See what surrogates earn in every state — first-time and experienced. Click any state for a full breakdown.
Sorted by average first-time surrogate compensation · click any row to open details
SurroScore compares 200+ agencies so you can see who actually pays the most — and has the best support — before you commit to anyone.
About this data: The compensation figures shown are first-time surrogate base pay averages, based on SurroScore's research across 200+ active US surrogacy programs and surrogate-reported data collected through 2026. Ranges reflect agency-to-agency variation within each state. Total compensation — including allowances, fees, and bonuses — typically runs $8,000–$15,000 above the stated base.
The gap between the highest and lowest-paying states is nearly $25,000 for first-time surrogates. That difference comes down to three structural factors — none of which is cost of living, which has little bearing on base compensation.
These three factors reinforce each other. California's legal clarity draws more IPs → more IP demand creates surrogate scarcity → scarcity attracts more agencies competing on comp. That's why the premium is structural and persistent, not a quirk of any single agency's generosity.
Note on cost of living: COL does affect total package size — monthly allowances and lost wages are benchmarked to local rates — but it doesn't drive the base compensation gap between states. A surrogate in Ohio and a surrogate in California at the same agency network may receive similar allowance structures; the $10,000+ base difference comes from demand and legal environment, not zip code.
The following table lists the ten highest-paying states for first-time surrogates, based on SurroScore's 2026 market analysis. Click any row in the interactive map above to see full agency breakdowns for your state.
| # | State | Avg. First-Time Base | Range | Avg. Experienced | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $62,000 | $55K–$82K+ | $74,000 | Top |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $60,000 | $52K–$78K+ | $72,000 | Top |
| 2 | Washington | $60,000 | $52K–$78K+ | $72,000 | Top |
| 3 | Connecticut | $60,000 | $52K–$78K+ | $72,000 | Top |
| 4 | Nevada | $58,000 | $50K–$75K+ | $70,000 | Top |
| 4 | New York | $58,000 | $50K–$76K+ | $70,000 | Top |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $57,000 | $48K–$73K+ | $68,000 | Top |
| 6 | Colorado | $56,000 | $48K–$72K+ | $66,000 | Top |
| 6 | New Jersey | $56,000 | $48K–$72K+ | $67,000 | Top |
| 6 | Vermont | $56,000 | $48K–$70K+ | $66,000 | Top |
Methodology: Averages represent the midpoint of first-time base compensation ranges reported across agencies active in each state as of Q1 2026. Data sources include agency-published compensation schedules, surrogate-submitted reports via SurroScore's review platform, and SurroScore's direct research across 200+ programs. Figures represent base compensation only — total packages including allowances, fees, and reimbursements are typically $8,000–$15,000 higher. Individual agency offers vary.
The figures shown on this map represent base compensation only — the core monthly payment that makes up the largest portion of your earnings. But total surrogate compensation includes several additional components that vary by agency and can add substantially to your total.
Monthly expense allowance ($200–$500/month): A non-accountable monthly payment for everyday surrogacy-related expenses. Typically runs from medical clearance (~month 4–5 of your journey) through 4 weeks post-delivery — approximately 13–15 months. At $350/month over 14 months, this adds $4,900 to your total that doesn't appear in the base number.
Embryo transfer fee ($1,000–$2,000 per attempt): Paid per transfer regardless of outcome. If multiple transfers are needed, you receive a fee for each attempt.
Milestone bonuses ($250–$500 each): Small payments at medical clearance, legal contract signing, and medication start. Usually total $750–$1,500.
Lost wages coverage: Reimbursement at your actual verified hourly rate for appointment time, transfer recovery, and post-delivery recovery. For a surrogate earning $25/hour, this typically adds $5,000–$9,000. For higher earners, it can be significantly more.
C-section bonus ($3,000–$5,000): Paid if delivery requires a cesarean section, reflecting the additional recovery time and medical complexity.
Maternity clothing allowance ($750–$1,000): Usually paid as a lump sum around the beginning of the second trimester.
To see what a full $50,000 base package looks like with all components, see our surrogate payment timeline breakdown.
The national average for first-time surrogate base compensation in 2026 is approximately $52,000, with a range of $35,000 to $82,000+ depending on state, agency, and experience level. Total compensation — including monthly allowances ($200–$500/month), embryo transfer fees, milestone bonuses, and lost wages — typically adds $8,000–$15,000 on top of base.
Experienced surrogates (those who have completed at least one prior journey) average $62,000 nationally, with top-state experienced surrogates regularly exceeding $80,000–$100,000.
California pays surrogates the most, with first-time base compensation averaging $62,000 and a range of $55,000–$82,000+. Massachusetts, Washington, and Connecticut all average $60,000 for first-time surrogates. Nevada ($58,000) and New York ($58,000) round out the top states.
The premium in these states is structural — driven by strong surrogacy legal frameworks, high intended parent demand, and competitive agency markets. See the full state rankings in the interactive map above.
Three structural factors drive California's premium:
Legal framework: California has the most established surrogacy law in the US. Pre-birth orders are available to all family types, disputes are rare, and decades of settled case law make California surrogates the preferred choice for intended parents — including many international IPs who need legal certainty.
IP demand: California has far more intended parents per available surrogate than most states. This demand imbalance creates competition among agencies to recruit qualified surrogates, which pushes compensation higher.
Agency competition: Dozens of agencies compete for California surrogates, which prevents any single agency from offering below-market rates.
Experienced surrogates typically earn $10,000–$20,000 more per journey than first-time surrogates at the same agency. Nationally, the average experienced surrogate base is approximately $62,000 vs. $52,000 for first-timers.
In top-paying states, the premium is larger: California experienced surrogates average $74,000 vs. $62,000 for first-timers — a $12,000 gap. Some premium agencies offer uncapped rates for experienced carriers that can exceed $100,000 in California.
Your first journey is effectively an investment in future earnings — most agencies don't cap experienced surrogate compensation, and the premium compounds with each completed journey.
Not automatically. Surrogate compensation is primarily driven by the surrogate's state of residence — because legal contracts are filed under the surrogate's state law, not the agency's.
However, surrogates in Nevada, Oregon, and Washington often qualify for near-California rates when working with national agencies, because those states have similarly strong surrogacy legal frameworks that attract comparable IP demand.
Surrogates in states with less favorable legal environments will typically earn that state's market rate regardless of which agency they work with. The comp premium is tied to your state's legal environment and IP demand — not the agency's zip code.
Base compensation starts after confirmed fetal heartbeat — typically 6–8 weeks after a successful embryo transfer. From the time of initial application, most surrogates wait 8–12 months before their first base payment arrives.
Smaller payments begin earlier: monthly allowances usually start at medical clearance (month 4–5), the embryo transfer fee is paid at transfer regardless of outcome, and milestone bonuses are paid at legal clearance and medication start.
For a complete month-by-month breakdown with real dollar amounts, see the surrogate payment timeline guide.
No — compensation varies significantly between agencies even in the same state. In California, first-time base compensation ranges from $55,000 to $82,000+ depending on the agency. The same pattern holds in every state: agencies set their own comp schedules, and the gap between the lowest and highest offers in a state can easily reach $10,000–$20,000.
SurroScore tracks compensation data across 200+ agencies so you can compare what's actually on offer before committing to any agency. Click any state on the map above or browse the full agency directory.
The tax treatment of surrogate compensation is legally unsettled under US federal tax law. Some agencies represent surrogate compensation as non-taxable; tax professionals often take a more conservative view. The IRS has not issued definitive guidance specifically addressing gestational carrier compensation.
Surrogates are strongly advised to consult a tax professional with surrogacy experience before or early in their journey — not to rely solely on their agency's characterization. Tax treatment can vary based on the specifics of your contract and state of residence.
Both have genuine advantages. Local agencies often offer face-to-face coordinator meetings, in-person community events and surrogate support groups, and deep relationships with local RE clinics and attorneys — factors that matter significantly to many surrogates over an 18–24 month journey.
National agencies typically have larger intended parent pools (which can mean faster matching), more staff and resources, and sometimes higher base compensation — particularly for surrogates in legally favorable states.
The compensation difference between local and national agencies in the same state is often $5,000–$10,000. Whether that gap outweighs the relationship and community factors depends on what matters most to you. Read our full local vs. national agency guide for a complete comparison.
The interactive map above is the fastest way to explore comp by state, but the following table gives you a static, searchable reference for all 50 states — useful when comparing multiple states side-by-side or sharing specific figures.
Figures represent first-time surrogate base compensation averages. Restricted states are excluded from rankings; their legal status is noted. All data as of Q1 2026.
| Rank | State | First-Time Avg | Range | Experienced Avg | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $62,000 | $55K–$82K+ | $74,000 | Top |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $60,000 | $52K–$78K+ | $72,000 | Top |
| 2 | Washington | $60,000 | $52K–$78K+ | $72,000 | Top |
| 2 | Connecticut | $60,000 | $52K–$78K+ | $72,000 | Top |
| 4 | Nevada | $58,000 | $50K–$75K+ | $70,000 | Top |
| 4 | New York | $58,000 | $50K–$76K+ | $70,000 | Top |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $58,000 | $50K–$74K+ | $70,000 | Top |
| 4 | Washington D.C. | $58,000 | $50K–$74K+ | $70,000 | Top |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $57,000 | $48K–$73K+ | $68,000 | Top |
| 6 | Colorado | $56,000 | $48K–$72K+ | $66,000 | Top |
| 6 | New Jersey | $56,000 | $48K–$72K+ | $67,000 | Top |
| 6 | Vermont | $56,000 | $48K–$70K+ | $66,000 | Top |
| 7 | Oregon | $55,000 | $48K–$70K+ | $65,000 | Top |
| 7 | Illinois | $55,000 | $48K–$70K+ | $65,000 | Top |
| 8 | Delaware | $54,000 | $46K–$68K+ | $64,000 | Top |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $53,000 | $46K–$68K+ | $63,000 | High |
| 10 | Hawaii | $52,000 | $44K–$66K+ | $62,000 | High |
| 10 | Maryland | $52,000 | $45K–$66K+ | $62,000 | High |
| 11 | Minnesota | $49,000 | $42K–$62K+ | $59,000 | Mid-High |
| 12 | Florida | $50,000 | $44K–$65K+ | $60,000 | High |
| 12 | Maine | $50,000 | $43K–$62K+ | $60,000 | High |
| 13 | Virginia | $48,000 | $42K–$62K+ | $58,000 | Mid |
| 13 | Texas | $48,000 | $42K–$62K+ | $58,000 | Mid |
| 13 | Michigan | $48,000 | $42K–$62K+ | $58,000 | Mid |
| 14 | North Carolina | $47,000 | $41K–$60K+ | $57,000 | Mid |
| 15 | Alaska | $46,000 | $40K–$58K+ | $54,000 | Mid |
| 15 | Georgia | $46,000 | $40K–$60K+ | $56,000 | Mid |
| 15 | Idaho | $46,000 | $40K–$58K+ | $56,000 | Mid |
| 15 | Ohio | $46,000 | $40K–$58K+ | $56,000 | Mid |
| 15 | Utah | $46,000 | $40K–$58K+ | $56,000 | Mid |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $46,000 | $40K–$57K+ | $55,000 | Mid |
| 16 | Alabama | $44,000 | $38K–$55K+ | $52,000 | Mid |
| 16 | Montana | $44,000 | $38K–$54K+ | $53,000 | Mid |
| 16 | South Carolina | $44,000 | $38K–$55K+ | $53,000 | Mid |
| 16 | Tennessee | $44,000 | $38K–$55K+ | $53,000 | Mid |
| 17 | Iowa | $43,000 | $38K–$54K+ | $52,000 | Mid |
| 17 | Kansas | $43,000 | $37K–$54K+ | $52,000 | Mid |
| 17 | Missouri | $43,000 | $37K–$54K+ | $52,000 | Mid |
| 18 | Arkansas | $42,000 | $36K–$52K+ | $50,000 | Mid |
| 18 | Kentucky | $42,000 | $36K–$52K+ | $51,000 | Mid |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $42,000 | $36K–$52K+ | $51,000 | Mid |
| 19 | North Dakota | $41,000 | $36K–$52K+ | $50,000 | Lower |
| 19 | Wyoming | $41,000 | $36K–$52K+ | $50,000 | Lower |
| 20 | South Dakota | $40,000 | $35K–$50K+ | $48,000 | Lower |
| 21 | Mississippi | $38,000 | $33K–$48K+ | $46,000 | Lower |
| 21 | West Virginia | $38,000 | $33K–$48K+ | $46,000 | Lower |
| The following states have significant legal restrictions — compensation data is not displayed pending verification. | |||||
| — | Arizona | Contract enforceability uncertain — data withheld | Restricted | ||
| — | Indiana | Contract enforceability uncertain — data withheld | Restricted | ||
| — | Louisiana | Commercial surrogacy prohibited by statute — data withheld | Restricted | ||
| — | Nebraska | Contract enforceability uncertain — data withheld | Restricted | ||
Four states — Arizona, Indiana, Nebraska, and Louisiana — are shown as restricted on this map, meaning SurroScore does not display compensation figures for them until we can verify current legal conditions with confidence.
Surrogacy law in the United States exists almost entirely at the state level. There is no federal surrogacy statute. This means the enforceability of a gestational carrier agreement, the availability of pre-birth orders, and the legal recognition of the intended parents all depend entirely on the state where the surrogate lives and delivers — not where the agency is headquartered, not where the intended parents live.
In some states, surrogacy contracts have been held void or unenforceable by courts. In others, no clear legal pathway exists for pre-birth orders. In Louisiana specifically, compensated surrogacy is prohibited by statute. In states like these, listing compensation figures could mislead surrogates into believing a fully compensated journey is straightforward when the legal foundation for it is, at minimum, unclear.
Not necessarily. Some surrogates in legally uncertain states do complete journeys — often by working with attorneys who have experience navigating the state's specific environment, or by working with national agencies that have established protocols for complex legal jurisdictions. But the risk profile, timeline, and available compensation can differ substantially from what's listed for green-light states. SurroScore's standard is to show verified data or show nothing — not to guess.
If you live in a restricted state and want to explore options, the best starting point is a consultation with a reproductive attorney licensed in your state, not an agency intake form.
Compensation isn't fixed. Every figure on this map represents an average across agencies active in a state, but agencies set their own schedules — and in most cases, those schedules have some flexibility, especially for experienced surrogates or candidates with strong profiles.
Prior surrogacy experience is the single largest individual factor. Most agencies have a defined experienced-surrogate tier with a higher base, and this is rarely negotiable downward — it's the floor, not the ceiling, for a repeat carrier. If you've carried before, make sure you're quoted the experienced rate upfront.
Your state's legal environment sets the structural ceiling. No amount of negotiating will move a surrogate in a lower-comp state to California rates — the comp reflects the demand and legal landscape of where you live, not where the agency is based.
BMI, health profile, and insurance status can affect whether an agency classifies you as a standard or complex candidate. Some agencies offer a premium for surrogates who already carry their own health insurance that covers surrogacy — because it simplifies the agency's insurance coordination and reduces their cost.
Match timeline urgency occasionally affects offers. If an agency has intended parents waiting and you meet their criteria exactly, some agencies will offer higher base pay to accelerate a match. This is more common with national agencies managing large IP pools.
Base pay is the headline number, but the full package matters more. Before committing to any agency, get a written breakdown of: base monthly payment, monthly allowance amount and duration, transfer fee per attempt, all milestone bonuses, lost wages policy (flat rate vs. verified hourly), maternity clothing allowance, and the C-section bonus. Two agencies quoting the same base can have total packages that differ by $8,000–$12,000 once all components are added.
SurroScore's agency profiles include compensation breakdowns where available. Browse agencies in your state →
Go deeper on surrogate compensation with these SurroScore guides.