Surrogate Pay & Benefits
How Much Does a Surrogate Get Paid?
Our surrogates can earn up to $70,000 in total compensation, including benefits. Your compensation includes a personalized base pay which is typically $40,000 plus numerous perks and essential coverages for you & your family. And our Journey Protection™ Pay Promise ensures you receive 100% of your qualified compensation!
Surrogate Pay Can Help Your Family
We know being a surrogate is about more than the money – it's about helping make parenthood possible for other families. Being a surrogate is a selfless and generous gift, and it's ok to ask compensation questions so you can financially plan for your family.
You may be able to:
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Buy your dream home
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Purchase a new family car
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Fund your child's future education
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Book that big family vacation
You'll have so many possibilities! Who knew helping someone else could do so much for your own family?
"I was able to upgrade our family car, contribute to our kiddos college fund, and plan a trip of a lifetime with my family all thanks to surrogacy!"
-Heather, Circle Surrogate
Circle Surrogacy Offers the Most Comprehensive Compensation Package
Our compensation includes:
Base Pay & Journey
Milestone Payments
Paid directly to you
Special Perks & Gifts
Paid directly to you
Legal, Medical, & Life Insurance Benefits
Paid on your behalf
Our generous base pay is $40,000. You will also receive medical, legal, and life insurance benefits, plus pregnancy perks and gifts. We work with each potential surrogate to understand her needs so we can build the right package for her and her family.
With our Journey Protection™ Pay Promise, we ensure all of our surrogates receive 100% of their qualified compensation. Circle financially backs all intended parents to make sure your money in escrow is 100% guaranteed and always funded in advance. We created the Journey Protection™ Pay Promise because we truly care about our carriers, and we want each of them to have the most successful and stress-free journey possible.
Our commitments to you:
Guaranteed compensation
You will always be paid, no matter what.
Circle Surrogacy financially backs their intended parents, so a surrogate's escrow account is always funded in advance to ensure she is always paid in full and on time (even if unexpected costs arise).
No medical bill liability
Never pay a medical bill. Ever.
Circle Surrogacy takes on the liability of medical bills. While we can never stop having you receive medical bills (you are the "patient"), our all-inclusive Fixed Cost program for intended parents allow us to protect both the surrogate and the intended parents to ensure all medical bills will be paid in a timely manner.
Your rights are always protected.
All surrogates work directly with a surrogacy attorney for legal guidance to ensure their rights are protected. You will have an attorney separate from your intended parents. Your legal counsel ensures the terms of your contract with your intended parents are fair, and that your voice is heard. All of your legal fees are paid for by your intended parents.
Life Insurance
Your family is protected, too.
Your peace of mind – and your family's security is of the utmost importance. Circle Surrogacy ensures you and your family are protected throughout your journey with a $500,000 life insurance plan, purchased by your intended parents.
If by chance you are accepted into our surrogate program, are medically cleared, and matched with intended parents – but you don’t achieve a pregnancy – we will compensate you for your time, energy, and dedication thus far in your journey (up to $5,000 total).
No agency protects and advocates more for surrogates than Circle.
In this video, Heather explains how our compensation package competes with other surrogacy agencies, and how our Journey Protection™ Pay Promise guarantees you will receive 100% of your qualified compensation throughout your journey.
Heather Wilkinson
Circle Senior Manager of Surrogate Success
2x Experienced Surrogate
With our Surrogate Pay Promise, we ensure 100% guaranteed compensation to all of our surrogates. Circle financially backs all intended parents to ensure your money in escrow is 100% guaranteed and always funded in advance. We created the Journey Protection™ Pay Promise because we truly care about our carriers, and we want each of them to have the most successful and stress-free journey possible.
Our commitments to you:
1. Guaranteed compensation
2. No medical bill liability
3. Legal protection
4. Life insurance
If by chance you are accepted into our surrogate program, are medically cleared, and matched with intended parents – but you don’t achieve a pregnancy – we will compensate you for your time, energy, and dedication thus far in your journey (up to $5,000 total).
Life insurance
Your family is protected, too.
Your peace of mind – and your family's security is of the utmost importance. Circle Surrogacy ensures you and your family are protected throughout your journey with a $500,000 life insurance plan, purchased by your intended parents.
Guaranteed compensation
You will always be paid, no matter what.
Circle Surrogacy financially backs their intended parents, so a surrogate's escrow account is always funded in advance to ensure she is always paid in full and on time (even if unexpected costs arise).
No medical bill liability
Never pay a medical bill. Ever.
Circle Surrogacy takes on the liability of medical bills. While we can never stop having you receive medical bills (you are the "patient"), our all-inclusive Fixed Cost program for intended parents allow us to protect both the surrogate and the intended parents to ensure all medical bills will be paid in a timely manner.
Legal protection
Your rights are always protected.
All surrogates work directly with a surrogacy attorney for legal guidance to ensure their rights are protected. You will have an attorney separate from your intended parents. Your legal counsel ensures the terms of your contract with your intended parents are fair, and that your voice is heard. All of your legal fees are paid for by your intended parents.
Surrogate Pay & Benefits Timing
Surrogates receive compensation throughout the duration of their journeys, with payments made pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, and post-pregnancy.
Typical Surrogate Compensation*
Standard base pay: $40,000
Total estimated compensation: $70,000
Journey Stage
Estimated Payment
Pre-Pregnancy
$3,750 + variable payments
Pregnancy
$49,700
Post-Birth
$3,350 + variable payments
Specific payments throughout journey
Up to $3,400+
*Your total compensation may differ due to the specific needs of your journey. These include:
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the number of transfers required for pregnancy
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your travel costs
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potential lost wages or childcare costs
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post-birth recovery costs
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any payments specific to your journey, such as mock cycles, multiples, C-section, etc.
If you feel there is something to add to your compensation, just ask! We want you to feel cared for and heard throughout your entire journey.
Your personal pay and benefits is an estimate because there may be payments that may vary during your journey. These include:
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the number of transfers required for pregnancy
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your travel costs
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potential lost wages or childcare costs
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post-birth recovery costs
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any payments specific to your journey, such as mock cycles, multiples, C-section, etc.
If you feel there is something to add to your compensation, just ask! We want you to feel cared for and heard throughout your entire journey.
Additional Benefits & Perks for Circle Surrogates
At Circle, the benefits and perks a surrogate receives goes far beyond her compensation. We appreciate YOU, and your emotional and physical commitment throughout the process.
Only Circle Surrogates receive these benefits and perks during their journey:
Benefits Paid on Your Behalf
Your intended parents will cover all medical bills, pay for your legal counsel, and purchase a life insurance policy on your behalf.
Perks Just for You
You'll also receive perks during your pregnancy like family meals and a maternity clothing allowance as baby grows.
Gifts & Extras to Add Comfort to the Journey
Surrogates receive little tokens of appreciation throughout their surrogacy – gifts to use while pregnant or gifts to simply enjoy for themselves.
Support From Day One
You'll have access to support from a welcoming Circle team and helpful private Circle surrogate social community. One of the first people you speak with at Circle may likely be an experienced carrier who guides you through the process until you are matched with intended parents. They will personally introduce you to your dedicated mental health professional and journey support team, all of whom are in-house at Circle. Plus, we offer support groups, virtual events, one-on-one surrogate mentorship, and more. Learn more.
Birth Choice Empowerment
We understand that not every gestational carrier has the same desires when it comes to the birth of their surrogate baby. At Circle, our surrogates have choices for their preferred birth options, such as a doula, a hospital birth, or using a birth center with a midwife.
Detailed Surrogate Payment Schedule
Your surrogate payments may be through the three stages of your journey: pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, to post-birth. The chart lays out when you can expect payments to make it easier to financially plan for your family.
Standard Surrogate Compensation
Protections
Perks
Allowances
Compensation
Pre-Pregnancy
Social Work Screening Advance*
$500
Signing Advance*
$1,000
Medical Screening Advance*
$500
Medical Clearance to Transfer* (each transfer)
$1,000
Embryo Transfer*
$750
Travel & Meals for Medical Screening
All expenses + $150/day
Travel & Meals for Embryo Transfer
All expenses + $150/day
Flex Spending
$200/month; begins with medications
Lost Wages (once for each transfer)
Varies based on pay stub
or, Childcare (one for each transfer)
$20/hour (up to $160/day)
Travel Companion’s Lost Wages (once for each transfer)
Lost wages: Varies based on paystub
Mileage (related to contract obligations)
IRS standard rate
Pregnancy
Compensation
Perks
Base Pay (split into nine payments paid monthly starting with confirmation of heartbeat)
$40,000+
(personalized for each surrogate based on where you live and your medical coverage)
Flex Spending
$200/month continues
Maternity Clothing (one-time)
$500 singleton/$750 twins
Housekeeping or Meal Delivery (one-time)
Up to $400
Post-Pregnancy
Allowances
Perks
Protections
Pumping Supplies Reimbursement
Up to $1,000
Flex Spending (one-time)
$500
Family Meal Gift Card (one-time)
$200
Pumping Incentive
$200/week
Lost Wages (once)
Varies based on paystub:
Up to 6 weeks (Vaginal)
Up to 8 weeks (C-section)
or, Childcare (one for each transfer)
$20/hour (up to $160/day)
Partner Recovery Wages (once)
Varies based on paystub:
Up to 2 days (Vaginal)
Up to 5 days (C-section)
*Paid in advance from your base pay
Surrogate Pay FAQs
Because Circle Surrogacy financially backs their intended parents, the escrow account will always be funded. Our Pay Promise to you is that you are 100% guaranteed pay, no matter what happens.
No. Your intended parents will pay the fees outlined for you in your screening and agreed upon in the contract. This is not meant to be an out-of-pocket expense to you.
Circle does not provide surrogates with 1099s. However, you must speak to your tax attorney or accountant about your specific situation. Laws vary from state to state and you should have advice from a tax attorney or accountant to discuss your surrogacy payments and if they are taxable.
Your insurance company (or the surrogate maternity insurance coverage put in place by your intended parents) will pay most of the bills related to your pregnancy and delivery. If there are any additional unexpected costs, your intended parents will cover those costs as well as the IVF medical procedures, expenses, co-payments, and deductibles related to your surrogate pregnancy.
Your intended parents will cover any necessary travel expenses for you and your travel companion to their IVF clinic for the screening and transfer, including lost wages or childcare coverage.
Yes, your partner – or primary support person – will be paid for lost wages when traveling with you for your medical screening and embryo transfer, as well as being compensated for lost wages after your delivery.
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"Everything was so perfect! I’m so very blessed to have been matched with the most amazing IPs and seeing the love and adoration on their faces when they look at their beautiful daughter, makes this journey more than fulfilling! Thank you to everyone on the Circle team for all of your help and support in making this the best journey ever!"
-Amber, Circle Surrogate
