How Much Does CSL Plasma Pay For Plasma?

CSL Plasma is one of the largest plasma donation centers in the world, with locations spanning across America that are known to offer competitive new donor rates.

Similar to other large plasma centers, like Octapharma Plasma, CSL Plasma offers its donors different tiers of compensation based on how much they weigh and how frequently they donate.

With large plasma donation centers, you can also expect additional ways to earn through referral bonuses and loyalty programs.

In this article, you will get an idea of how much you can earn by donating your plasma to CSL Plasma and if it’s the best option for you.

How Does Donor Pay Work at CSL Plasma?

When you donate plasma at CSL, you will fall into three different weight tiers that will greatly affect your return donor compensation.

These tiers are as follows:

First Tier – Weighs between 110-149 pounds
Second Tier – Weighs between 150-174 pounds
Third Tier – Weighs between 175-400 pounds

In general, the more you weigh, the higher volume of plasma will be safely drawn, thus your payment is the highest.

If you belong to the first tier, and weigh between 110 and 149 pounds, you can expect to be paid roughly 25% less for each successful return donation compared to donors who belong to the third tier.

For example, if third tier donors get $50 per plasma donation, first-tier donors may only receive $35. This is an estimate, but historically, it can be used to understand how much you may be able to earn.

For new donors, compensation is fixed. Regardless of your weight, first-time donors typically get the same donor compensation during their first month at CSL Plasma.

How Much Does CSL Plasma Pay New Donors?

Since CSL Plasma has centers that stretch across the United States, the donor rates in your city may vary greatly.

At the time of this writing, CSL is offering up to $100 for your first donation in certain areas, and a total of up to $700 in your first month as a new donor.

To earn the full new donor bonus at CSL, you must be prepared to donate eight times, or twice a week, within the first 30 days as a new donor.

Generally speaking, first-time donors at CSL can expect to earn $500–$525 on the low end, and $700–$800 on the higher end within their first month as a donor.

In July 2023, a new donor shared that their local in Taylor, Pennsylvania, was offering a first-time donor bonus of $85 per donation for first tier donors and $100 per donation, both for the first five donations.

To get a visual of these rates, please see the chart below:

If you’re trying to maximize your new donor bonus, CSL Plasma does offer special promotions for first-time donors in certain months. A simple strategy would be to check your local CSL Plasma each month to see if they’re running a promotion, then begin your journey as a new donor.

How Much Does CSL Plasma Pay Returning Donors?

At CSL Plasma, your weight starts to affect your donor compensation once you complete your first month as a new donor.

As mentioned above, there are three different tiers of weights. And like most plasma centers, return donor rates vary greatly based on which city you’re located in.

Compared to other plasma centers, CSL falls close to the bottom in terms of return donor pay.

To estimate how much you can earn as a return donor, CSL plasma pays about $35–$55 per donation. In some areas, donors who weigh over 175 pounds can earn up to $65 per donation as a return donor.

One benefit that return donors get from donating at CSL is their frequent monthly bonuses. It’s common for CSL plasma centers to have different incentives and bonuses every month, with the best bonuses occurring around holidays, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween.

A common return donor bonus is rewarded after a certain amount of plasma donations within the same month. For example, you may receive an extra $10 for your 5th, 6th and 7th plasma donation of the month.

While CSL is known for their generous holiday promotions, many return donors have shared that the holiday promotions have gone down in compensation substantially over the years.

However, it’s not all bad news.

Return donors also get access to CSL’s generous referral program and loyalty rewards to increase their earnings.

How To Earn More For Referring Your Friends

At the time of this writing, CSL has the highest referral bonus out of every plasma donation center in America.

They’re currently offering a $150 bonus for every person that you refer who completes two successful donations. Additionally, the person you refer will receive a $50 bonus once they complete their second plasma donation.

While this may be a special promotional period, you can still expect to earn $50–$100 per referral that you make, with no limit to the number of people you can refer.

This means CSL offers the most competitive referral payouts compared to any other plasma center.

How Much Are iGive Points Worth At CSL Plasma?

Return donors automatically receive iGive points after each successful donation, which is CSL Plasma’s loyalty program.

There are four ways to earn iGive points, including donating plasma, referring donors, participating in promotions at your local center, and completing surveys.

As you earn more points, you gain a higher status. The highest status you can achieve as a return donor is platinum status. Platinum donors represent the highest level of loyalty and earn a 100% point bonus.

For example, if you receive 50 iGive points for each donation, a platinum status donor will receive 100 iGive points.

Many return donors shared that you can expect to receive 50 iGive points after each donation, where each point is worth approximately $0.01, or 1 cent.

This means 5000 iGive points can be exchanged for $50 in the form of a gift card or a cash bonus at your next donation. The minimum amount of points you need to convert points into cash rewards is 1000 points.

Please note if you’re inactive or go without donating for 30 days or longer, your iGive points will expire.

Is Donating Plasma At CSL Plasma Worth It?

If you’re looking for a plasma center with the highest new donor bonuses, CSL Plasma is definitely worth it during their promotional months.

During their non-promotional months, CSL Plasma’s new donor bonus is considered average in terms of donor compensation.

We also recommend CSL Plasma if you have friends who you can refer, as their referral bonus is the highest paying option for the referring donor and the referred donors.

Since CSL Plasma’s return pay depends so much on how much you weigh, you can likely find higher-paying plasma centers, especially if you weigh under 150 pounds. If you weigh over 175 pounds, CSL Plasma’s return pay may still be one of the most competitive in your area.

The perks for return donors are above average due to their frequent monthly bonuses, but the iGive rewards don’t add much to your overall compensation even if you become a long-term donor.

Overall, CSL Plasma is a solid choice for plasma donation, but is most favorable to new donors and donors who weigh above 175 pounds.