Research Participant Incentive Calculator
Calculate fair incentives for your research participants based on study type, duration, audience, and location.
Between 1 and 100
How to Calculate Research Participant Incentives
Offering the right incentive is one of the most important decisions in planning a user research study. Pay too little and you'll struggle to recruit qualified participants or see high no-show rates. Pay too much and you risk attracting people motivated by the money rather than genuine interest in providing feedback, which can bias your results and blow your budget.
This calculator uses industry-standard rates gathered from published research by User Interviews, Ethnio, and UX research community surveys to recommend an appropriate incentive range based on four key factors:
- Study type — Diary studies and interviews require more participant effort than surveys, so they command higher rates.
- Session duration — Longer sessions mean more of the participant's time. Rates scale with duration, with a premium for sessions over 60 minutes.
- Audience type — Professionals, executives, and specialized participants (like doctors or engineers) have a higher opportunity cost and are harder to recruit, justifying significantly higher incentives.
- Geographic location — Cost of living and local market rates mean the same study may cost different amounts in different regions.
Tips for Maximizing Your Research Budget
Getting the most value from your research incentive budget is about more than just the dollar amount. Here are practical strategies to stretch your budget while maintaining participant quality:
- Recruit from your own user base first. Existing users are often willing to participate for lower incentives because they have intrinsic motivation to improve the product they use.
- Use a tiered approach. For diary studies or multi-session research, offer a base incentive plus a completion bonus. This reduces costs from participants who drop out early.
- Consider non-cash alternatives. Early access to features, extended trial periods, or charitable donations in the participant's name can supplement or sometimes replace cash incentives, especially for B2B research.
- Optimize session length. A focused 30-minute interview with a clear discussion guide often yields better insights per dollar than a meandering 90-minute session.
- Batch your recruitment. Running multiple studies with the same participant panel reduces per-session recruitment costs and can justify volume discounts on incentives.
Industry Benchmarks for Research Incentives (2025-2026)
These benchmarks reflect current market rates based on published industry data:
| Study Type | Consumer (60 min) | Professional (60 min) | Executive (60 min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| User Interview | $50 – $100 | $75 – $150 | $150 – $300 |
| Usability Test | $40 – $80 | $60 – $120 | $120 – $240 |
| Survey | $10 – $20 | $15 – $30 | $30 – $60 |
| Focus Group | $55 – $105 | $85 – $160 | $165 – $315 |
| Diary Study | $70 – $130 | $105 – $195 | $210 – $390 |
Rates shown are for US-based participants. Adjust using location multipliers for other regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should you pay research participants?
The standard rate for a 60-minute user interview with a general consumer is $50 to $100. For specialized audiences like executives or medical professionals, rates can range from $150 to $300 or more per session. The exact amount depends on session duration, audience type, recruitment difficulty, and geographic location.
What are the best payment methods for research incentives?
The most popular payment methods for research incentives are digital gift cards (Amazon, Visa), PayPal transfers, and incentive platforms like Tremendous or Rybbon. Gift cards work well for consumer participants, while professionals and executives often prefer PayPal or bank transfers. For international studies, Tremendous and similar platforms handle multi-currency payouts automatically.
Should you offer incentives for surveys vs. interviews?
Yes, but the amounts differ significantly. Surveys typically warrant $5 to $25 per response depending on length, while interviews command $50 to $150+ for a 60-minute session. The higher incentive for interviews reflects the greater time commitment, scheduling effort, and cognitive demand placed on participants.
How do incentive rates differ for B2B vs. consumer research participants?
B2B participants, especially professionals and executives, expect significantly higher incentives than general consumers. A professional participant typically requires 1.5x the consumer rate, while C-suite executives may need 2.5x to 3x the base rate. This reflects their higher opportunity cost, harder recruitment, and the specialized knowledge they bring to the study.
Do research incentive rates vary by country or region?
Yes, incentive rates vary by region due to differences in cost of living and local market norms. US rates are typically the highest benchmark. UK rates are roughly 5% lower, EU rates about 10% lower, and Asia-Pacific rates can be 30-40% lower than US equivalents. For global studies with participants across multiple regions, using the US rate as a baseline ensures competitive compensation everywhere.