us to provide a complete listing.
In summary: how much can a surrogate mother make?
Even though, for many women, earning money is not the main reason for becoming a surrogate mother, how much a surrogate mother makes is one of the natural questions that women have when applying to become a surrogate mother in surrogacy agencies. Here we gave you a general estimate of the compensation package and how it is divided. However, as every case is unique, please do not hesitate to contact us so that we can answer your specific questions.
Becoming a surrogate is one of the best gifts you can give a family. Apart from helping a family, you can earn surrogate pay. Women have many reasons to become surrogates; the surrogate compensation is just another one to add to the pile. Some surrogates use that money to support their own family, remodel their house, provide for their kids' education, pay off student loans, put down a home, and so on. Whatever your reason, we have a transparent compensation package and the support you need during the journey. If you want to apply to become a surrogate mother with us, contact us.
As you can see, many variables determine the total surrogate compensation, which makes it difficult to answer the question of this article. The best way to have a complete answer is to speak with surrogacy professionals that can provide you with a more accurate estimate based on your particular situation. If you want to learn more about surrogacy's financial compensation, please contact us to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to get a surrogate?
The cheapest way to get a surrogate is if a friend or family member wants to be the gestational carrier. When this happens, the screening and matching process is not necessary, and you don’t have to pay for that service to the agency. Hence, it reduces the agency fees you have to pay.
What is cheaper surrogacy or adoption?
Adoption is cheaper than surrogacy because in surrogacy intended parents have to pay for the pregnancy-related expenses such as medical procedures, fertility medication, and embryo transfers. In addition, intended parents have to pay the surrogate mother's compensation and other services associated with surrogacy.
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Also, although there are various financing options available for adoption and surrogacy. There are more tax credits and grants for adoption than for surrogacy. Which can make adoption more affordable.
Can a family member be a surrogate for free?
The short answer is yes, a family member can be a surrogate for free. This type of surrogacy is called altruistic surrogacy, as opposed to compensated or commercial surrogacy. When you have altruistic surrogacy, it means the surrogate won’t receive monetary remuneration. However, intended parents still have to pay for the costs associated with surrogacy. Such as the medical procedures, legal services, and agency costs.
How much is surrogacy if you use a friend?
If you use a friend as your surrogate, the cost depends on if your friend wants to be compensated or not. If your friend wants to be compensated, the surrogacy cost is similar to another surrogacy process. However, in this case, you don’t have to pay the matching fees to an agency for the screening and matching process that agencies do to find a surrogate.
