Paid Clinical Trials by Condition: 2026 Compensation Guide
If you live with a chronic condition, clinical trials will pay you for the time you spend helping test the next generation of treatments, typically $500-$3,000 for patient studies, and up to $4,000+ for long fatty liver studies with compensated imaging visits. This guide breaks down typical 2026 participant compensation by condition and links to what is recruiting now.
Typical clinical trial compensation by condition (2026)
| Condition | Typical total compensation | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| COPD | $500-$3,000 total ($75-$150 per visit) | 6-18 months, mostly outpatient visits |
| Asthma | $500-$2,500 total ($75-$125 per visit) | 3-12 months, outpatient |
| Heart Failure | $500-$2,000 total ($50-$150 per visit) | 1-3 years, periodic outpatient visits |
| Fatty Liver Disease (MASH / NASH) | $1,000-$4,000 total (imaging/biopsy visits often $250-$500 each) | 1-4 years, outpatient with periodic imaging |
| Alcohol-Related Liver Disease | $500-$3,000 total | 6 months-2 years |
| Chronic Itch (Pruritus) | $500-$2,500 total | 3-12 months |
| Pediatric Prurigo Nodularis | Several hundred to a few thousand dollars per family | 6-18 months |
| Lyme Disease Vaccine | $500-$2,000 total | 1-2 years (short visits: injections + blood draws) |
| Diabetic Neuropathy | $500-$2,500 total | 3-12 months, outpatient |
| Obesity & Heart Risk | $500-$3,000 total | 1-3 years, periodic outpatient visits |
| COVID Vaccine (Ages 50-64) | $300-$1,500 total | 6-18 months (short injection + follow-up visits) |
Ranges are typical published study compensation for US participants; exact amounts are set per study and listed in the informed consent document.
Why patient trials pay
Drug developers cannot get treatments approved without participants who actually have the condition, and recruiting is their single biggest bottleneck. Compensation covers your time, travel, and the procedures each visit involves. On top of the stipends, participants get condition-specific monitoring (imaging, labs, specialist exams) at no cost for the length of the study.
Pick your condition
Healthy and not sure where to start?
If you do not have one of these conditions, healthy-volunteer studies (including vaccine trials) and Phase 1 studies pay the most per day. Start with our complete clinical trial pay guide and the clinical trial earnings calculator, or browse trials near you.
Disclaimer: This page is researched general information, not medical advice, and DonorPayCalculator is not a medical provider or research site. Whether any study is appropriate for you is a decision for you, your doctor, and the study team. Some links on condition pages are sponsored and may earn us a commission at no cost to you.