When you hear the phrase “human guinea pig,” it might sound a little scary but in the world of paid research studies, it’s actually a legit (and often pretty easy) way to earn some serious cash.
And while there are many reasons for participating in clinical trials and research studies, earning extra cash is a big motivator.
In fact, a recent report from the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) shows that almost 35% of participants say the financial compensation is a big reason they sign up.
Companies, universities, and medical centers are always looking for volunteers to help test new products, treatments, or procedures, and they’re willing to pay well for your time.
Depending on the study, you could make anywhere from $100 to $1,000 or more for just a few hours or days of participation.
If making money as a human guinea pig interests you, read on to find out how you can make money as a human guinea pig, what the process looks like, how much you can realistically earn, and what you need to watch out for to stay safe.
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Table of Contents
What Does It Mean to Be a Human Guinea Pig?
Being a “human guinea pig” basically means you’re volunteering to participate in research studies.
These are usually medical, psychological, or product-related studies that help companies and researchers gather important data.
In exchange for your time (and sometimes a little bit of discomfort), you get paid.
But is it safe?
Yes, becoming a human text subject is totally safe.
Here’s the thing: you’re not being thrown into crazy experiments. Most paid studies today are tightly regulated to keep participants safe.
So what do you do exactly as a human guinea pig?
Well, depending on the type of study, you might:
- Test a new medication
- Try out a new device
- Sleep in a lab for a few nights
- Take surveys or cognitive tests
- Sit through interviews or focus groups
Some studies involve healthy volunteers. There are also specific studies (for example new medications that are in the trial phase) that require you to have certain conditions (like asthma, migraines, or even sleep troubles) to qualify.
At the end of the day, it’s just a side hustle that’s a little more… unconventional.
And for the right person, it can be a pretty easy way to bring in some extra cash, especially if you don’t mind helping out in the name of science.
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How Much Money Can You Make?
As I mentioned earlier. one of the biggest reasons people look into becoming a human guinea pig is, of course, the money.
And depending on the study, the payouts can range from $50 for a quick survey to $10,000 or more for longer, more involved medical trials.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what usually affects how much you can earn:
So what determines how much you get paid?
Here are a few important factors that play into just how much a study pays you to participate:
- Length of the study: This is obvious. Longer studies usually pay more. A weekend sleep study might pay you $300 to $500, while a month-long clinical trial could pay you $5,000 or more.
- Risk level: Usually medication related studies and procedures pay more because of the added risk.
- Location: Some cities (especially ones with major research hospitals) have more opportunities and better pay rates.
- Eligibility Requirements: If a study is looking for a very specific group (like smokers aged 25 to 35 with asthma), it’ll often pay more.
Real-life Example
To help you get a better idea, here’s an example (this is actually a real study I found while researching for this post):
A 3-day inpatient clinical trial at a research center in Texas offering $900 just for staying on-site, taking a few tests, and following a simple schedule. There are no painful procedures or scary side effects. The actual research and study parts (involving you) each day may take less than 10-20 minutes. For the rest of the day, you will be just waiting around doing whatever you want to do while the researchers keep an eye on your health condition.
Some studies take less time and some more. But if you’re strategic about the studies you pick, you could easily pull in a few thousand dollars a year just by participating in a handful of them.
How to Find Paid Studies
If you’re serious about wanting to make money as a human guinea pig, the first step is knowing where to actually find legit studies.
Thankfully, there are a few places where you can easily and quickly find studies that pay.
Here are some of the best places to start:
ClinicalTrials.gov
A huge database of federally and privately funded clinical studies happening around the U.S. You can search by location, condition, and study type.
This site alone should be more than enough for you to find well-paying studies. Most major companies, including health industry companies like LabCorp, have their studies listed in this database.
NIH Clinical Center
The National Institutes of Health runs a ton of studies at their Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. They often cover travel costs too. You can also join ResearchMatch, which acts as a registry for the NIH. Check out my post on getting paid to be a test subject with NIH for more details.
Parexel
Another large company that regularly recruits healthy volunteers and patients for research trials.
NASA Sleep Studies
Famous for paying participants thousands of dollars to lay in bed for weeks at a time (seriously). It’s not super common, but it’s definitely worth applying if you spot one.
Guinea Pigs Get Paid
This is a user-friendly site, which has additional opportunities listed that are not available on Clinical Trials, such as mystery shopping and openings for film extras, but do be careful of dead links.
By the way, they list studies from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland & New Zealand. So if you live in any of those countries, it’s a good place to check.
Local Universities and Hospitals
Many colleges with medical programs and local hospitals run their own paid research studies. Check their websites or call the research department directly.
Local Newspapers & Classified
Sometimes, universities put ads in local newspapers and even on Craigslist looking for participants.
That is how I came across the quit smoking medical trial a few years back.
Risks and Rewards Involved
When you have decided on a study that interests you, do some research so that you know what you will be getting into.
Here’s some information on the more common procedures and associated pay rates:
Medical Surveys
- Potential Payout: $15 per form
You earn $15 for completing an online questionnaire, which generally forms part of a cognitive performance study, which is non-invasive.
It doesn’t pay much but you have covered the cost of a case of cheap beer, and helped medical research at the same time.
Sleep Studies
- Potential Payout: $175 – $200 per night
Earn while you sleep, that is $175 for one night and a whopping $3000 for a 14 day study.
While this does involve a pretty substantial time commitment and cognitive tests that can be slightly invasive, it is a fantastic way to earn heaps of cash and even find out why you have difficulty sleeping.
Donating Plasma
- Potential Payout: $20 – $30 per donation
If you have between one and a half hours and three hours to spare, and can handle lots of needles, while not technically a procedure of clinical trials, plasma donations can earn you around $20 – $30 per visit.
You can make plasma donations twice a week, and you get to munch on some free cookies once you’re done.
MRI
- Potential Payout: $125 per MRI and screener
You can get around $50 for a typical MRI, and $75 if you complete the additional screening and interview, which takes one day. The MRI procedure is fast, painless and not particularly invasive.
The only suffering you will have to endure is waiting around in an office for the better part of a day.
PET
- Potential Payout: $675 per PET scan and screener
You can earn around $600 for doing a PET scan, a type of nuclear imaging. You get paid an additional $75 for a day-long screening and interview, which is a component of all PET scans.
The high pay rate with PET scans comes at a personal cost though. Prior to having the procedure done, you will have to ingest or get injected with a radiotracer, and then wait an hour while the radiotracer is absorbed.
Do your research into what the study involves, since some scans will also include a catheter. While you can earn good money doing PET scans, studies that involve them are not easy to find.
How & When Do I Get Paid?
It really depends on the study and the company conducting it. But generally, you can expect to get paid on the last day of the study with the majority of large clinics, and if not within two weeks at the latest.
FAQs About Making Money as a Human Guinea Pig
Here are a few common questions and their answers, about becoming a paid human test subject.
How dangerous are paid medical studies?
These days, most studies are safe and closely monitored, but some carry more risk, especially those with experimental treatments.
Can you make a full-time living as a human Guinea pig?
No, mainly because you may not always find studies. So the uncertainty makes it hard to make a living doing this, but it’s a great way to earn extra money on the side.
How often can you participate?
It depends on the study, but generally, you can participate every few months for low-risk studies.
Are there studies for people outside the U.S.?
Yes, there are studies in many countries, including Europe, Canada, and Australia. One easy way to find studies near you is to use Google to search for terms like, “get paid to be a human guinea pig near me” or “paid clinical trials near me“, etc.
Should You Try Making Money as a Human Guinea Pig
Becoming a human guinea pig can be a great way to earn extra money, with payouts ranging from $50 to $10,000 depending on the study.
While most studies are safe, it’s important to consider factors like risk and how often you can participate.
I think the best way to find legitimate studies to get paid as a human guinea pig is using a trusted site like ClinicalTrials.gov. It makes it easy to find and apply for opportunities near you.