What trials pay, and what they cover.

Many trials compensate participants for their time and reimburse the costs of taking part. Here's how it works, what to expect, and how to see it before you apply.

Compensation for your time

Compensation is payment for the time and effort of participating: study visits, questionnaires, blood draws, travel days. It is set by the sponsor, approved by an ethics board, and is the same for everyone in the trial regardless of results.

“Overall, the median clinical trial compensation was US$3070 (range = US$150-US$13,000).”

Fisher JA, McManus L, Kalbaugh JM, Walker RL. Phase I trial compensation: How much do healthy volunteers actually earn from clinical trial enrollment? Clinical Trials. 2021;18(4):477–487. Based on 1,001 Phase I trials that healthy volunteers screened for at 73 research facilities over three years.

Typical US ranges. The exact amount is in each trial's consent form. You are paid for the visits you complete, even if you leave the study early.

PhaseWhoBurdenTypical range (Saturn estimates)

Phase 1Healthy volunteersInpatient stays, frequent blood draws, first-in-human dosing$1,500 – $5,500 per study

Phase 1Healthy volunteersOutpatient visits, single or few doses$50 – $150 per visit

Phase 1PatientsDose-finding in serious illness; scans, biopsies$0 – $100 per visit, expenses covered

Phase 2 – 3PatientsRegular visits, labs, imaging, diaries$25 – $100 per visit

Phase 2 – 3Healthy volunteersVaccine or prevention studies; visits and blood draws$50 – $150 per visit

Phase 4 / observationalPatientsSurveys, chart review, occasional visit$0 – $50 per visit

Behavioral / devicePatients or volunteersSessions, wearables, questionnaires$20 – $75 per session

Illustrative ranges, not quotes. Amounts are set per trial and approved by an ethics board; treatment trials for serious conditions often cover expenses only.

Support for taking part

Separate from compensation, many trials cover the practical costs of participating so that distance, work, or family obligations don't keep you out. Study visits, tests, and the study treatment itself are free to you.

Your regular care outside the trial is still billed to you or your insurance as usual. Ask the site which costs the study covers.

Travel reimbursementMileage, tolls, parking, train or airfare to the site. Usually paid back after each visit against receipts, sometimes booked and paid up front.

LodgingA hotel near the site for overnight or multi-day visits, often for a companion too.

TransportationRideshare or car service arranged by the site, or shuttle from nearby lodging.

ChildcareReimbursement for care during visits, or on-site care at some centers.

Virtual visitsSome visits done by video or phone, with labs drawn and treatment given at a local clinic or at home.

Nonprofit programs

Help from outside the trial

Nonprofits that help with the costs of getting to a trial. Funding opens and closes, so check the program's site for current eligibility before you apply.

Travel, lodging and living costs (17)

All cancersAll agesLiving costsTravelLodging

Family Reach – Clinical Trial Access