Surrogacy has become more commonplace over the years and more socially acceptable overall. It is also one of the most successful medical interventions for infertility.
For this very important reason, the number of surrogacy cases has increased steadily. According to the CDC’s National ART Surveillance System, we know that of the 2,071,984 assisted reproductive technology cycles between 1999 and 2013, the number of gestational carrier cycles increased from 727 (1.0%) in 1999 to 3,432 (2.5%) in 2013. Since then, the number has continued to rise and reached an all-time high of 9,195 (5.5%) in 2019.
Because of this steady rise in the number of surrogacy cases, there has been a corresponding increase in the demand for gestational carriers. And with the rising demand, the base compensation for gestational carriers continues to grow at a rapid pace. In particular, after the pandemic and the recent inflation, base compensation and stipends have risen sharply in the past few years.
The average total cost for a gestational carrier in 2025 ranges from $70,000 to $90,000 depending on such factors as previous surrogacy experience, whether she has surrogacy friendly insurance, and if she is interested in carrying multiples. The compensation is broken down into the base compensation which is paid monthly when the gestational carrier becomes pregnant and the extra stipends that are paid to gestational carriers at specific points in the journey.
At Capital Surrogacy, we ask our gestational carriers to choose their own base compensation. If guidance is needed, we help prospective gestational carriers choose a fair base compensation amount. On average, our first time gestational carriers now earn about $60,000 in base compensation in 2025. In addition, there are significant extras throughout the journey including a $2,000 total signing bonus directly from Capital Surrogacy, $1,000 payment at each embryo transfer, and monthly allowances for local travel and incidentals. The extras amount to roughly $10,000 to $20,000, significantly increasing the total compensation for our gestational carriers.
To make the calculation easier, Capital Surrogacy has created a surrogate compensation worksheet that invites prospective gestational carriers to calculate their anticipated compensation amounts. Since each gestational carrier has a unique situation and needs, we want prospective gestational carriers to estimate their individual expected compensation. This tool allows prospective gestational carriers to not only have a compensation range but will provide a more specific and realistic amount for the journey.
Sometimes it can be difficult to know how much a gestational carrier will earn based on a range provided by an agency. Expectations can bring disappointment if a prospective gestational carrier, especially a first-time gestational carrier, focuses on the upper range. Other times the total compensation amount may be mistaken for the base compensation.
At Capital Surrogacy, we believe in transparency and in treating each gestational carrier as an individual in her expectations for the journey. For this reason, we invite all prospective gestational carriers to use the surrogate compensation worksheet and become more educated on their anticipated compensation amounts. We understand that gestational carriers’ needs are as unique and special as they are.
We encourage all prospective gestational carriers to contact Capital Surrogacy and learn more about the process. Please complete the short contact form, we cannot wait to hear from you!
