How much do focus groups pay?
Real pay data from 3,317 paid studies listed on FindPaidFocusGroup since 2015. Updated October 29, 2026.
Key findings
- The typical focus group pays $150. Half of all studies pay more, half pay less.
- 1 in 3 studies pays $200 or more, and 1 in 9 pays $300 or more.
- Business & professionals studies pay the most ($250 typical); travel studies pay the least ($125).
- Pay dipped to $125 in 2019 and is $160 in 2026.
- 353 new paid studies were posted in the last 12 months, about 7 a week.
How much studies pay
Share of all 3,317 studies in each pay range.
View as table
| Pay range | Studies | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under $100 | 218 | 7% |
| $100–149 | 1,205 | 36% |
| $150–199 | 769 | 23% |
| $200–299 | 744 | 22% |
| $300–499 | 291 | 9% |
| $500+ | 90 | 3% |
Pay by topic
Typical (median) pay by what the study is about. Business & professionals studies pay the most.
View as table
| Topic | Median pay | Top 10% pay | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business & professionals | $250 | $400+ | 61 |
| Tech, apps & AI | $150 | $300+ | 293 |
| Medical & health | $150 | $400+ | 278 |
| Money & finance | $150 | $300+ | 189 |
| Beauty & personal care | $150 | $300+ | 168 |
| Parents & kids | $150 | $400+ | 87 |
| Cars & auto | $150 | $300+ | 81 |
| Gaming | $150 | $250+ | 56 |
| Food & drink | $135 | $250+ | 503 |
| Travel | $125 | $250+ | 90 |
Focus group pay over time
Median pay of studies posted each year.
View as table
| Year | Median pay | Studies |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $160 | 177 |
| 2017 | $175 | 187 |
| 2018 | $150 | 197 |
| 2019 | $125 | 269 |
| 2020 | $125 | 187 |
| 2021 | $125 | 376 |
| 2022 | $125 | 371 |
| 2023 | $150 | 369 |
| 2024 | $150 | 393 |
| 2025 | $150 | 446 |
| 2026 | $160 | 317 |
Highest-paying studies in 2026
- $9,550 Paid Clinical Trial in Lenexa, Kansas – Earn Up to $9,550 (Healthy Adults 18–55)
- $6,000 Lincoln, Nebraska Paid Study for Healthy Adults – Earn $6,000 (Nov 8–23)
- $5,500 Lincoln, Nebraska Clinical Research Study – Earn $5,500 (Nov 12–27)
- $1,976 Vermont Tobacco Study for Adults Who Smoke and Vape – Earn Up to $1,976
- $1,348 Vermont PTSD Treatment Study for People Treated for Opioid Use – Earn $888–$1,808
Frequently asked questions
How much do focus groups pay?
The typical paid focus group pays $150 (the median across 3,317 studies listed on FindPaidFocusGroup since 2015). 1 in 3 studies pays $200 or more, and the top 10% pay $300 or more.
Which focus groups pay the most?
Business & professionals studies have the highest typical pay at $250, and the best-paying 10% of them pay $400 or more. Studies that need specific professionals, patients or a longer time commitment usually pay more.
How many paid focus groups are there?
353 paid studies were posted on FindPaidFocusGroup in the last 12 months, about 7 a week. Each study only takes a limited number of participants, so it pays to apply early.
Are paid focus groups legit?
Yes. Real market research companies pay people for their opinion. A legitimate study never asks you to pay a fee, buy something upfront or share bank login details to apply.
About this report
- Source: every paid study listed on FindPaidFocusGroup.com from 2015 to 2026 (3,317 studies), including studies that have since closed.
- Pay: the amount the research company lists for taking part. When a range is listed, we use the middle of the range. Amounts below $10 or above $10,000 are left out as likely errors.
- Typical pay is the median: half of studies pay more, half pay less. It is less affected by a few very high-paying studies than an average.
- Topics are based on keywords in each study's title. A study can count in more than one topic. Topics with fewer than 20 studies are not shown.
- Years with fewer than 50 studies are left out of the trend.
- Updated automatically every day as new studies are posted. Last update: October 29, 2026.
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