Compensation is usually the first question — and it deserves a direct answer.
In our program, base compensation for gestational surrogates is $50,000–$65,000. Higher compensation is negotiable based on experience and geographic location. Experienced surrogates — women who have completed a previous journey — and surrogates in higher-cost regions routinely qualify at the upper end of the range or above it.
And base compensation is only the beginning. Everything below is in addition to your base pay, and you never pay a single expense out of pocket.
| Component | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Base compensation | $50,000–$65,000, paid in scheduled installments during pregnancy |
| Monthly allowance | Covers incidentals — local travel, phone, vitamins, childcare during appointments |
| Embryo transfer fee | Paid at each transfer, whether or not it results in pregnancy |
| Maternity clothing allowance | Paid as your pregnancy progresses (increased for multiples) |
| Milestone payments | Additional payments at confirmed heartbeat and other pregnancy milestones |
| Medical expenses | 100% covered — screening, medications, transfer, prenatal care, delivery |
| Insurance handling | Our team reviews your policy; surrogacy-friendly coverage is arranged if needed |
| Legal fees | Your own independent attorney, fully paid by the intended parents |
| Travel | Flights, hotel, and meals covered for any required clinic travel, with companion where applicable |
| Lost wages | Reimbursed for medically required time off, including bed rest ordered by your physician |
| Additional provisions | Extra compensation for multiples, C-section, and invasive procedures, defined in your contract |
Exact figures for each component are itemized in your Gestational Surrogacy Agreement before you begin any medical treatment — so there are never surprises.
Payments are not informal transfers from a family’s checking account. Before your medical cycle begins, the intended parents fund your entire compensation package into a licensed, bonded escrow account. From that point, payments are released to you on a fixed schedule:
Because funds are escrowed up front, your compensation never depends on an intended parent’s ongoing willingness or ability to pay.
Wondering how this compares to egg donation? Egg donor compensation is meaningful but substantially lower, reflecting a much shorter commitment — see our Egg Donor vs. Surrogate comparison or visit our egg donor program.
Tax treatment of surrogate compensation depends on your circumstances and how your agreement is structured. We are not tax advisors, and you should review your situation with a qualified tax professional before your journey begins — your coordinator can point you to resources, and your attorney can address how your contract characterizes payments.
Our best surrogates come from our surrogates. Refer a qualified friend and receive a $1,000 bonus, payable once she is pregnant. Call 1-212-661-7177 to register a referral.
A. Correct. Every medical, legal, travel, and screening expense is paid by the intended parents. Your compensation is entirely yours.
A. You keep your transfer fee and all payments made to that point, and — if you choose — proceed to another transfer with an additional transfer fee.
A. All compensation earned to that point is yours. Your contract defines exactly how compensation is handled in every scenario before you begin, and your independent attorney reviews it with you.
A. Base installments begin at confirmed pregnancy (fetal heartbeat) and continue monthly, with the balance released at delivery.
A. Yes. Higher compensation is negotiable based on experience and geographic location — discuss it directly with our intake team at 1-212-661-7177.
Call 1-212-661-7177 or email in**@***********ll.com — or apply now and a coordinator will contact you within one business day. See if you meet our requirements and check your state on the eligibility map.
Egg donation is a process where a woman (the egg donor) provides one or several eggs (also known as oocytes) for purposes of assisted reproduction, with the eggs being fertilized in the laboratory. Once fertilized, the resulting embryos are transferred to the recipient’s uterus to initiate a pregnancy, or they can be cryopreserved (frozen) for future use.