paid research jobs reviews

The 15 Best Sites for Paid Research Studies

Jenni Sisson, Contributor

• Updated September 11, 2023

Paid research studies are somewhat similar to survey sites , but these studies go a lot more in-depth. The marketing company may ask you to keep a diary of your activities for a week or longer, or they may conduct multiple hour-long phone interviews. They’ll also screen your demographic info much more carefully than if you were conducting simple product tests . 

As such, the payout for research studies is much more than for surveys, with between $50 and $100 per hour being common. Read on to find out more about paid research studies, and which ones are worth your time.

Table of Contents

Key Facts About Paid Research Studies

These studies vary in form and topic and sometimes go by different names, like clinical trials, focus groups, shopalongs, user surveys, paid research opportunities and more. In each case, a company or organization hires a market research firm to answer a question. It could be anything from “Which baby food logo do moms prefer?” to “How many Hispanic citizens in Cincinnati have a favorable view of candidate John Doe?” 

The topic of the research determines what kind of study subjects the project requires, so researchers have to gather respondents of specific demographics. If you sign up for the research company’s database and you fit the profile, they will email or call you to participate in the study. In some cases, you can browse research opportunities and apply to the ones you’re most interested in.

Studies can take various forms: an emailed survey, a phone interview, a video chat, an in-person group panel, keeping a diary of certain activities and more. Your honest responses help companies make marketing and product decisions. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you pursue this side hustle:

• You won’t qualify for every study, so plan to apply to a lot of them and with multiple marketing companies.
• Answer honestly. Lie on the surveys and the recruiter will likely ban you from the platform permanently.
• Check your email regularly. Paid research studies are usually time-sensitive, and often the first respondents are rewarded for their punctuality.
• Do your homework. Not every company that claims to do research is legit. Some take your info, “disqualify you” for the study, then sell that info to other companies. Check sites like the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Reddit and Trustpilot to sift out the time wasters and bad actors.
• Check their payment terms. Companies pay in gift cards, cash, or via apps like PayPal. The timeframe of when you’ll be paid varies widely between companies, so read the fine print.

We’ve compiled a list of some popular companies that conduct paid research studies. Some are generalists, while some cater to a specific clientele or demographic. 

#1. User Interviews

In our experience, User Interviews offers a very high payout compared to the time spent. During our test, we earned a net rate of $55 per hour . Most of the payments are in the form of Amazon gift cards rather than cash, though there are occasionally PayPal options.

#2. Respondent

Respondent focuses their recruitment on IT/tech employees, CEOs and other industry professionals. They offer hefty compensation for participants, which can rise to as much as $750 per hour (according to their website). Respondent pays in PayPal only and only allows you to apply to three studies per day.

While the payouts for Respondent studies are high, it can be difficult to qualify for them. Professionals in IT and other technology business roles tend to have an easier time. You can only apply to the B2B studies if you link your work email to your Respondent profile.

We only earned $31 per hour in our Respondent testing , but that still makes this one of the highest-paying market research opportunities we’ve discovered. 

A Reddit user who goes by the screen name sauciestcoconut claims to have made over $2,000 with DScout , noting that their key to success is that they “literally apply to almost every single mission that I might qualify for. I skip the ones that obviously don’t relate to me (about kids or certain occupations) but I submit several applications a day.”

#4. Universities

These are the original source of paid research studies, so if you live near a university, they can be a great option to make some extra cash. They can be trickier to locate, as each department will have its own recruitment methods.

There is no central repository for these studies that we could find, but here is a list of a few major institutions to get you started:

• Carnegie Mellon (offers online research opportunities)
• University of Nebraska
• University of Texas
• University of Colorado

To sign up to be part of the pool of research study participants at your local university, do an internet search for the university’s name and “paid research studies.” Many (though not all) research studies are conducted in person.

Here’s another route to find these opportunities: if you live near a medical research university, ask your doctor if they know of any clinical trials going on that you may qualify for.

#5. Fieldwork

Fieldwork offers focus groups in 13 locations around the U.S. If you don’t live near one, you can join their online database. They especially need doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals for their studies.

After you register with their site, an employee will call or email you when you come up as a match for a study’s requirements. They have a good reputation as a legitimate company, but users say it’s imperative that you answer the phone when they call . Otherwise, they’ll move on to the next qualifying person on their list.

#6. U.S. Government Clinical Trials

The federal government is always looking for people to participate in clinical trials of various medications and treatments, many of which are conducted through the National Institutes of Health.

These studies can be a particularly good option if you suffer from a chronic medical condition, as you may gain access to cutting-edge treatments before they’re widely available. And as a general rule, these trials are safe; although they may not produce the results that the researchers are hoping for, researchers don’t conduct trials that they believe have the potential to cause harm. 

You can find a list of ongoing clinical trials at clinicaltrials.gov . This is just a repository for the information; each trial is conducted by a different company, university or organization, and you’ll have to contact each study you’re applying for by phone or email. No compensation information is available on the site, and pay rates vary widely depending on factors such as the required time commitment. 

#7. FocusGroup.com

FocusGroup.com has 16 facilities nationwide where you can participate in face-to-face focus groups and panels. These typically pay well, since there’s more work involved in attending an in-person interview than a phone or internet survey.

This company is now owned by Schlesinger Group (rebranded as SAGO), and the change has caused some operational hiccups. For example, there have been several complaints to the Better Business Bureau of participants not getting paid and receiving poor or no communication from the company. However, most of these issues have reportedly been resolved. 

#8. Rare Patient Voice

Due to the nature of this company’s clientele, it is extremely difficult for them to match people to research studies, as they focus on rare diseases and conditions. That said, if you do qualify (and they list their ongoing studies directly on their site), you are handsomely compensated.

Rare Patient Voice has a good reputation, earning an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau . Most of the complaints from participants are related to delayed payment due to an investigation on whether the participant sped through the questions too quickly to give a thorough review. 

#9. FindFocusGroups.com

This site doesn’t host paid research studies directly; it’s more like Craigslist for vetted, high-paying focus groups. (That means you’ll have to apply to each study individually.) Focus groups are sorted by city and state, but there are nationwide online groups as well.

The interface of the site is filled with ads, so make sure that when you click on a sign-up link you’re signing up for an individual study, not clicking over to a random advertiser (some of whom make their ads looks like study invitations).

The reputation of FindFocusGroups.com is hard to speak to as the site is just a board that posts the focus groups of various companies.

#10. SIS International

As you might guess from the name, SIS International is one of the few companies on this list that is open to participants around the world. Their research covers a broad range of industries — everything from burgers to butane.

Participants seem to like participating in SIS International’s research. The company has five stars on Trustpilot and many complimentary reviews from former study participants. 

#11. Probe Market Research

Probe Market Research has three focuses: consumer studies, business-to-business research and healthcare. It’s a legit company, though some participants complain of late payments and the inconvenience of getting paid in virtual Visa cards , which can only be used online and expire in 90 days. However, the company has four stars on Yelp and most reviews are positive.

#12. Focus Insite

Though they pay well, several Reddit users note that it’s pretty hard to qualify for these studies . Though the reviews aren’t all bad; for example, Redditor stormborn29 said , “Focus Insite sent me a really nice vacuum to test, and I was paid $200 — plus I got to keep the vacuum.” 

Focus Insite does, however, have a few unresolved BBB complaints regarding the lack of payment to participants . They have an active Facebook page, but the reviews on that page look unrelated to market research or surveys. In other words, this research company appears to be legit, but we still recommend proceeding with caution. 

#13. WatchLab

If you’re curious about the latest WatchLab studies, check out their Facebook page . WatchLab’s website is geared toward companies that employ them, not participants, so you’ll get more information on Facebook. Many studies are related to social media use.

This firm is notorious for taking a long time to pay , and they’ve been dinged by many users for not paying at all. They only have 2.5 stars on Yelp (based on 32 reviews), and most of the complaints are due to nonpayment. 

GLG presents a different type of opportunity than most of the other companies on this list. They do research on big purchasing decisions, recruit expert witnesses for trials and more. They keep a list of industry experts in management, law, finance and other professional fields to interview or consult on special cases or niche studies.

“Consultants” usually have years of industry experience, and often have leadership roles. A handful of other companies do this too; AlphaSights, Guidepoint, Third Bridge and Coleman are a few others. 

The screening required to become a consultant for GLG and other high-paying research firms is extensive, as they only want respondents that have specific credentials. To get selected, veterans in this consulting side gig world recommend being very detailed in your LinkedIn profile, as recruiters for these studies rely heavily on the platform to identify potential participants.

Many studies are geared toward mid to senior-level professionals, and if you’re matched with a study, you can make up to $500 per hour or more.

#15. Recruit + Field

Recruit + Field covers the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. They have an impressive list of clients, including Apple, Netflix, Clinique, Spotify and more. This company is somewhere between a GLG (looking for experts) and FieldWork (looking for all walks of life plus healthcare professionals), as they recruit in each of these areas.

Their reputation is fairly good; Recruit + Field has an A- rating on BBB (only 4 complaints, all of which have been answered). 

What About Apex Focus Group?

When we tested Apex Focus Group , we found that the platform offers none of its own paid research studies and uses misleading marketing tactics to get users to sign up for its email list. Once opted in, the company sends affiliate marketing messages to your inbox. Some of those messages contain legit focus group opportunities, but they’re the same focus groups you could find on your own — often by visiting the sites listed above.

Paid Research Study Sites: Summary and Final Thoughts

You won’t qualify for every study, and unfortunately, no amount of hard work will change that. (Plus these companies now have layers of checks and AI algorithms to vet cheating and lying, so don’t try that either). 

Because of this, paid research studies fall squarely in the side-hustle-only camp. For the best return, apply to a number of studies you have a good chance of qualifying for, and quickly respond when you get a call or email from the market research company (as many studies are deadline driven). 

Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent looking to make a few bucks during naptime or a senior project manager looking for a good-paying, low-maintenance side gig , paid research studies can be an easy way to make extra money.

Different companies cater to different demographics, and hence, want different research participants. So do your homework on the research company before you sign up to get a better response rate. 

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment Read our comment policy.

A Message From Our Founder

Welcome to The Ways To Wealth. I founded this site to help make a difference in people's lives by delivering objective, reliable advice and recommendations that help them make more money, save more money, and invest wisely.

• Money Management
• Debt Payoff
• About The Ways To Wealth
• Media & Advertising
• Privacy Policy

Latest Posts

11 ways to get free walmart gift cards (2024 update), mypoints signup bonus: $10 for new users (+ tips to cash out fast), caz investments review: key facts about the “holy grail” fund, inboxdollars sign-up bonus: $5 for registering (plus tips to withdraw), unpacking robinhood’s ira match: is it a good deal, popular tags.

• Reading Lists

15 Legitimate Places to Participate in Paid Research Studies

Our readers always come first.

The content on DollarSprout includes links to our advertising partners. When you read our content and click on one of our partners’ links, and then decide to complete an offer — whether it’s downloading an app, opening an account, or some other action — we may earn a commission from that advertiser, at no extra cost to you.

Our ultimate goal is to educate and inform, not lure you into signing up for certain offers. Compensation from our partners may impact what products we cover and where they appear on the site, but does not have any impact on the objectivity of our reviews or advice.

From testing products and services to sleep and diet studies, here's a list of vetted places you can participate in paid focus groups.

• Side Hustles

Our mission at DollarSprout is to help readers improve their financial lives, and we regularly partner with companies that share that same vision. If a purchase or signup is made through one of our Partners’ links, we may receive compensation for the referral. Learn more here .

A few years ago, I got an invitation to attend a research study hosted by a local skincare company. They were launching a new line of products and wanted feedback from 20 to 25 year-old-women with dry skin.

Since I was a new college grad who needed extra cash, I decided to go. They asked me various questions regarding my current skincare regimen, the products I used, and how I felt about them. It only took an hour, and I got a $75 Visa gift card and a few product samples. Not a bad way to kill an hour.

If you like the idea of getting paid to share your opinions, you’re in luck. There are plenty of places that host paid research studies. While the study I did was in-person, there are many online research studies you can do at home.

Websites That Offer Paid Research Studies

You can find online focus groups that’ll pay you for your time and feedback through a variety of websites. Each site has its own requirements and payment structure, so it’s a good idea to explore all the options available.

1. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is a survey site that’s been around since 2005. It will pay you to take surveys and express your opinions to big brands who want to improve their products and services. After you answer several questions about yourself and create a profile, the site will match you to surveys that are relevant to you.

Any time you complete a survey, you’ll earn virtual points, which you can redeem for PayPal cash or online gift cards. Most surveys take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes, and you can expect to make between 100 to 200 points or $1 to $3 per survey. You won’t have to buy any products or sign up for other websites.

2. American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion is a survey panel that partners with large companies who want customer opinions. To join, you’ll enter basic information such as your age and where you live. Then, you’ll take a general household survey where you’ll share details about your lifestyle.

You’ll likely receive survey invitations via email several times a year. The number of points you’ll rack up will depend on the length of the surveys.

While short surveys are typically worth anywhere between 5 and 50 points, you can earn up to 5,000 points with longer ones. One point equals $0.01, and you can cash your points in for PayPal cash or donate them to charity.

Related: 17 Best Places to Take Paid Online Surveys for Money

3. Respondent

Respondent is unique because it organizes one-on-one paid research studies online and in person. You can sign up with your email address or via your Facebook or LinkedIn profile through the site.

Once you do, you’ll fill out some basic personal information such as your name, birthday, and email address. They’ll also ask for demographic details like your gender, ethnicity, and educational background.

After you’ve signed up, you’ll browse all of the “projects” available and details like the pay and how long they take to complete. When you see a project that interests you, you can apply to it through a short questionnaire. You’ll be emailed if the company chooses you for their project.

Most of the projects focus on small business or technology and pay anywhere from $50 to $85 via PayPal for 45 minutes to an hour of your time.

4. FocusGroup.com

FocusGroup.com began in 1988 and offers surveys as well as in-person and online focus groups via phone and webcam. After you create a profile, you’ll be emailed surveys and focus group invitations.

The majority of the site’s surveys and focus groups revolve around health and wellness, pet products, finances, and shopping habits.

You’ll earn between $75 and $150 if you participate in focus groups and points for surveys, which you can apply toward a prepaid Visa debit card. You can cash out 100 points for $1.00.

5. Plaza Research

Plaza Research pays parents, kids, teens, students, doctors, and business professionals to share their opinions on new products and services. It hosts surveys and a variety of in-person focus groups throughout the country.

If you attend a focus group, you’ll likely be asked to try a new product, watch a TV commercial, or discuss your thoughts about future products. To receive survey and focus group invitations, fill out an online form. The form will ask you questions about your education, electronic use, employment, household, pets, and more.

You’ll get an email if you’re a good fit for a survey or focus group. The amount you’ll earn depends on its length and scope. Most participants will earn between $50 and $200, paid via check, for two hours of their time.

Related: How to Get Paid to Write Reviews

6. Mindswarms

You can create an account online or via the Mindswarms mobile app and get paid to answer questions via your smartphone or webcam.

After you apply to a survey that appeals to you, you’ll answer a few targeted questions to make sure you’re a good fit for it. If you are, you’ll answer seven questions and earn about $50. The money will be sent to your PayPal account within 24 hours. You can also redeem your earnings for an Amazon gift card.

7. Fieldwork

Fieldwork has facilitated marketing research studies since 1980. The company hosts in-person focus groups in 11 cities across the U.S. If you don’t live near any of these cities, you can still register for Fieldwork’s national database and participate in online or phone interviews.

To register, fill out an online questionnaire and wait for Fieldwork to call or email you when an opportunity is available. Most in-person focus groups last between one and two hours and can be on random topics such as cereal and video games. Compensation is usually a $75 Visa gift card.

8. User Interviews

User Interviews organizes focus groups in-person, via phone, or video streaming about products, services, and websites. For a chance to participate, create a profile with your birthday, gender, household income, marital status, and education level.

If you find a project that interests you, complete a short screener survey to see if you’re eligible. If you are, you can sign up for the focus group and earn an average of $50/hr. You’ll get paid via check.

9. Brand Institute

Brand Institute is a branding agency that supports healthcare and pharmaceutical companies with their marketing initiatives. You can become a Brand Institute panel member after you fill out a short online registration form. If you qualify for a paid research study, you’ll get an email notification and can participate right away.

Payment depends on the survey you take, and you’re more likely to receive invites for higher-paying surveys if you have a medical background. You can earn between $2 and $30 via check or PayPal. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and others in healthcare report that they receive about four surveys a month.

Engage finds respondents for various market research and usability studies. It offers both in-person focus groups and online discussions for panel members. You can join the healthcare panel if you’re a medical professional or consumer panel if you’re an everyday consumer.

You’ll have to provide information about your income, marital status, education level, and job. Once you do, you’ll receive an email notification whenever you qualify for a study. Most studies cover topics like cars, electronics, food products, music, and medical conditions. They usually pay $50 to $250 via check or PayPal.

Universities that Facilitate Paid Focus Groups

  You can also find paid focus groups at colleges and universities. Many of them offer year-round opportunities and focus on psychology and human behavior. While most of these studies are performed online, a few require that you participate in person.

You don’t have to be a student to participate, and payment is typically in the form of PayPal cash, gift cards, or a check. If you’d like to earn money via college-run focus groups, take a look at the schools near your home. Their websites will likely include details about these types of opportunities.

• Purdue University ( See studies )
• Center for Decision Sciences Columbia Business School ( See studies )
• Northwestern University Department of Psychology ( See studies )
• Harvard University Psychology Study Pool ( See studies )
• MIT Behavioral Research Lab ( See studies )

DollarSprout co-founder Jeff Proctor participated in a six-week research study on high-fat diets at Virginia Tech. During the study, he was compensated with meals and $500.

“It was a great experience but very involved,” he said. “I had to check in every day to get weighed, choose my meals, and get several blood and urine samples taken.”

How to Tell if a Focus Group Opportunity is Legit

Even though many focus group opportunities are legitimate, there are plenty of work-from-home scams out there. If you have to pay to participate or reveal confidential information such as your Social Security number or credit card details, that’s a red flag. Stay away from any focus groups that force you to buy products or services or sign up for other websites.

If you find an opportunity that interests you, do some online research to make sure it’s valid. Check the Better Business Bureau to see its rating and read any complaints. This way you can avoid a situation where you get excited about a focus group and then find out it’s a scam.

A legitimate company will never charge you to attend a focus group or take a survey. In addition, they’ll have a privacy policy that’s prominently displayed on their website and will only email you from a business email account, rather than one from a free service like Gmail or Yahoo.

Related: How One Woman Earns $5,000 per Month as a Surrogate Mother 

You May Also Like

12 High-Paying Companies Offering Website Testing Jobs

20 Best Money Making Apps for Earning On the Go

10 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Write Reviews (Movies, Restaurants, and More)

How to Make Money Managing Facebook Ads for Local Small Businesses

9 Legitimate Ways to Get Paid to Search the Web

31 Practical Ways to Make $500 Fast

Apex Focus Group Review: $750/Week Legit or Scam?

TLDR: Apex Focus Group is a legit resource to find paid market research studies. But there are enough red flags that it wouldn’t be my first choice in this field.

Still, paid focus groups are a fun and easy way to make extra money. That’s one reason why we’ve been covering them for years on Side Hustle Nation.

In this post, I’ll break down:

• How Apex Focus Group really works (hint: it’s not a market research company)
• How much you can earn with them
• Better alternatives to consider 

Ready? Let’s do it!

Apex promises to send you legit paid focus groups via email. But you'll have to dodge some scammy offers along the way.

• Does send out viable paid market research studies.
• You can earn $50-150/hr from these studies.
• Also sends offers others have found to be scams.
• Engages in misleading marketing.

What is Apex Focus Group?

Is apex focus group legit, how apex focus group works, how much can you make with apex focus group, who is behind apex focus group, getting random emails from apex focus group, apex focus group sign up process, user interviews, rare patient voice, focusgroup.com, other online survey options, serious about making extra money.

Apex Focus Group is a free email service that sends you paid market research opportunities . It is not a market research company itself, nor a facilitator of any paid focus groups.

That disclaimer is found in the footer of the website:

“Apex focus group (AFG) does not own or operate any paid opportunities. AFG matches subscribers with potential paid clinical trials, surveys, and focus groups from other providers. AFG may receive compensation from providers of opportunities it sends to subscribers.”

In short, it’s an affiliate business that makes money referring focus group participants to other research companies.

Nothing wrong with that, and they’re pretty upfront with how it works, even explaining as much on the homepage:

“Our team gathers focus groups from around the web … to bring you legitimate paid focus group opportunities.”

Cool. Done right, that’s definitely a valuable service.

Apex Focus Group is legit, but there are some red flags to be aware of, and better alternatives for paid focus groups (see below). 

Apex was founded in 2019 and started to grow rapidly in 2021:

If you sign-up, just know what you’re getting into. It’s an email service that occasionally sends money-making opportunities.

The company isn’t BBB accredited, but they are responsive to customer complaints on Better Business Bureau .

All the complaints relate to customer service issues with Apex’s 3rd-party partners. And to their credit, Apex’s responses are quite thoughtful and caring. 

For example, here’s part of one response:

I appreciate you sharing this experience with us though so we can address it with them, too. While we are ultimately not responsible for transactions that consumers have with these third party partners, that does not mean I am unwilling to help. I would like to personally provide you with the $20 that you were owed by [3rd-party partner] because they are one of our third party partner.

After you join Apex, you’ll start to get emails with paid market research opportunities. (And other semi-related offers — more on that below.)

With each of those, they’ll tell you the project incentive upfront (how much you’ll get paid), and approximately how long it will take.

Here’s an example email I received:

If the study sounds like a fit, complete the separate pre-screening process and hopefully you’ll get selected. 

After the study, you’ll receive your reward — not from Apex, but from the 3rd-party market research company.

One thing that’s misleading about the Apex site is their list of “Available Focus Group Studies.” At press time, this list hadn’t been updated in at least 12 months.

Since most studies are time-sensitive, none of these are actually available.

On the positive side, they list several of their focus group referral partners, so you can easily go sign-up directly with those companies:

• Schlesinger Group (now called Sago)
• Focus Pointe Global (acquired by Sago)
• L&E Research
• Probe Market Research
• Canvas Marketing (no obvious way to join as a panelist)

Apex claims you can earn “up to $750/week.”

While that is definitely possible through multi-session studies, don’t bank on that being a consistent source of income.

I keep a pretty close eye on paid research and may make $750 a year from this type of side hustle.

As an aggregator of paid research studies, the pay range with Apex will vary quite a bit. A typical range is $50-150/hour, depending on the study.

For example, here are some of the studies they sent me:

• $650-1,000 for a study on new technology products
• $100 for a 60-minute study on social media
• $150 for a 45-minute study on beverages
• $100 for a 60-minute study on pets
• $200 for a study on grocery shopping

Apex Focus Group emails from from Justin Jones from “Full Circle Media.”

Several employees report working for the company on LinkedIn , but Justin isn’t one of them.

There is no Google listing for Apex Focus Group or Full Circle Media at either of the US addresses given:

• 14350 60th St North, Suite #46131 Clearwater FL (appears to be a virtual address )
• 2160 Kingston Court SE Ste E, Marietta GA

The domain registration is also private.

All that said, it’s not uncommon for affiliate website owners to try and remain anonymous.

In addition to the paid focus group emails, Apex tends to send other affiliate offers related to saving or making extra money.

Those have included:

• A car insurance quote service
• A Zantac class action settlement??
• A scammy-looking debt evaluation service
• A car-wrap advertising service that many reviewers called a scam

As always, do you own due diligence before giving your personal information to any of these 3rd-party services.

The selection and vetting of the partner offers Apex sends via email is definitely hurting the company’s reputation. At press time, Apex had earned a solidly-mediocre 2.4-star rating on Glassdoor.

The most common complaint is that they send too many emails promoting scammy offers.

That’s unfortunate — and unnecessary — because there are plenty of legit ways to make extra money .

The sign-up process for Apex is very simple. All you have to do is complete a short form with some basic information.

It asks questions like:

• Email address
• Date of birth
• If you have kids
• What kind of phone you use
• Your employment status
• Your education

Compared to other market research companies, this is a pretty short onboarding form. But again, Apex isn’t a market research company; it’s an email list.

Another misleading thing on the Apex Focus Group site is the false scarcity on one of the sign-up pages. It says “Only 3 Positions Left.”

This is complete BS. 

That would be like me saying, “Sign up for the Side Hustle Nation email list. There’s only 3 spots left!”

The more people who join the Apex Focus Group email list, the more money they’ll make. Some of the individual studies will have participation caps, but not the general Apex email list.

The other interesting thing is depending on which “Register” link you click on, you can get estimated hourly rates that are cut in half, to $35-75/hr:

All else being equal, I’ll sign up for the $75-150 version :)

Apex Focus Group Alternatives

While Apex may help connect you with some paid research opportunities, there are better options. Here are some of our top picks.

The most similar aggregator service was FindFocusGroups.com , but unfortunately it doesn’t look like it’s been maintained in several months.

User Interviews is a legit facilitator of online (and in-person) consumer research studies. Participants can get paid (generally $50-150/hr) to share their opinion and shape future products and services. While this won’t replace your day job, it can be a nice supplemental income.

• One of the best-paying survey companies I've found.
• Easy to sign-up.
• Lots of new studies added every week.
• Can be difficult to get selected.

User Interviews helps you get paid for your opinions in one-on-one market research interviews, mostly done over the phone or online.

The average rate of pay is in the ballpark of $100 an hour. I’ve earned $105 for about an hour and a half worth of “work” so far.

Check out my full User Interviews review for more.

Earn an average of $75 per project, and get notified of upcoming studies you may qualify for.

Respondent also specializes in one-on-one market research interviews, mostly done over the phone or online.

According to the site, the average payout is over $100 an hour. Check out our full Respondent review for more.

(I’ve earned $395 so far — $190 of which was for a focus group that involved playing with Legos!)

Patients and caregivers can earn $120/hour while helping advance medical research.

A leading source for medical research,  Rare Patient Voice pays patients and caregivers $120 an hour. Most of the studies are phone or webcam interviews, and you can browse a full list of available studies on their site.

If you suffer from any sort of medical condition (even if it’s not super rare), I think this one is worth a look.

FocusGroup.com is run by Sago, a long-running research company. They offer nationwide phone or webcam research opportunities that pay between $75 and $200 .

I earned $115 for a 45-minute online survey — check out my full FocusGroup.com review to learn more.

Fieldwork is a company the runs (mostly) in-person focus groups. I took part in one of their studies in San Francisco, and earned $150 for a 2-hour focus group, plus a $50 bonus prize for showing up early.

They have locations throughout the US.

Fieldwork focus groups normally last 1-2 hours, and pay starts at $75.

Check out my full  guide to Online Focus Groups  for more money earning opportunities.

Most of the consumer-facing survey options below won’t have hourly rates nearly as strong as the more industry-specific studies that the options above do, but they can still add up and you can knock them out in your spare time.

Here are some of Side Hustle Nation’s top picks:

• Swagbucks – Earn up to $35 a survey with this mega-popular app, and get a $10 bonus  just for signing up!
• Survey Junkie – Take 3 surveys a day and earn up to $100 a month.
• KashKick – Get paid to answer surveys, test games, and try new products.
• InboxDollars  – Get a  $5 bonus just for signing up!
• American Consumer Opinion – Join millions of free members and earn up to $50 per survey.
• Branded Surveys – One of the best-rated survey sites with millions paid out.
• Start Your Free $500 Challenge . My free 5-day email course shows you how to add $500 to your bottom line.
• Join the free Side Hustle Nation Community . The free Facebook group is the best place to connect with other side hustlers and get your questions answered.
• Download The Side Hustle Show . My free podcast shares how to make extra money with actionable weekly episodes.

The award-winning Side Hustle Show is a Top 10 Entrepreneurship podcast with over 1,200 5-star ratings!

Listen in your favorite podcast app or directly in your browser.

Like That? There's More!

Join the 100,000 who get my best stuff via email.

I'll also send you my free guide: The 5 Fastest Ways to Make More Money .

You're in! Make sure to check your email (including spam/promotions) for your free welcome gift.

About the Author

Nick Loper is a side hustle expert who loves helping people earn more money and start businesses they care about. He hosts the award-winning Side Hustle Show, where he's interviewed over 500 successful entrepreneurs, and is the bestselling author of Buy Buttons , The Side Hustle , and $1,000 100 Ways .

His work has been featured in The New York Times, Entrepreneur, Forbes, TIME, Newsweek, Business Insider, MSN, Yahoo Finance, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Financial Times, Bankrate, Hubspot, Ahrefs, Shopify, Investopedia, VICE, Vox, Mashable, ChooseFI, Bigger Pockets, The Penny Hoarder, GoBankingRates, and more.

Usually Hustling, Occasionally Social

The Company About Contact Books Advertise Media

Free Resources Blog Community $500 Challenge Personalized Playlists Side Hustle Quiz

The Fine Print Terms of Use Privacy How We Make Money CCPA Do Not Sell My Personal Information As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Paid Surveys

Passive Income

20 Places that Offer Paid Research Studies: Get Paid for Your Opinion

Home » Paid Surveys » paid research studies

DollarBreak is reader-supported, when you sign up through links on this post, we may receive compensation. Disclosure .

We test online survey websites weekly and provide real-user reviews so you can decide whether each platform is right for you to earn some side money. So far, we have reviewed over 100 survey sites. Methodology .

Best Paid Research Studies Websites

Branded Surveys

$0.50 – $5 on average per survey with bonus points ($1 sign up bonus)

Average survey length is 10-20 minutes and minimum payout is $5

Collect rewards in PayPal, Direct Deposit or gift cards (100+ brands)

$0.50 to $1.50 per survey – earn up to $100 each month using Swagbucks

18 unique ways to earn money and free gift cards, plus $5 sign up bonus

Redeem e-gift cards from $1 or withdraw $5 minimum payment from PayPal

Survey Junkie

$0.50 – $3 per survey + extra ways to earn up to $100 with focus groups

Each survey time varies, but on average it takes 15 minutes to complete

Redeem rewards using PayPal, e-giftcards or bank transfer when earned at least $5

Table of Contents

20 Paid Research Studies

Survey Junkie Summary

• $0.50-$3 average earnings per survey
• Get 2-3 extra points if you screened out of survey
• Additional ways to earn up to $150
• Install Survey Junkie extension for bonus

Survey Junkie is one of the most well-regarded survey platforms available. You can earn money simply by sharing your honest opinions, which brands can use to improve their products and services. What makes Survey Junkie stand out from other platforms that offer paid research studies is that you can start making money immediately. 

During sign-up, you will need to provide some of your personal details, so Survey Junkie can match your personal profile with research studies and surveys. You can then earn up to $100 per survey or focus group. Nonetheless, high-paying opportunities are rare and most surveys pay $0.50 to $3.

You can redeem your earnings via PayPal or via gift card starting from just $5. Depending on how active you are on the platform, you can stand to earn up to $200 per month.

American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion Summary

• Easy to understand point system
• Longer surveys can pay up to $50, but most of them pay $0.50 to $2.50 on average
• Product reviews pay up to $200
• Low minimum payout threshold of $10

ACOP, also known as American Consumer Opinion , has accumulated millions of members since it began in 1986. This platform offers some great opportunities to participate in paid research studies . Most shorter surveys will pay you around $0.50 to $2.50, but there is the potential to earn up to $50 with longer studies.

You can redeem your earnings via PayPal starting from just $10. If you prefer, you can alternatively donate your points to charity or use your points to enter into sweepstake draws for the chance to win cash or other prizes. 

Ipsos i-Say

i-Say Summary

• You can earn as much as $50 each month
• Earn $1 for each friend you invite
• Low minimum cash out threshold of $5
• Instant cash out for e-gift cards

Ipsos i-Say believes that personal opinions can make a massive difference in the world. This platform has more than three million members who regularly earn rewards from paid research studies conducted via surveys.

On average, you can earn up to 150 points per survey. In addition, one unique feature of the platform compared to other platforms on this list is that you will receive 5 points even if you get screened out of a survey. The platform also features a loyalty program, and you can earn more points per survey the more surveys that you take. 

When you accumulate at least 1530 points (worth $15) in your account, you can withdraw your earnings via PayPal .

Note that it can take up to 3 weeks for your earnings to appear in your PayPal account.

Respondent Summary

• Earn up to $700 per hour for your opinion
• Get between $20 to $50 for each referral
• Get paid even if the study is cancelled
• Get paid via PayPal, usually within 5 days

Respondent is a platform that frequently conducts market research through online focus groups and in-person studies.

When you create your Respondent account, you can browse the available studies that you qualify for based on your demographic information. You will also see the number of hours you will need to commit to each study and how much you can earn.

If you are interested in a project, you will need to answer a brief screener questionnaire to determine whether you qualify for it.

How much can you earn with Respondent?

You can earn an average income of $140 per hour by participating in the company’s paid research studies. Respondent charges a relatively low 5% processing fee. Your earnings will usually arrive in your PayPal account within 10 days of completing the study. 

User Interviews

User Interviews Summary

• 4 types of studies you can join to earn
• Over 2k new studies launched each month
• Get a $30 bonus when you refer a friend
• Earn up to $100 per hour for your opinion

User Interviews is a popular platform that organizes online and in-person paid market research studies. In general, study participants can expect to earn $50 to $200 per hour. Depending on the study’s goal, participants could discuss anything from their financial decisions to the types of skincare products they use.

Like most other platforms on this list, you will need to answer a screening survey before each study to determine your eligibility.

Before answering the screening survey, you can see what the research study pays. Thus, you can decide which studies really interest you.

Related: 10 Sites for Phone Surveys

Valued Opinions

Valued Opinions offers paid research studies that pay up to $5 per survey. On average, it takes 15 to 20 minutes to fill out one survey and you may need to complete 2 to 20 surveys to reach the $10 threshold. 

Once you have at least $10 in earnings, you can redeem them for gift cards. You can claim gift cards from Amazon, Target, Macy’s, The Home Depot, and Restaurant.com.

The paid research studies topics typically revolve around:

• Environmental issues
• Blockbuster films
• Fashion trends
• Favorite food

Toluna Influencer

Toluna Influencers is a market research platform that has been around for over 20 years.

Some of the paid market research studies you can earn money by participating in include:

• Focus groups
• Product testing

On average, most opportunities on the platform will reward you with around 100 points. You can also earn more points by referring family and friends. You will get 500 points for each successful referral, up to a maximum of 10 friends per month.

You can redeem your earnings for a $10 PayPal payment.

Related: 9 Highest Paying Survey Sites for Money

Mindswarms is an innovative market research platform that uses video surveys instead of traditional online surveys . Thus, this means that you will have to record yourself answering each question in a survey. Similar to other platforms on this list, you will need to answer some qualifying questions to determine your suitability before each survey.

Each project will have specific instructions that you will need to follow. Typically, you will need to record your answers for up to seven questions. Usually, there is also a set time for you to answer each question. 

Up to $50 can be earned per project. However, shorter surveys typically offer $10 per question. Mindswarm processes payments through PayPal, and generally, the money will be in your account within 1 day of submitting your video recording.

Brand Institute

Brand Institute is a branding company that specializes in the medical industry. Although the company has surveys on various topics, the medical surveys are the best paying. Regular surveys can pay up to $5, whereas medical surveys can pay up to $30. 

To join the platform, you need to complete a simple questionnaire with your basic personal details.

Brand Institute also gives priority to applications from medical professionals such as:

• Pharmacists
• Medical technicians

However, note that the company processes payments quite slowly. Brand Institute only releases payment when surveys close, so you may sometimes need to wait several weeks to receive your payment.

Nonetheless, there is no minimum cash-out threshold, and you can redeem your earnings via PayPal or check. 

Engage Studies

Engage Studies regularly advertises for participants to join the various market research studies that it organizes. The format of the paid research studies hosted by Engage Studies can range from online discussions to in-person focus groups .

To join the platform, you need to provide some personal information. Engage will then review your application, and you will receive an email notification when a suitable study becomes available. 

The topics of research include:

• Electronics
• Food Products
• Medical Conditions
• and many more

You can expect to earn $50 to $250 for your participation, paid via PayPal or check. 

Focus Group

Focus Group Summary

• Many ways to earn money
• Make money online
• Earn $1 to $10 per survey
• Work from home or on the go

As its name suggests, FocusGroup .com conducts paid research studies and online focus groups. 

The company conducts national research studies that can pay between $75 to $200 each. You can participate in research studies over the phone or using a webcam. As with most other platforms, you will need to complete a relatively simple screening survey to qualify for projects.

The research studies conducted by the company can be on any topic ranging from banking and pets to entertainment and beer. As such, you are sure to find the best paid online focus groups that align with your hobbies and interests. 

Related: 20 Places that Offer Paid Research Studies

PingPong is a relatively new online market research company. Unlike most of the other platforms on this list, PingPong does not conduct its studies through surveys. Instead, the platform specializes in website testing for websites and apps. You can test these products and get paid for providing feedback on your user experience. 

On average, you can earn between $45 to $110 per website testing job. Each job usually takes no more than an hour to complete.

Payments are made via PayPal or Wise within 7 days of completing each job. 

Fieldwork is one of the most popular companies that carry out in-person paid research studies in various cities across the USA.

The company has locations in:

• Minneapolis
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco

Typically, most sessions hosted by Fieldwork take around one to two hours to complete. Compensation for participating usually starts from $75. Fieldwork usually pays via Visa gift cards and you will receive your payment on the spot after each study.

WatchLab is a leading company that facilitates all types of focus groups and research studies. The pay varies for each project, although it typically ranges from $100 to $175 for a 1 to 2-hour focus group. 

The company has locations in Chicago and San Francisco, where you can receive on-the-spot payments for joining a focus group. There is also the option to work online, but you will need to wait four to six weeks to receive your payment. 

Related: 28 Online Paid Focus Groups for Money

Probe Market Research

Probe Market Research also regularly conducts research panels for medical professionals, executives, and consumers. You can participate over the phone or online to help researchers gather the data they need.

The company works with major brands and manufacturers, conducting mystery shopping projects, online surveys, product trials, and other paid research studies. 

Focus groups conducted by Probe Market Research typically pay between $50 to $400, and take just a couple of hours.

Survey Feeds

SurveyFeeds isn’t a market research platform itself but provides access to the best paid online focus groups and survey opportunities. The projects are mostly online, but there are some that are conducted physically throughout the US. 

This company frequently updates its website and social media feeds as well. Thus, you can browse its Facebook page or visit its website to for an idea of the types of paid research studies available. 

The payout for each study can vary, although most studies typically pay between $75 to $300. 

Resolution Research

Resolution Research offers paid research studies in various subjects. After you create your account, you can immediately start participating in opportunities.

Once you have earned at least $10, you can withdraw your earnings via Payoneer or exchange them for gift cards. 

Recruit & Field

Recruit & Field is one of the longest-running platforms on this list and has been conducting paid research studies for over 40 years.

As a participant, you can participate in various types of studies to earn money, such as:

• Online surveys
• Phone interviews

In general, you can expect to earn between $100 to $275 per research study. The company typically pays participants via PayPal, but some studies may offer the option for payment via gift cards. 

Research studies on the platform are open to participants of any age or gender. However, medical professionals such as nurses, doctors, and lab technicians get priority for participation slots.

Plaza Research

Plaza Research has facilities in 14 cities throughout the USA. It also offers online and phone-based paid research studies. This company caters to all demographics ranging from parents and teens to business professionals and physicians. 

There is the opportunity to earn up to $200 for discussing various topics in a two-hour focus group session. 

Carnegie Mellon University Research

If you’re an English speaker over 18 years old and have never joined any studies at this research center, you can join paid research studies at Carnegie Mellon University Research . 

The topics of the studies vary, and can include topics such as:

• Decision making
• Personal beliefs
• Interpersonal perceptions

Online studies typically take 5 to 20 minutes and you’ll earn approximately $8 per hour.

However, the institution does not compensate study participants in cash. Instead, participants will get gift cards as a token of appreciation for their time.

What Is a Paid Research Study?

Companies pay research studies to get honest feedback about their products and services from consumers. Online surveys are one of the most common ways that companies conduct such studies.

In general, paid research studies take the following format:

• A business hires a market research company to get feedback on their product
• The researcher creates a survey or focus group
• Participants answer questions in the survey or focus group anonymously
• The researcher collates the data and presents it to the business
• The business uses the feedback collected to improve their product

What Are the Requirements for Research Studies?

Most studies are designed to gather feedback from a target demographic.

Depending on the goal of the survey, you may need to:

• Be of a certain gender
• Be of a certain race
• Fit into an age range
• Have a specific occupation
• Meet some other criteria

Due to the targeted nature of paid research studies, you will usually be asked to answer some screening questions before each survey. These screening questions identify whether you fit the target demographic of the survey. If you don’t you may be disqualified.

Most platforms offering paid research studies do not provide any compensation if you screen out of a survey. However, there are some platforms that will pay you a small amount even if you do not qualify for a survey, such as Ipsos i-Say .

Do You Get Paid for Research Studies?

Depending on the platform that you join, you could earn up to $100 or more per hour by participating in paid research studies.

For instance, Respondent pays its market research participants one of the highest rates on the market. Research study participants on the platform can earn an average of $140 per hour. Participants from certain in-demand demographics can even earn up to $700 per hour.

Are Focus Groups Safe?

Focus groups are generally safe. However, you need to ensure that you choose a legit platform. As with most industries, some scam companies promise unrealistic pay and usually require you to sign up for something. 

If you choose a legit company, you can rest assured that participating in a focus group is safe and a fun way to earn cash in your spare time. 

Dollarbreak

About the author:

Featured Articles

The content on dollarbreak.com is for informational and educational purposes only and cannot replace any professional financial advice. Conduct your own research and seek the advice of a licensed financial advisor. Please read the full Terms of use and Privacy Policy .

11 Best Paid Research Studies Online (Legit & Free to Join)

There are plenty of ways to earn extra cash online, and one easy method that is known to pay decent money is to do paid research studies.

But the question is, where can you find the best paid research studies online?

I have tested hundreds of paid research opportunities, and in this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about paid research studies so you can find out how to get the most out of earning this way.

I’ll also list down several sites you can join and include a brief summary of each site, so you can easily figure out which ones will fit your needs.

All the sites I will be including in this guide are legit and free to join . So, you’ll just need to invest a bit of time and some effort in order to earn.

Disclosure: Some articles on this website contain affiliate/sponsored links. Click for more info .

What are paid research studies?

Paid research studies are activities done by companies, businesses, or even schools that are designed to gather data.

Technically speaking, if a company or business is the one conducting it, it is called paid market research. But regardless of who is doing it, the process still remains the same. The participants of these activities will get paid to provide valuable input.

There are several types of paid research studies you can find online. Among the common ones are one-on-one interviews, focus groups, and surveys. These activities can be conducted online or in person.

For one-on-one interviews, whether they are conducted online or in person, the process usually involves discussing a certain topic. You will be asked to provide your opinion on certain topics. And once you are done with the interview, that’s when you will be compensated.

For focus groups, the dynamic will be a bit different because this activity will involve multiple people. Just like with interviews, it can be done online or in person. The activity will have one or more moderators and the rest will be participants.

Focus groups are conducted to gather opinions about a specific topic in a group setting to gain extra insights from the group dynamic. For example, a movie company wants to get the best ending for its movie. They conduct a focus group on which kind of ending will resonate with more people. Then you as a participant, will choose which kind of ending you prefer and discuss it in the group. This is actually a pretty common thing, especially with big companies.

Surveys, on the other hand, are less personal, because you won’t be interacting with anyone. You will just be answering a set of questions. But what you need to know about surveys is, they usually have a qualifying process you need to go through.

This is how companies are able to filter the appropriate respondents. So, when you answer a survey, the first set of questions are usually the qualifying questions. If you qualify, you get to proceed to the actual survey.

By far, among all the types of paid research studies, the most common one you can find online is paid surveys. This is also the type of paid research study that pays the lowest. It’s not surprising though since this kind of study requires the least time and effort to complete.

All the other activities usually take up a bit of time and some effort too.

Now, if you are wondering where these in-person research studies take place, it is usually conducted in facilities provided by the company/business/school. So, you will have to travel to that facility in order to participate.

How to earn the most?

Each site that offers paid research studies has different pay structures. Some pay more than others. So, it’s really hard to put an exact figure on how much money you can earn per site.

But, in my experience, the best way to earn the most from these sites is to join around 5 to 7 sites . That way, you gain access to more opportunities and therefore, you can earn more.

In my experience, this is the perfect number of sites to get involved with especially if you are just starting out. It won’t overwhelm you, but you will still be able to earn a decent amount. You can always join more sites further down the line when you become more experienced with this kind of stuff.

11 best paid research studies online

Now that you know the basics, let’s talk about the actual sites you can join that offer paid research studies. Take note that these aren’t the only sites that offer this kind of opportunity.

Instead, they are what I found to be worthy of your time. I will keep updating this list if I find more opportunities worth adding. So, make sure to bookmark this page and check on it from time to time for new additions.

#1 – Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences

Available in: US Payout methods:  Cash Payout threshold: N/A More information:   Check out their website

Short summary: This school’s Department of Psychology regularly conducts research studies that require participants. The research activities offered will vary but most of them are conducted in person. So, you will have to go to their facility to participate.

That means, it is only really available for people who live in the vicinity. Weinberg College is located in Evanston, Illinois. So, if you don’t live near that area, then this isn’t really something worth doing. As for how they pay you, you will usually get compensated in cash after every session you complete.

#2 - YouGov

Available in: 50+ countries Payout methods:  PayPal, gift cards Payout threshold: Depends on your country More information:   Read full YouGov review

Short summary: YouGov is a survey site that is available in a lot of countries and every country has its own survey panel you can join. So, if you are looking for a survey site that offers surveys in your native language, this is one of the best sites you can join.

The payment methods it offers will depend on your country, but usually, PayPal, products, or gift cards  are used to withdraw your earnings. As to the payout threshold you need to reach before you can withdraw your earnings, it will depend on the country you live in.

But in my experience, it will usually be around $10 or so (or the equivalent to your local currency). So, it’s not hard to reach since they do have a decent number of surveys available.

#3 - CDS Virtual Lab Online Panel

Available in: More or less worldwide Payout methods:  PayPal, Amazon gift cards Payout threshold: N/A More information:   Check out their website

Short summary: CDS or Columbia Decision Sciences, will allow you to participate in their studies online. The research studies you can participate in will vary but they will mainly be conducted online.

To participate, you have to fill out their sign-up form and submit it. Then, just wait for them to contact you via email for any opportunities to earn. After you’ve completed any of their research activities, you will be able to receive your payment via PayPal or you can convert your earnings to an Amazon gift card.

The site pays by the hour ($16/hour) for all the research studies they offer. And the best thing is, you don’t have to reach a threshold to withdraw your earnings. You will immediately be able to withdraw the payment after you complete a study.

It also accepts members anywhere in the world (more or less). So, you can register as a member regardless of where you live.

#4 – Toluna Influencers

Available in: More or less worldwide Payout methods:  PayPal, gift cards Payout threshold:  Depends on your country More information:   Read full Toluna Influencers review

Short summary: Another survey site that offers decent earnings is called Toluna Influencers. This site is available more or less worldwide and each country has its own survey panel too. That means surveys will be offered in the local language (if applicable, otherwise, it will be in English).

You will get paid via PayPal or in gift cards. The threshold you need to reach to withdraw your earnings will depend on the country you live in though. It also has a mobile app you can download so you can convenient answer surveys from your mobile device.

#5 - Prolific Surveys

Available in:  Available in many countries Payout methods:  PayPal Payout threshold:  £5/$7 More info:   Read full Prolific Surveys review

Short summary: Prolific Surveys is more a crowdsourcing platform rather than a straight up survey site. It is available in many countries. To earn from this site, you can answer surveys or participate in research studies offered by other participants of the site.

You will get paid via PayPal as long as you’ve earned £5 (if you live somewhere in Europe) or $7 (if you live in the US or other regions). That’s a pretty low payout threshold, in my opinion. So, if you get to answer surveys or participate in even just one research activity, you will be able to withdraw your earnings because they do pay a decent amount.

#6 – Branded Surveys

Available in:  US, UK, or Canada Payout methods:  PayPal, gift cards Payout threshold:  $5 More info:   Read full Branded Surveys review

Short summary: Branded Surveys is a straight-up survey site where you can earn by answering surveys and polls. That’s how easy it is to earn from this site. The only downside is, it is only available in the US, UK, or Canada. So, it has a pretty limited reach.

But if you are eligible to join, you can get paid via PayPal or gift cards. And best of all, their payout threshold is very low ($5). So, you won’t have to wait very long to withdraw your earnings.

They also have a decent number of surveys available, so you can definitely rely on this site for earning extra cash.

#7 – MIT Behavioral Research Lab

Available in: US Payout methods:  Check, gift cards Payout threshold: N/A More information:   Check out their website

Short summary: Another school that offers paid research opportunities is the MIT Behavioral Research Laboratory. Their research studies can be conducted in-lab or online. Lab studies will take place in Cambridge, Massachusetts. So, if you don’t live in that area, then that opportunity isn’t for you.

When you sign up, you may be asked to do various things like filling out questionnaires, playing games, performing various tasks on a computer, completing group assignments, and taking part in discussions or interviews.

You get paid in cash, gift cards, electronic gift certificates, or checks. If the amount exceeds $75, MIT BRL is required to pay you via check for tax reporting purposes. This panel is only available for US residents who are at least 18 years of age.

#8 – Surveytime

Available in:  Worldwide Payout methods:  PayPal, Bitcoin, gift cards Payout threshold:  Pays instantly More information:   Read full Surveytime review

Short summary: Surveytime is a survey site that will pay you instantly. Yes, you read that right. You get paid every time you complete a survey. You will earn a flat rate of $1 per survey regardless of how long it will take to complete it.

Once you complete the survey, you can choose to get paid via PayPal or have your earnings converted to gift cards or Bitcoin. It is available globally, so you can sign up as a member anywhere in the world.

#9 – Respondent

Available in:  Worldwide Payout methods:  PayPal Payout threshold:  Pays instantly More information:   Read full Respondent review

Short summary: Respondent is a form of crowdsourcing site that will pay you for participating in research activities. These activities are called projects, but before you can work on one though, you will have to apply for it.

A study will either be one-on-one or an unmoderated study, and it can be conducted in person or online. The in-person study pays more, but it is harder to qualify for. Every time you complete a project, you will get paid via PayPal immediately.

But, Respondent will charge 5% or $1 (whichever is higher) every time you get paid. That’s a part of how they make money. It is available globally, so you can register as a member regardless of where you live.

#10 – Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior

Short summary: The Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior is part of UCLA and it is located in Los Angeles, California. Most of the research studies it offers are conducted in person. So, if you don’t live in the vicinity of their facility, I don’t really recommend this for you.

Most of the studies pertain to the brain, so qualifying for one can be hard. It’s considered a niche platform but it does pay well. It pays every participant in cash once the research session has been completed.

#11 - Focusgroup.com

Available in:  US Payout methods:  PayPal, Prepaid Visa cards, gift cards Payout threshold:  $10 More information:   Read full Focusgroup.com review

Short summary: As the name of the site suggests, you will be able to earn from Focusgroup.com by participating in, well, focus groups. But aside from that, you can also participate in interviews, shop along activities, and product testing.

It pays a decent amount per study you participate in. And you can usually withdraw your earnings right away for every study you complete because you only need to earn at least $10 to reach their payout threshold.

When you hit their threshold, you can withdraw your earnings via PayPal or convert them to a prepaid Visa card or gift card of your choice. The only downside of this site is, it is only available in the US.

Final Thoughts

So there you go. Those are the best paid research studies online that I have found after having tested hundreds of options.

Keep in mind that all the sites on this list are legit and free to join . You just need to invest your time and a bit of effort in order to earn from them. You also need to be patient because you won’t always qualify for these earning opportunities.

As I’ve suggested earlier, if you want to maximize your earnings, you should join around 5-7 of the sites so you gain access to more earning opportunities. I will keep updating this list if there are any new good sites to join so make sure to bookmark this page .

If you have any comments, questions, or know of paid research studies online that is not on the list, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.

6 thoughts on “11 Best Paid Research Studies Online (Legit & Free to Join)”

Love from India bro I see your all viedo keep growing ❤️??

Thanks. All the best to you too.

Hye Mikael Can you make a video or write article on Paid online Research Studies that pay via Payoneer or airtm and are available for Asian countries especially Pakistan. BTW your videos helped me a lot keep it up?

Sorry, but you will not really find any platforms like that in your country, so I cannot make any content about it.

I live in South United States. I recently am looking to find out how to find these places that pay for clinical trials. Do to my current situation, this seems to be my only option. I’m about to lose my job over an injury/illness situation. If anyone could give me a tip on how to find trial jobs or what is the best state for high demand of clinical trials. I would greatly appreciate it.

You can use some of the options on the list above. And you can also check out some clinical trials here .

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You will at the same term confirm you accept our privacy policy .

Get paid to participate in research studies

Find paid user research opportunities in topics you care about. Get paid to share feedback and influence the next generation of products and services.

new projects launch monthly

people participate worldwide

average project incentive

Getting started with paid research is quick and easy

1. create your profile.

Personalize your profile with your professional background, skills, and interests.

2. Get matched

Our matching algorithm will send research studies straight to your inbox based on your details.

3. Apply to studies

Answer a few screening questions online to help researchers know if you are a fit.

4. Get paid

Researchers invite participants to studies. Get paid quickly once your work is finished.

Get paid to influence the products you use daily

Choose from a wide variety of interesting paid research studies.

Unlock the power of your opinions in paid research projects. Influence tomorrow's products and services, from tech innovations to everyday items. Let your voice shape the future market.

Work with brands who value your opinion

Shape your daily tools, apps, and services through your insights. Make money by participating in paid studies, turning your experiences into influential feedback.

Earn money referring friends and colleagues.

When you sign up as a participant, you can make money by referring friends and colleagues.. Share studies with people in your network that are likely to be a good fit.

How do our participants feel about Respondent?

Rated 4.6 out of 200+ reviews on G2.com

Nareen Thompson

Property Manager - Real Estate

It's a cool way of spending quality time and earn some money as well as helping to shape decisions.

Eric Hollowaty

President - Energy, Oil and Gas

It's tangible - I know the feedback I'm providing is making a difference. Bonus points if it's for a product or service I already, or might in the future, use!

Almabelle Dorado

Regulatory Affairs Professional - Cosmetics

I enjoy contributing to a project and giving some of my insights. It gives me a sense of accomplishment when the product is successful.

Neels Minnaar

I like to share my experience and knowledge and being able to work remotely.

Jane Kimani

Licensed Agent - Insurance

I enjoy the fact that I can contribute to new innovations and/or improvement of products through my contributions and also get paid for it.

I like my voice being heard and talking about and trying out new things.

Get paid to share your opinions with interested brands.

Sign up to get started earning money with paid research today.

ivetriedthat

35 Paid Online Research Studies Seeking Participants

How can one participate in paid online research studies and get paid for your brain, your health, and your opinions?

• Inbox Dollars - Get paid to check your email. $5 bonus just for signing up!
• Survey Junkie - The #1 survey site that doesn't suck. Short surveys, high payouts, simply the best.
• Nielsen - Download their app and get paid $50!

Well, you’re in the right place.

Today, let’s look at 35 different opportunities to get paid as a participant in research studies.

Types of Paid Online Research Studies

A medical study involves a group of people within an age group, gender, race, ethnic group, or individuals with the same specific health issues.

Participating in these studies often involves answering a combination of interviews, tests, surveys, or experimentation to be able to answer questions on how to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure health disorders and diseases.

Aside from paid medical studies, market research makes use of paid online research to find out what customers want or need from various products and companies.

The cool thing about paid online research studies available today is that even if you are not a part of the target audience, you can still participate in the study in another capacity.

Online research studies can be either quantitative or qualitative.

Quantitative studies are the ones with static, pre-planned answers. A questionnaire with multiple-choice answers is a good example of this study. It is made as such so that the researcher can easily analyze the results.

Qualitative studies are a bit more complex since they involve open-ended answers.

However, this type of study ends up with better data. Focus groups and interviews are both methods used in qualitative studies.

How Much Can You Earn from Paid Research Studies?

Imagine earning up to $1,000 just for sharing your opinion, review of a product, or thoughts about a particular experience without even stepping out of the house.

You don’t even have to spend a cent to participate in these research studies.

Most of the time, you’d only have to be at least 18 years old and currently live in the US.

Even when you’re below 18 years old, researchers sometimes allow you to participate as long as you had a waiver from your parent or legal guardian.

The amount you earn from joining research studies depend on the following:

• Method of research — Did you join a focus group? Answered a lengthy interview? Filled out a survey form?
• Length of study — Some interviews only take an hour and earn you $150. Some focus groups could take several sessions and end only after several weeks.
• Type of payment — Not all companies pay cash. Some use PayPal, while others prefer checks, gift cards, prepaid cards, and so on.

Quick surveys can be as little as $10 and high as $100.

Focus group sessions range between $50 and $500 per session.

Interviews can earn you somewhere from $50 to $400 for an hour of your time.

Simply put, the amount you’ll be paid will vary from study to study.

Join These to Start Making Money Today!

Before digging into the list below, I suggest you sign up for the 3 best focus group/market research companies.

Anyone can participate and you will be invited to take part in research studies, focus groups, and product testing opportunities.

These companies pay in cash and offer cash signup bonuses to get you started.

• SurveyJunkie - Get paid CASH to share your thoughts on some of the world's biggest brands.
• Branded Surveys - Work directly with companies like Nike, Samsung, Amazon, and Disney to improve their product lines.

On to the list!

35 Ways to Get Paid for Research Studies Online

The following universities have year-long research studies in a wide range of topics.

1. Northwestern University Department of Psychology

Earn from $10 to $40 an hour if you participate in one of the school’s online studies.

The studies change regularly and vary widely from topics such as phone usage, changes in thoughts and feelings, Artificial Intelligence,  sleeping patterns, psychosis, aging, and even products like hearing aids.

2. Harvard University Psychology Study Pool

Join Harvard’s Psychology Study Pool and earn from $10 to $25 an hour, paid via gift cards.

The online studies are available year-round for both Harvard students and guests.

3. Carnegie Mellon University

If you’re at least 18 years old, can read and speak English, and have never joined any research studies at the Center for Behavioral and Decision Research at Carnegie Mellon, you can sign up for their paid online research studies.

Topics range from personal beliefs, attitudes, decision-making, human judgment, interpersonal perceptions, and group performance, among others.

You’ll earn $8 an hour, paid in gift cards. Each study takes anywhere from 5 and 20 minutes.

Paid participants are needed for in-person studies in labs on campus, but may sometimes be able to participate online on a home computer.

Note that only students are accepted (ID will be requested).

4. Center for Decision Sciences Columbia Business School

For participating in an online survey or study, you can earn $16 an hour, as long as you’re 18+ years old and have a PayPal or Amazon.com account to receive payments.

No need to be a student at Columbia Business School, but you need to register in the CDS Virtual Lab Online Panel.

5. MIT Behavioral Research Lab

There are in-person and paid online research studies available at MIT.

Payment amounts vary from study to study, but participants usually earn $11 to $20 per hour for online studies.

Anyone aged 18 or older, residing in the United States, and proficient in spoken and written English can join the BRL participant pool.

Membership is open to all; you don’t need any association with MIT to participate. Other requirements may be needed for studies requiring specific respondents.

6. University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business

As long as you’re a current Smith student (and eligible for certain studies), you can get paid for research studies online here.

Make sure you create an account, sign up for the studies that you want to participate in, and get paid once you fulfill your role.

7. Purdue University

You can find a lot of paid online studies here.

Currently, they have studies on Parkinson’s disease (and other neurodegenerative diseases), flavored water, biosensors, mushroom nutrition, linguistics, cancer, and so on.

Participants are paid somewhere between $10 and $500.

What’s great about Purdue University is that the studies are varied and open to the public.

8. Stanford Graduate School of Business

You’ll be paid up to $25 an hour for online research studies, but you’d have to be eligible and complete a prescreen form.

You also can’t participate in the same study more than once.

9. UCLA Anderson School of Management

The behavioral lab has some paid online studies, if you’re interested in topics like consumer behavior, organizational behavior, judgment, and other similar topics.

Most studies here pay from $10 to $20 an hour.

They also have in-lab and in-person studies.

10. Boston University Behavioral Lab

If you’re interested in human behavior and is willing to participate in online studies, try to join if you’re eligible.

These studies pay between $10 and $20 an hour.

The studies from Boston University’s Behavioral Lab is open to both BU students and the general public.

11. University of Maryland Department of Psychology

You need to create an account at the SONA System website to see available research studies.

Each of the studies have different eligibilities and payment.

12. University of Nebraska-Lincoln

This college holds a wide range of research studies revolving MRI research, human brain, behavior, and so on.

There are studies exclusively for seniors, and those that are for teens.

There are two ways to volunteer for these studies:

• Join the CB3 Research Participant Volunteer Registry (and wait for them to e-mail you)
• Pick the study and contact researchers directly.

Pay can go as high as $80 per study.

13. American University Psychology Department

Topics vary widely, but they are related to psychology and human behavior.

You can earn up to $20 an hour for just filling out a form as a smoker’s first-hand experience during stressful situations.

14. Respondent.IO

This next one isn’t a university, but it’s a comprehensive resource if you plan to participate in numerous market research and other online studies.

Pay ranges from $25 to $200.

Eligibility requirements vary between studies.

Make sure to check details and never pay to join a focus group or study.

15. Brand Institute

Want to be at the forefront of the pharmaceutical industry?

Join consumer market research panel groups by signing up with Brand Institute.

16. mindswarms

It’s sort of like an interview since you are required to answer ten questions with a video.

In exchange for your thoughts, you’ll be paid $50.

Earn somewhere between $50 and $250 by participating in healthcare or consumer market research studies.

18. Probe Market Research

The company pays people for online, phone or group interviews about their clients’ products, services, ads, or other campaigns.

Payment goes as high as $400.

19. Penn State University

(Quick shoutout to my Alma Mater… We Are!)

… and they are seeking just about anyone who’s alive to participate in a research study. With over 200 current open studies, odds are, you’ll qualify for something they have available.

Keep an eye out for “Total Compensation” to see just what the study pays.

20. User Interviews

Get paid for your feedback on real projects.

Create an account by filling up a form and wait for project invitations if you’re eligible.

There are online and in-phone interviews available.

21. Yale School of Management

If you live anywhere near Yale campus, be sure to sign up for their newsletter as they frequently put out requests for both in person and paid online research studies.

You will be paid, in cash, at the completion of your study.

They also have a Facebook group that announces when new studies are available to participate in.

22. Georgetown University Department of Psychology

Georgetown’s Department of Psychology is regularly looking for both students and non-students alike to participate in studies.

Average pay will run you about $10 per hour, so it can be some nice change to pick up in your spare time.

Their research includes personality, memory, and impulse control tests to name a few.

23. UCLA Semel Institute

UCLA offers both in-person and online research studies to check out.

They have a massive list of open opportunities for you to click through. The highest paying ones often need you to come into their offices for scans and interviews, but there are a lot of remote positions available too.

24. PingPong

Web designers and developers working on websites and applications value the input of real-life users and are willing to pay for these users’ opinions and insights

You can get paid anywhere from €15 to €40 per hour and even up to €100 for special projects.

Payment is credited through Transferwise or PayPal.

25. American Consumer Opinion

Yet another survey site, American Consumer Opinion (ACOP) pays you for your answers to their survey questions.

You can even get paid up to $100 if you fit a certain demographic and able to participate in special projects.

Research studies on this site may not be constantly available, though. It’s best to check back frequently.

26. Recruit and Field

Recruit and Field is a market research company that hosts paid online research studies all around the US and even in international locations.

They look for participants from any gender and age for their studies, including professionals and medical professionals (doctor, nurse, lab technician).

They normally pay via PayPal but also offer Amazon or digital gift cards.

The pay ranges from $100 to $275 for phone interviews, online surveys, and sometimes in-home product testing.

27. Focus Group

Focus Group is an aptly named online community comprised of participants interested in sharing opinions and views on popular products and brands through in-person, telephone, or online surveys.

The pay ranges from $75 to $200, and specialized health studies may pay more.

28. 20|20 Panel

Since 1986, 20|20 Panel has been recruiting participants to share their opinion on various companies.

They specialize in qualitative market research, which is achieved via in-person or online roundtable discussions. You can get paid from $50 to $350 to participate in these discussions.

They also send out quick surveys for which you can get paid smaller amounts (from $1 to $10).

29. FindFocusGroups

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a directory of all the paid research opportunities in the country?

FindFocusGroups is probably the closest one, as it lists more than 75,000 verified and legitimate focus groups in the country.

It’s quite simple to search by city and state, and check the information for details on whether the discussions are online or in-person.

It’s difficult to know how much the average payment would be, but upon browsing the first few studies on the homepage, they range from $50 to $300.

30. SIS International

SIS International conducts focus group discussions in cities all over the US and globally and collects consumer feedback on anything from appliances, skincare products, gadgets, and just about anything.

Rates range from $25 to $200 for 2 to 3 hours of your time.

31.  Apex Focus Group

Apex Focus Group connects regular people like you and me with researchers, who will pay for participants to join clinical research trials, phone interviews and focus groups.

As a participant at any Apex Focus Group study, you can be paid up to $750 a week.

Online and in-person studies are available.

32.  Fieldwork

If you live near New Jersey, New York City, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, or Minneapolis, you can participate in current Fieldwork research studies.

Most of the paid focus groups are face-to-face (but online are sometimes available).

Each study lasts about 1 or 2 hours. Participants earn between $75 and $100 for their time.

33. Rare Patient Voice

This company mostly looks for participants who have rare diseases and medical conditions. As such, only eligible people can benefit from the studies.

However, anyone who qualifies will receive $120/hour.

You can share your views via online surveys, clinical trials, or web-assisted phone interviews.

34. ClinicalTrials.gov

The federal government continually seeks individuals willing to participate in clinical trials testing different medications and treatments.

Studies are often conducted by the National Institutes of Health.

You can check out a list of ongoing clinical trials at clinicaltrials.gov.

Unlike other paid online research studies on this list, DScout is an app you can download.

You need to register to become a “scout” and participate in research “missions,” which will earn you money after completion.

DScout studies are usually 1-on-1 interviews or video responses, so you’d have to be comfortable in front of the camera.

Missions pay from $50 to $100, each lasting about 30 minutes.

Can I turn these Paid Online Research Studies into a Full-Time Job?

While paid online studies are highly interesting and offer legitimate side cash, this gig cannot replicate the steady income and benefits you can get with a full-time job.

You’d have to consider that many research studies:

• have eligibility requirements (which means you’re not guaranteed a slot every time)
• cannot be joined twice (once you’ve participated in a specific study, you can’t do a repeat)
• have varying payments (there’s no stability in such income)

I do think it’s a legitimate side gig if you’re in between jobs or have a lot of free time on your hands.

You can also get paid answering surveys , joining focus groups , or testing products .

READ THIS NEXT: The EASIEST ways to make money online. See how.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter

More Ways to Make Money

The HOTTEST New Way to Make Money in 2021

This is one of the best ways to make real money online. Don't pass this one up.

Continue Reading

100 Different Side Hustles to Fill Your Pockets with Cash

Everyone loves easy ways to make money online. You already have the skills. Turn those hidden talents into extra money from side gigs in 2021.

Get Paid To Recycle Everyday Things: Earn Cash for Trash

Wouldn’t it be awesome to reduce waste and earn money at the same time? Here are some ways you can get paid to recycle everyday things.

17 Ways You Can Get Paid to Test Websites

Are you the type that notices little things in a website? Here are 17 websites that offer testing jobs so you can get paid to test websites!

Sell Your Font: How to Make Money Designing Fonts

Earning passive income with font design is possible, but it would require hard work, proper planning and figuring out the best way to sell fonts online.

Use Your Voice To Impact The World

Work with some of the world’s most influential brands to bring the best services and products to life.

Sign Up FAQs

Why Do We Want To Hear From You?

Simple – your opinion matters.

Use your voice so companies can provide the best services and products to the people who need them most. From consumers to business professionals, those working in the medical field to the patients they provide care for, kids to seniors – we want to hear from you!

Who Participates With Us… Anyone!

We welcome participants of all ages, including children, teenagers, moms, dads, and seniors. Our studies cover a wide range of topics, such as gaming, food, alcohol, and diapers.

Business Professionals

Many of our focus groups feature active participation from IT decision makers, business owners, C-Level professionals, human resource experts, contractors, and educators.

Those who utilize medications, treatments, and devices like injectables and wearables all play an integral role in research topics, such as rare diseases, weight management issues, diabetes, and cancer.

Healthcare Professionals

We have research opportunities for patient care managers, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, surgeons, veterinarians, hospital administrators, technicians, among others.

Had the opportunity to participate in my first focus group and I can say it was a great experience.

Everyone was so very nice and made the process so very easy. Will definitely participate again and recommend it to family and friends.

The Experience

Be Heard. Feel Appreciated.

Once you register for our Respondent Dashboard, you’re on your way to influencing the direction of game-changing products, services, and medical treatments.

From there, you’ll be contacted based on your responses and will be screened to ensure you’re participating in the appropriate market research study.

Create a profile to receive communication on potential opportunities.

Tell us more about yourself under the “More Information” tab in your profile. The more information we have, the more likely you are to be contacted.

Based on the preferences you’ve outlined in your profile, you will receive study opportunity information via email, phone, or a combination of the two.

4. Participate

Depending on the project, you may participate in a focus group, one-on-one interview, in-home discussion, or virtual session. Topics range from breakfast cereal to medical devices.

5. Be Rewarded

Your opinion matters. In appreciation, receive an incentive for your impact – it’s as easy as that!

Learn More About the Participant Experience

What’s a Mock Jury?

Ever wondered what it’s like to step into the shoes of a juror and weigh in on a legal case? In the intriguing world of mock trials, your opinions matter and your insights can shape the future.

We Want Your Opinion: How Focus Group Participants Help Brands Grow

You’ve heard of taste tests or seen commercials with a room full of people sharing their feedback. But on a large scale, how do so many companies get vital feedback from consumers to help them understand the market and make better products and services?

Partnering with Fieldwork: Jake Toohey

Jake was invited to participate in an in-person influencer event at our LA – Orange County office. Familiar with Fieldwork, Ben shares his experience participating in a focus group and at the Ambassador Event.

Who We’re Looking For

Sign Up For A Market Research Study Near You

Or participate online.

You’ll have the flexibility to participate in local market research studies or opt into our national database for virtual opportunities.

Are You a Content Creator?

Join our growing network of content creators, patient advocates, and influencers helping spread the word about Fieldwork focus groups.

Become a Fieldwork Ambassador

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a focus group.

A focus group is a round-table discussion on products and services that you use. The discussions are led by market research professionals and usually last between 1-2 hours. While focus groups are common types of research studies, we also do taste tests, product trials, in-home interviews, shop-along interviews, phone interviews, and online research.

When you’re done, you will receive an incentive for your contribution!

Fieldwork has focus group facilities across the United States. When you register, you will choose the one nearest you. If you do not live close to any, you can register for our national database, and you will be eligible for phone or online interviews.

What are my responsibilities as a focus group participant?

Fieldwork and its clients rely on the integrity of focus group respondents to conduct accurate and meaningful research. We ask that you:

• Be truthful in answering questions about yourself and your habits.
• Arrive for your appointment on time and ready to participate in the discussion.
• Notify fieldwork if you must cancel with as much advance notice as possible.
• Enjoy it. Focus Groups are fun!

How do I sign up for focus groups and other research studies?

Registering will add you to Fieldwork’s participant community, giving you access to various study opportunities. During the sign-up process, we will ask for contact information, demographic questions, and details about your household. This will be used to identify those who may qualify for a particular project. Additional screening will be needed to confirm qualification. Click here   to register now.

Once I have registered, what happens?

Based on the details provided in your profile, you will receive study opportunity information via email, phone, or a combination of the two. During our initial outreach we will establish if you are available and interested in a particular study and a good candidate for the research.

If you qualify for a study, you will receive an email confirmation outlining the details such as location, what you will receive as an incentive, and any other details necessary to ensure you’re ready and prepared for your participation.

Once you’ve completed your participation, you will receive your incentive. Your voluntary participation in market research with Fieldwork constitutes an independent contractor relationship, not an employment relationship.

How and when will I receive my incentive? 

We offer incentives in multiple forms. Depending on the project, but most commonly via an online, pre-paid solution. Incentives are typically sent out within 2 weeks of the date of participation.

If it’s been more than 2 weeks since participation, please reach out to [email protected]   and include the following details:

• Name of participant
• Office where you participated
• Date of participation
• Study reference number

Why is my information being asked for multiple times? 

We recognize things change and it’s important that we collect the most up to date information from each participant for each project. For this reason, you may be presented with questions you’ve answered previously. We thank you for your effort and patience with this process!

Why am I not qualifying for studies?       

Our clients provide us with the specifications to ensure we get the right people for the project. You may not qualify for every study and that’s okay! This is no reflection on you, nor does it compromise your status in our system. It’s important to us that our participants engage in research topics that make sense for them and fit our clients’ needs!

I signed up but haven't heard from you. Why?

Phone and email communication are determined by the information provided in your Dashboard Profile. If your profile is complete, but you are not receiving calls or emails from Fieldwork, double check your email preferences and contact information on the “Edit Profile” tab when logged in. Also, double check that our email,   [email protected] , is added to your contacts – our emails may be going to spam.

Is my information secure?

YES! Fieldwork adheres to the Insights Association Code of Standards and Ethics for Market Research and Data Analytics. That means your information is kept completely confidential. We do not sell or give your information to any third party. For more information, please   visit the Insights Association website . See our privacy policy   here .

I can't seem to log into my account. Can you help?

We’re here to help! Visit the login page to reset your password. Still having trouble? Send us an email at   [email protected].

How do I unsubscribe?

If you would like to unsubscribe from our database and no longer receive calls or emails about upcoming focus groups, please click unsubscribe.

Join Our Community And Share Your Opinion

We’re looking for people from all walks of life to participate in market research studies that matter.

Skip to Content

Get paid: Research opportunities and on-campus jobs

• Share via Twitter
• Share via Facebook
• Share via LinkedIn
• Share via E-mail

From university research studies to part-time jobs, there are plenty of opportunities to make extra money on campus. See what's open.

Paid and volunteer research opportunities are also posted on the  Buff Bulletin Board as they become available. Student Employment posts on- and off-campus and work-study jobs  and a weekly email list for subsribers.

Students only

Research using AI-based chatbot for tasks

CAIRO Lab is looking for participants for a study on using an AI-based chatbot to complete tasks. You must be a CU Boulder student who is over 18 years old, and you will receive $15 for participating in a 45- to 60-minute-long study.

• Title of research: AI Chatbot User Study
• Institution conducting research: CU Boulder Collaborative AI and Robotics Lab
• Eligibility: CU Boulder students over 18 years old

The purpose of this research is to improve the implementation and use of chatbots that are based on artificial intelligence. Our goal is to make chatbots more usable by everyone, including for work, school and general information. As chatbots become more common, we hope to find ways to implement them safely and conscientiously.

In this study you will use AI chatbots to complete two different tasks. Your participation should take less than 60 minutes and will take place in the CU Engineering Center. For more information, contact [email protected] or [email protected] .  You can sign up here.

Study on collaborative learning

The NSF Institute of Student-AI Teaming is inviting undergraduate students to participate in a study investigating collaborative problem-solving. You will learn about ways to improve collaborations and work with a partner on fun, collaborative learning activities across two sessions.

You are eligible to participate in this research study if you:

• Are a CU Boulder student at least 18 years of age
• Speak English
• Do not have significant and uncorrected vision impairments

Each visit lasts two hours and will be compensated at $20 per hour. You will earn a bonus of $20 for attending both visits (up to $100 total).

Please sign up for all spots for which you are available over the next few weeks. Providing more availability will help ensure we find you a spot in our study. Calendly emails are not official scheduled dates—only marking your availability. A researcher will be in contact via email to begin the official scheduling process. 

Study exploring sense of belonging

Research participants wanted! The current study aims to gather information and insights regarding sense of belonging from students at CU Boulder, with an emphasis on students who are studying within the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. 

The results of this study will inform any changes that may need to be implemented or programs that need to be developed to enhance student sense of belonging within the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and at CU Boulder. 

You must be a current CU Boulder undergraduate and 18 years or older. Participants will be compensated up to $40. Contact  [email protected] for details.

Research on STEM education

CU Boulder researchers are seeking to improve undergraduate STEM education in this study supported by NSF (IRB #21-0121). 

Eligibility:

• You are at least 18 years old
• You are a current undergraduate
• You have declared any physical science or engineering major—except chemistry, biochemistry, or chemical and biological engineering
• You have enrolled in or completed PHYS 1110: General Physics 1

Researchers want to know how science and math majors react to typical classroom experiences. You will spend 1 hour completing problem sets and questionnaires online. The researcher will provide instructions over Zoom.

Participants will receive a $25 Amazon gift card for your participation. 

To see if you are eligible and to sign up, please  complete this brief confidential eligibility survey . Questions? Email [email protected] for more information.

Study on belonging, identity, sexual harm

Feeling like we belong impacts our sense of safety and our ability to heal. The Renée Crown Wellness Institute invites minoritized students to participate in conversations around belonging, identity and sexual harm on campus. 

You may be eligible to participate if you:

• Are a CU Boulder student
• Are 18 years or older
• Belong to an underrepresented race/ethnicity on campus or identify as LGBTQQ2SIA+

This is a paid research study (IRB# 23-0029) , and participation involves a brief survey and engagement in a student-led focus group. Please note, we are currently not enrolling cisgender men in this study. Learn more and see if you're eligible.

Study on stress, coping in college

The Research on Affective Disorders and Development (RADD) Lab is conducting research on stress coping in first-year CU students. We want to understand what helps CU students cope with stress during major transitions, including the transition to college and across semesters.

The study includes a few different parts that happen over a three-semester period: 

• There are two in-person research sessions, each of which takes about four to six hours. During these sessions, you will play some computer games while we monitor physical functioning (for example, your heart rate). You will also complete a set of interviews and surveys that ask about stress, behavior, mood and health.
• There are three 21-day periods in which we will send you a daily “micro survey” (less than five minutes to answer) asking about your behavior and mood using an app.
• There are two 1-hour online surveys that we will send to your email.

The study takes place over the course of three semesters, and you will be compensated for your participation (maximum of $446–$470 for completing all parts of the study).

If you want to learn more, contact the RADD Lab at [email protected] or  fill out our initial eligibility screening .

Part-time jobs

Campus Dining Services openings

CDS offers the opportunity to learn and build a variety of skills for success during your time at CU and beyond. With flexible hours, convenient locations and competitive pay ($16 per hour), this is a great opportunity for busy students. There are currently two openings: one in food service and one late-night cleaner.  Learn more and apply.

Environmental Center openings

Make a difference while you earn a paycheck! The Environmental Center is hiring climate justice team members, a Green Labs lead and Greek sustainability coordinators. Compensation starts at $16 hourly.  Learn more and apply.

Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations ambassadors

Neighborhood ambassadors serve as student leaders, assisting off-campus student tenants with their transition to and ongoing living experience in their off-campus housing, especially in the University Hill area. Compensation is $17 per hour. Learn more and apply.

Recreation Services openings

Help fellow students find their fit! Rec Center student-employees play an invaluable role by providing customer service, safety and fun to guests. There are currently open positions in aquatics, ice rink, facility operations, fitness and wellness, Outdoor Pursuits and team sports. Learn more and apply.

University Memorial Center openings

Work in the heart of campus! The UMC offers a competitive salary, flexible hours, professional and personal development opportunities and a true team spirit. There are currently openings for The Connection managers and a UMC security guard starting at $16 per hour. Learn more and apply.

Volunteer Resource Center student assistants

Connect with students, plan service opportunities for our campus and make an impact through education, service and reflection. Specific roles include: events and education, outreach, communications and social media, volunteer placement and a Peers Activating Leaders in Service mentor. Work will begin on Aug. 14. Pay starts at $16.85. Learn more and apply.

CU affiliates only

Study examining teamwork, collaboration

The Shine Lab is recruiting participants for a research study who:

• Are students, staff or faculty at CU Boulder
• Are native English speakers
• Are over the age of 18
• Are proficient at using computers
• Do not have a history of seizures

These studies take place at the Center for Innovation and Creativity (1777 Exposition Drive) in Room 171E. In this type of study, researchers will look at your physiological reaction and at your brain waves as you work in a team on a task that involves searching for objects of interest in satellite images. The purpose of the research is to better understand the experiences people have while working in teams on collaborative tasks. 

They will use non-invasive sensors (functional-near infrared spectroscopy) to measure your brain and physiological activity while you work with the visual search task. These devices are safe and comfortable for experiment participants to wear.

The studies last two hours each and the pay is $15 per hour, plus a significant merit-based cash bonus. You cannot earn course credit through this study.

If you are interested, please email [email protected] to schedule a slot.

Studies for adults

Multiple sclerosis clinical trial

Researchers from the Neurophysiology of Movement Laboratory are conducting a study to investigate if electrical stimulation applied to the legs can reduce fatigue and improve walking in persons with multiple sclerosis.

• Are between18–65 years of age
• Have clinically confirmed diagnosis of MS
• Are able to walk but have some difficulty walking
• Experience some fatigue during activities of daily living

The 11-week study involves four evaluation visits and 18 treatment sessions (three times per week for six weeks).

Evaluation sessions:

• Approximately two hours each
• Answering questionnaires
• Tests of walking, balance and muscle function

Treatments:

• Approximately 60 minutes each
• TENS applied to leg muscles while performing weight-lifting exercises
• The treatment will be applied to two muscle groups in each leg

Participants will be paid up to $880 for completing the 11-week trial.

If you are interested, please contact Mélanie Henry by email at [email protected] and reference the MS clinical trial.

Research on circadian rhythms

The Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory is looking for healthy males and females, ages 17–35, to participate in a study to improve our understanding of circadian rhythms in humans and specifically how light exposure and meal timing influences the levels of proteins that are measured in blood and saliva.

The study is seven weeks long with eight in-person visits. Participants live in the sleep laboratory on two separate occasions for 7.7 days (15.4 days total)

Compensation up to $3,785.  Get study details and apply. Email [email protected] with questions.

Study on stress, gut health

The purpose of this study (IRB Protocol #22-0234) is to evaluate how probiotic supplementation impacts your stress levels. This research may help us better understand factors that support adaptive stress responding.

You may be eligible for this study if you are:

• Willing to take a probiotic supplement for about two months
• Not immunosuppressed

Participation includes:

• One 30-minute in-person visit, where you will receive the probiotic/placebo and complete questionnaires
• About two months of supplementation
• Completion of periodic brief questionnaires sent via text

Take a brief survey to find out if you’re eligible . Contact Lauren Finkelstein at [email protected] or 970-921-9321.

Study on Mediterranean diet, health

Participants are needed for a research study evaluating foods from the Mediterranean diet. 

You may qualify if you:

• Are 30–69 years old
• Have a 25–37 BMI
• Have high blood sugar, high blood pressure or high cholesterol
• Have stable medication use
• Have a relatively low intake of Mediterranean diet-style foods
• Haven't changed your exercise patterns within the last three months
• Do not smoke

Participation involves:

• Monthly visits to the CU Anschutz Medical Campus over a period of 20 weeks
• Blood, urine and stool sample collections
• Four 4-week periods with daily consumption of various study foods such as salmon, beef, oatmeal, cheesecake, walnuts, red peppers, avocado and chickpeas

Food and compensation provided. Complete the screener to see if you qualify.

The study will take place in the Clinical and Translational Research Center on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus at 1890 N. Revere Ct., Room 6030, in Aurora. Email [email protected] with questions.

Study on supportive care for cancer patients

Living with metastatic cancer? Avoiding planning for the future? Feeling down, distressed, or worried? Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers and CU Boulder are offering an online study for adults with metastatic cancer who are feeling anxious, down or distressed. 

The Valued Living Study compares a five-week online skills group to usual supportive care. Participants can earn up to $150. You may be eligible if you:

• Have stage IV solid tumor cancer 
• Feel anxious, down or distressed

We welcome individuals of any race, ethnicity, age, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status or national origin.

Please reach out to learn more! Email [email protected] ; call or text 720-515-9461.

Astronaut training research in VR

The CU Boulder Bioastronautics Research Group, part of the Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, is recruiting subjects to participate in an astronaut training study using virtual reality.

Subjects will be trained on one of three tasks: an entry-descent landing scenario, a rover driving scenario, or a habitat maintenance scenario. Subjects will complete anywhere from three to eight sessions, with the first session taking up to 2.5 hours and the following sessions taking one hour each.

All subjects between the ages of 18 and 65 are invited to email [email protected] to learn more. Any questions about the study can be directed to the PI at  [email protected] .  

Cardiovascular research studies

The Integrative Physiology of Aging Lab  is seeking volunteers for four research studies:

Heat therapy on blood pressure, vascular function

Researchers are seeking women and men, ages 40-plus, who are willing to participate in water immersion sessions approximately three times per week for 12 weeks, and have above normal blood pressure (a top number of 115 or higher; if you are unsure of your blood pressure, please still contact us for screening).

Benefits for volunteers include: cardiovascular health assessment, exercise stress test, body composition, blood chemistries and monetary compensation for time.

For more information, please email [email protected] or call 970-460-8970.

Senolytics and cardiovascular dysfunction

A biological hallmark of aging is “cellular senescence”, which is associated with cardiovascular dysfunction. Compounds called “senolytics” that decrease the number or amount of senescent cells may be effective for improving age-related cardiovascular dysfunction and possibly brain health. 

Researchers are trying to determine whether intermittent oral supplementation with a natural compound with senolytic properties called fisetin (found in strawberries, onions and cucumbers and available as dietary supplement) will improve blood vessel function, reduce artery stiffness, and improve cognitive function (a measure of brain health) in adults ages 65-plus.

Benefits for volunteers include: cardiovascular health assessment, cognitive function tests, blood tests and compensation for time. 

For more information, please email [email protected] , or call 303-735-6410. 

Health effects of new breathing exercise

These two studies will explore the potential health effects of a new type of breathing exercise (a time efficient type of exercise) on blood pressure, vascular function and cognitive function.

For ages 18-plus

Requirements:

• Aged 18-plus years
• Higher blood pressure (systolic BP 120–160 mmHg)
• Own an Apple or Android smartphone
• Willing to perform breathing exercises 5–10 minutes per day, six days a week, for six weeks

Benefits include:

• Detailed blood panel (cholesterol, glucose, etc.)
• Blood pressure screening
• Monetary compensation for time

If interested, email [email protected] or call 303-492-2485.

For ages 50-plus

• Aged 50-plus years
• Higher blood pressure (systolic BP 120-160 mmHg)
• Willing to exercise up to 25 minutes per day, six days per week for a three-month period
• Physician-monitored exercise stress test
• Bone mineral density test

If interested, email [email protected] or call 303-492-2485.

Aging effects of nicotinamide riboside

Researchers are looking for volunteers to study the potential health aging effects of nicotinamide riboside supplementation on blood pressure and physiological function.

• Age 50–79 years
• Higher than normal blood pressure
• Willing to undergo a three-month period taking nicotinamide riboside or placebo pills

If interested, call 303-492-2485 or email [email protected] .

The Intermountain Neuorimaging Consortium (INC) is a brain imaging research facility in the Institute of Cognitive Science at CU Boulder. They use MRI scans to study how the brain works and how the brain changes across the lifespan. They currently have six to seven studies that are looking for participants from a range of ages across the Denver metro area. 

Learn More & Enroll

Study on sleep disruption, bone health

CU Anschutz researchers in the Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes are looking for healthy men and women to study the effects of sleep disruption on bone health. 

You may qualify for this study if you:

• Are 20–40 years old 
• Habitually sleep 7–9 hours per night  
• Have not done night-shift work in the past year  
• Do not currently smoke 
• Are fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2

Involvement includes:

• Measurements of bone mineral density
• Completion of sleep questionnaires/assessments
• Sleep with a simulated night-shift schedule or normal sleep schedule
• A general physical exam
• Activity monitoring with a wrist monitor
• Blood/urine collection
• Arterial line placement
• Two inpatient stays (four nights each)

The total study duration is up to six weeks of participation. You will receive up to $1,500 and a FitBit for your time. 

If interested, email  [email protected]  for study details, or  complete the prescreening survey .

Study on chronic back pain

The Pain Lab at CU Boulder, affiliated with the  Institute of Cognitive Science , is seeking participants ages 21–70 for a research study with non-invasive wearable sensors.

You may be eligible if you have experienced back pain for the last three-plus months. Participants will be compensated up to $360.

If you're interested,  fill out the screening form , and the lab will contact you regarding your eligibility. Email [email protected] with any questions.

Spinal cord injury research

Have you had a spinal cord injury? If so, we need your help.

The Sensorimotor Recovery and Neuroplasticity Laboratory at CU Boulder and CU Anschutz is seeking persons with a spinal cord injury to participate in a research project to study how low-oxygen therapy may promote recovery of movement.

This study is looking to see how mild bouts of breathing low oxygen may improve leg strength and walking ability in persons with spinal cord injury. The purpose of this study is to gain better understanding of how this potential therapy may help people with spinal cord injury become more independent.

If the following two questions apply to you, we would like to hear from you.

• Are you 18–75 years old? 
• Did you sustain a spinal cord injury more than six months ago?

Data we collect will be used to determine if this therapy may increase voluntary movement in persons' spinal cord injury. 

The study takes up one to two hours per day, up to 10 days of experimental treatment and training, and up to two days for tests on the CU Boulder campus. Participants will be compensated $25 for each visit and in some cases for travel.

For more information, contact CU Boulder's Andrew Quesada Tan  and/or CU Anschutz's Andrew C. Smith  with the subject line "IH STUDY."

Study on cannabis, memory

The CU Change Lab  (part of the Institute for Cognitive Science and Department of Psychology and Neuroscience) is looking for volunteers. In this study, researchers want to understand how varying levels of cannabinoids (e.g., THC and CBD) impact things such as memory and cognition to better understand the effects of varying levels of cannabinoids.

Participants will be compensated approximately $195 for 7.5 hours. You may be eligible to participate if you:

• Are 21–40 years old
• Have used cannabis for at least one year
• Are right-handed

Contact  [email protected] for more information.

Study on OCD

The Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory  is looking for males and females with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), ages 18–35, with a typical bedtime of 1 a.m. or later to participate in a research study on campus. Compensation up to $750.  Get study details and apply , or email  [email protected] with any questions.

Study on walking performance in older adults

Researchers in the Neurophysiology of Movement Lab  are conducting a study to evaluate the influence of light electrical stimulation on walking and balance capabilities in healthy older adults.

Subject requirements:

• 65–85 years of age
• Free from neurological impairments
• No recent lower body injuries
• Ability to walk for six minutes unaided

The study consists of two visits to Main Campus on separate days (approximately 2.5 hours each). In each session, we will apply mild electrical stimulation using a TENS device and assess subjects' walking and balance capabilities.

Compensation is $60 for the two visits. If interested, please contact Mohammed Alenazy for more information: [email protected] , 720-231-9767.

Studies for the family

STEM education research for middle, high schoolers

The NSF AI Institute for Student-AI Teaming (iSAT) is recruiting students 12-17 years old to participate in a study investigating collaborative problem solving in science, technology, engineering and mathematics domains.

In the study your child will be working with other participants on a series of group problem solving tasks. Researchers will use cameras and microphones to record the group’s interaction as they work through the task, as well as eye tracking to measure your child’s gaze patterns. Collecting video and audio data of your child is mandatory.

These studies take place at the Center for Innovation and Technology, Room 184G, located at 1777 Exposition Drive. They last two and a half hours each, and participants will be compensaeted $25 per hour ($62.50 total).

If your child is interested in participating, please email [email protected] and they will send you an online parental permission form, as well as online student assent form for your child to complete. Once the forms have been completed, we will send you an email with a link to sign up for a study session date and time. Email [email protected] with questions.

Maternal communication study

Language, Development, and Cognition Lab researchers invite you to participate in an online language production study conducted via Zoom at a time that is convenient for you. The study is open to mothers of 3- to 5-year-old children who are acquiring English as a first language.

You will engage in a task in which you will be shown simple animated actions on a screen (e.g., putting an object on a table) and asked to instruct a hypothetical child or adult listener to perform those actions using props. The total time for the study is 40–45 minutes or less, depending on number of breaks.

You will receive an Amazon gift card worth $20 within one to two weeks of study completion (and a gift card worth $5 if you complete part of the study). Complete the parent registry  or email  [email protected] for more information.

Mom and baby: Research on microplastics

Interested in how plastic exposure might impact maternal and child health? Participate in a paid study to help researchers better understand how microplastics might alter human health and determine what lifestyle factors might increase exposure.

As a participant, you will earn $200 for completing several questionnaires and providing biological samples. This study includes at-home biological sample collections and questionnaires as well as one visit to the Clinical Translational Research Center (CTRC) in Boulder for physical health assessments and a blood draw.

• First-time moms
• Mother/infant pairs
• Approximately one month postpartum
• Living in Denver or Boulder

Please fill out a brief survey to see if you qualify. If you have questions, contact [email protected] . This study is based in the Alderete Diabetes and Obesity Research (ADOR) Laboratory .

Child communication research

The Child Research Participant Registry connects families and researchers, so that together they can advance understanding of human communication and methods to diagnose and treat children who have communication-related challenges. They invite families of children with or without communication challenges to join the registry.

To learn more, or to sign up your child, please  visit this webpage . The research registry is affiliated with the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences.

• Getting Involved

Campus Community

Related articles.

Vote in the CU Student Government elections

Be a part of the new chancellor selection process

LASP welcomes Chancellor’s Parent Society Leadership Board

News headlines.

• Arts & Humanities
• Business & Entrepreneurship
• Climate & Environment
• Education & Outreach
• Health & Society
• Law & Politics
• Science & Technology
• Administration
• Announcements & Deadlines
• Career Development
• Mind & Body

Events & Exhibits

• Arts & Culture
• Conferences
• Lectures & Presentations
• Performances & Concerts
• Sports & Recreation
• Workshops & Seminars

Subscribe to CUBT

Sign up for Alerts

Administrative eMemos

Buff Bulletin Board

Events Calendar

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

Research Roundup: How the Pandemic Changed Management

• Mark C. Bolino,
• Jacob M. Whitney,
• Sarah E. Henry

Lessons from 69 articles published in top management and applied psychology journals.

Researchers recently reviewed 69 articles focused on the management implications of the Covid-19 pandemic that were published between March 2020 and July 2023 in top journals in management and applied psychology. The review highlights the numerous ways in which employees, teams, leaders, organizations, and societies were impacted and offers lessons for managing through future pandemics or other events of mass disruption.

The recent pandemic disrupted life as we know it, including for employees and organizations around the world. To understand such changes, we recently reviewed 69 articles focused on the management implications of the Covid-19 pandemic. These papers were published between March 2020 and July 2023 in top journals in management and applied psychology.

• Mark C. Bolino is the David L. Boren Professor and the Michael F. Price Chair in International Business at the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business. His research focuses on understanding how an organization can inspire its employees to go the extra mile without compromising their personal well-being.
• JW Jacob M. Whitney is a doctoral candidate in management at the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business and an incoming assistant professor at Kennesaw State University. His research interests include leadership, teams, and organizational citizenship behavior.
• SH Sarah E. Henry is a doctoral candidate in management at the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business and an incoming assistant professor at the University of South Florida. Her research interests include organizational citizenship behaviors, workplace interpersonal dynamics, and international management.

Partner Center

• Side Hustles
• Power Players
• Young Success
• Save and Invest
• Become Debt-Free
• Land the Job
• Closing the Gap
• Science of Success
• Pop Culture and Media
• Psychology and Relationships
• Health and Wellness
• Real Estate
• Most Popular

Related Stories

• Work The racial pay gap starts as early as   16 for Black workers—here's why
• Get Ahead The 10 best U.S. cities for finding a   job—New York and L.A. are not on the list
• Life These are the 10 happiest cities in   America—none of them are in Florida
• Life This northeastern state is the best place   to raise a family, new report says
• Work You'll have almost zero competition to land   a 'highly paid' job in these cities

These are the 10 top-paying U.S. cities where women outearn men

Nationwide, women outearn men in just 42 U.S. cities out of an analysis of some 1,800 cities, according to a new GoBankingRates report using Census Bureau data.

The report considers the median annual earnings for men and women in cities with a population of at least 20,000 people.

Of locations, these are the 10 top-paying cities where women outearn men:

• Bowie, Md.: Women earn a median $81,011 a year
• Clinton, Md.: Women earn a median $71,123 a year
• Fort Washington, Md.: Women earn a median $69,983 a year
• Oakland, Calif.: Women earn a median $68,260 a year
• Goleta, Calif.: Women earn a median $65,030 a year
• Laurel, Md.: Women earn a median $65,008 a year
• Monrovia, Calif.: Women earn a median $62,016 a year
• Hackensack, N.J.: Women earn a median $60,237 a year
• Newark, Del.: Women earn a median $58,769 a year
• Chamblee, Ga.: Women earn a median $58,590 a year

In each of these cities, women outearn men by a share of .14% to 18.95% of what men earn.

Across the U.S., women are paid just 84 cents for every $1 paid to a man, on average.

Many of the top cities with gender parity and higher earning power for women are near Washington D.C., where government jobs have more transparent pay practices and, perhaps relatedly, greater gender pay parity, though a gap still exists .

At No. 4, Oakland, Calif., is the largest city on the list, with a population of nearly 360,000 people. There, women earn a median of $68,200 per year, just outpacing men's earnings of $68,100 per year.

The lack of a gender pay gap in these cities isn't, on its own, good news for women's earning power.

"Our findings show salaries are relatively low in the select few cities where women are outearning men," Andrew Murray, lead data researcher at GoBankingRates, tells CNBC Make It. "Several of the cities that made our list have median earnings for women around $30,000 to $40,000."

"This is particularly noteworthy considering that there tends to be less of a gender pay gap among lower-wage workers, especially minimum-wage workers, compared to higher-end, hourly workers," Murray adds.

Women, and particularly women of color, are overrepresented in minimum wage jobs . Research shows raising the federal minimum wage would have an outsized impact on reducing poverty rates for women and the children of women-led households.

Overall, the No. 1 city where women's earning rates are highest compared to men's is Jacksonville, N.C, but actual salary figures are much lower. There, women earn roughly 20% more than men, or $33,000 a year compared with men who earn roughly $27,000 a year — lower than the national median salary of $59,540 per year .

In the case of Jacksonville, the city "has a high government employee base both for the military and Department of Defense which could be contributing to more equitable pay," Murray says.

Overall, women earn the most in five U.S. cities, GoBankingRates notes: Los Altos, Calif. ($150,000 median salary); Saratoga, Calif. ($140,000 median salary); McLean, Va. ($137,000 median salary); San Carlos, Calif. ($137,000 median salary) and Wellesley, Mass. ($130,000). However, men outearn women in each of these cities by a rate of 60% to 70%.

Want to land your dream job in 2024?  Take  CNBC's new online course How to Ace Your Job Interview  to learn what hiring managers are really looking for, body language techniques, what to say and not to say, and the best way to talk about pay.

President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Provides the Single Largest Industrial Decarbonization Investment in the Nation’s History, Driving $20+ Billion in Total Investment to Revitalize Manufacturing Communities and Create and Maintain Good-Paying Jobs 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda , the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $6 billion for 33 projects across more than 20 states to decarbonize energy-intensive industries, reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions, support good-paying union jobs, revitalize industrial communities, and strengthen the nation’s manufacturing competitiveness. Funded by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, the projects will create and maintain tens of thousands of high-quality jobs and help accelerate the commercial-scale demonstration of emerging industrial decarbonization technologies crucial to meeting the Biden-Harris administration's climate and domestic manufacturing goals.  

The projects will focus on the highest emitting industries where decarbonization technologies will have the greatest impact, including aluminum and other metals, cement and concrete, chemicals and refining, iron and steel, and more. Together, the projects are expected to reduce the equivalent of more than 14 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions each year—an amount equivalent to the annual emissions of 3 million gasoline-powered cars. Many of the projects will deploy first-in-the-nation emissions-reducing technologies that have the potential for sector-wide adoption and transformation, multiplying the magnitude of the emissions cuts and supporting the future of U.S. manufacturing. Today’s announcement is the largest investment in industrial decarbonization in American history, helping to position American manufacturers and workers to lead the global clean energy economy.  

“Spurring on the next generation of decarbonization technologies in key industries like steel, paper, concrete, and glass will keep America the most competitive nation on Earth,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Thanks to President Biden’s industrial strategy, DOE is making the largest investment in industrial decarbonization in the history of the United States. These investments will slash emissions from these difficult-to-decarbonize sectors and ensure American businesses and American workers remain at the forefront of the global economy.” 

This transformative federal investment will help strengthen local economies and create and maintain tens of thousands of good-paying, high-quality jobs—particularly those that support worker organizing and collective bargaining. As part of President Biden’s efforts to build an equitable and inclusive clean energy future, each project is also expected to develop and ultimately implement a comprehensive Community Benefits Plan that ensures meaningful community and labor engagement. Nearly 80% of the projects are located in a disadvantaged community, as defined by President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative , offering a significant opportunity to invest in good jobs and clean air in communities that have experienced years of divestment. 

The industrial sector contributes nearly one-third of the nation’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. This transformative federal investment is matched by the selected projects to leverage more than $20 billion in total to demonstrate commercial-scale decarbonization solutions needed to move the industrial sector toward net-zero emissions. Funded projects will cut carbon emissions by an average of 77%. The industrial sector’s unique and complex decarbonization challenges require equally unique and innovative decarbonization solutions that leverage multiple pathways including energy efficiency, electrification, and alternative fuels and feedstocks such as clean hydrogen. The projects announced today are part of the Industrial Demonstrations Program , managed by DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), and will help strengthen America’s manufacturing and industrial competitiveness. Funding for these projects includes $489 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $5.47 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act. 

Decarbonizing Energy- and Emissions-Intensive Industries

The 33 projects selected for award negotiations represent difficult-to-decarbonize industries, including seven chemicals and refining projects, six cement and concrete projects, six iron and steel projects, five aluminum and metals projects, three food and beverage projects, three glass projects, two process heat-focused projects, and one pulp and paper project.  

An overview of selected projects broken down by industry include:  

• Chemicals and Refining : The seven selected chemicals and refining projects demonstrate how one of the world’s largest industries can turn its carbon intensity from a liability into an advantage, increase circularity, and onshore critical supply chains for clean fuels and key electric vehicle components. These projects plan to demonstrate opportunities to upcycle captured carbon to value-added products, create high-quality fuels and materials from recycled products, and replace fossil-fired, high-heat processes with decarbonized fuels. Together, the seven projects would create products like clean fuels for the marine sector, electrolytes for electric vehicle batteries, and high-quality plastics.  
• Cement and Concrete : The six selected cement and concrete projects plan to demonstrate a comprehensive set of technologies capable of eliminating all CO2 emissions from today’s plants while setting the stage for a future where cement—one of the single largest sources of CO2 emissions globally—can be net-negative. These game-changing projects will revolutionize a sector that has relied on emissions-intensive processes for millennia. From capturing and sequestering the emissions from one of the largest cement plants in the U.S. to pioneering chemistry changes to mitigate emissions at their source, DOE’s investments can fundamentally transform cement—the world’s most abundant man-made material and a building block of our world’s infrastructure. Together, the projects will develop new pathways for making traditional Portland cement with lower or zero emissions and to pioneer new materials and new mixtures that can drive the sector to zero emissions.  
• Iron and Steel : The six selected iron and steel projects plan to demonstrate emerging technologies, including some of the world’s first clean hydrogen-fueled direct reduced ironmaking facilities, which can eliminate the vast majority of steelmaking emissions. The projects will help decarbonize iron and steelmaking and enable the industry to phase out more traditional carbon-intensive production methods that rely on coal. This investment is expected to help create products like high grades of steel for the automotive industry, while solidifying the nation’s position as the global leader in low-carbon iron and steel products.  
• Aluminum and Metals : The five selected aluminum and metals projects include a major capital injection to decarbonize and revitalize the U.S. primary aluminum industry along with world-leading recycling approaches for both aluminum and copper. After decades of decline, these investments lay the groundwork for a potential rebound of this critical sector. These investments aim to improve U.S. industry’s competitiveness and efficiency while simultaneously decarbonizing and onshoring supply chains for materials critical for defense and energy sectors. In addition to the high-purity aluminum needed for the defense and energy sectors, the selections include projects that would create recycled aluminum for the food and beverage industry and copper for semiconductors and electric vehicles.  
• Food and Beverage : The three selected food and beverage projects will demonstrate highly replicable energy efficiency and electrification solutions for low- to medium-temperature process heat across 16 locations. These projects can increase consumer awareness around embodied emissions by decarbonizing products that Americans consume every day like ice cream, ketchup, and BBQ sauce.  
• Glass : The three selected glass projects plan to validate electric/fuel hybrid furnaces producing low-emission glass bottles, tableware, and food packaging. This suite of projects will help decarbonize high-temperature heat and set a roadmap for other heat-intensive industrial processes.  
• Process Heat : These two projects plan to validate the use of electric boilers and electric steam production to reduce emissions associated with process heating across a wide range of industries. By demonstrating applicability across sectors, these projects will chart a path for addressing one of the biggest challenges in the industrial sector—heat-related emissions. 
• Pulp and Paper : The one selected pulp and paper project aims to improve energy efficiency by using a novel membrane for an important separations process instead of heat. This technology is highly replicable for many applications, including chemicals and critical materials.  

Learn more about the 33 projects selected for award negotiations . 

Laying the Foundation of an Inclusive Clean Energy Future 

The Biden-Harris administration is dedicated to working in partnership with communities and industries to build an equitable clean energy economy that benefits every American. As part of the Administration’s commitments to invest in America’s workforce, support high-quality American jobs, advance environmental and energy justice, and strengthen tribal energy sovereignty, each project was required to develop and ultimately implement a comprehensive community benefits plan —which will be informed by early and meaningful community and labor engagements in each region. Applicants were required to describe how their proposals would provide the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people in a facility’s location, recognizing the opportunity this funding provides to address pollution for those disproportionately affected by industrial sector emissions and begin remediating existing social, economic, and health burdens.  

To kickstart ongoing engagement around these projects, OCED will hold a series of national and regional virtual briefings to provide information on the selected projects, introduce OCED’s approach to clean energy demonstrations, and provide opportunities for industry and communities to engage further on specific projects of interest. Learn about IDP engagement opportunities and register to attend .  

Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the selected applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time. Lead applicants also may change during the award negotiations process. If awarded, OCED will evaluate these projects through a phased approach to project management that includes “go/no-go” decision points between each project phase where DOE reviews and evaluates implementation progress, including community benefits. 

Learn more about how OCED , the Department’s Pathway to Industrial Decarbonization Commercial Liftoff , the Department’s Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap , and the Industrial Technologies Joint Strategy support the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of technologies that will help the U.S. industrial sector reach President Biden’s ambitious goal of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.