Paying Surveys for Doctors

Medical surveys are an easy way to make a few bucks at a good hourly rate (well, maybe at least for a resident), and there are multiple sites offering surveys to physicians. The caveat is that, of course, most survey sponsors are typically looking for board-certified physicians with multiple years of experience, particularly in sub-specialties. The less experience you have, the more you need to be prepared to get screened out of what seem like promising survey opportunities.

Last updated February 2024. This page contains referral/affiliate links (thank you for your support).

Curizon has been in the business a long time, but they just completely revamped their website and platform. It’s a trusted site for well-paying healthcare surveys for physicians as well as other healthcare professionals. Five new sign-ups per month will win $100.

All Global Circle is offering $30 for new signups until March 22.

ZoomRx is also excellent and has a nice app and better/shorter-than-average surveys. No sign-up bonus for you, but there is a referral one for me if you’d like to support the site!

One of my very favorites is InCrowd, which has a slick mobile-friendly site and will send you survey opportunities by email or text message. These are always of the very short and painless variety (the fastest of all in my experience), so the payouts are small, but it’s good money for the time and basically effortless. You do have to respond quickly before surveys fill up, but you even get a buck when you get screened out. Being referred (like signing up through that link) will earn you a $10 bonus after you answer your first two microsurveys.

M3 Global Research is one of the biggest survey companies, and they’re super active. They’re currently offering a $10 sign-up bonus for twelve select specialties (Hematology / Oncology, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonology, Cardiology, Family Medicine or General Practice, Neurology, Urology, Nephrology, Allergy and Immunology, Surgery, Psychiatry, or Rheumatology).

One of the biggest sites is Sermo, which is a physician-only “online community.” Once you maintain a balance of $100 in honoraria, you get preferentially invited to more surveys. It can be hard to get your honoraria balance up to the bonus level, especially if you aren’t in a high-demand field like oncology or cardiology. A lot of the well-paying surveys are very arduous, and community components are terrible as you’d expect. They stopped paying welcome bonuses several years ago.

At the resident level, one of my old favorites has been Brand Institute, which almost exclusively sends out short surveys about potential drug brand names. Payouts are always on the smaller side ($15), but each one is quick (about $1 per minute or more) and screen-outs are rare. So if you get invited to a survey, then you can generally complete it and get the honoraria. No BS. The main style/format is nearly always the same, so you pick up speed as you do more of them. And that honoraria size is also significantly larger than what one can generally pull as a non-physician (e.g. SurveySavvy, the biggest most popular survey site around, usually pays a measly $2 per survey). The website, however, is clunky and terrible. You’ve been warned.

Additional legitimate additional survey sites, many of which are significantly less active, are below:

154 Comments

Monique 04.04.14 Reply

I want in! That sounds awesome!

Allen Wolfe 04.15.14 Reply

I’d love a referral – thanks!

Travis Reece-Nguyen 04.19.14 Reply

I’m going to get started on these quizzes and would love a referral!

Lan 05.17.14 Reply

Would love a referral as well! Thanx!

Alan 05.26.14 Reply

I’d love a referral

Christian 05.29.14 Reply

Referral for Sermo please!

Natalie 06.13.14 Reply

Referral for Sermo please! :)

Adam 06.18.14 Reply

Would love a referral for Sermo, thanks!

Dave 06.26.14 Reply

Send me a referral for Sermo plz ty

David 06.27.14 Reply

I’d like a referral. Thanks for sharing!

Josh 07.03.14 Reply

I’d like a referral please!

Didi 07.07.14 Reply

I would like a referral!

Julia 07.08.14 Reply

I’d like to join if possible! I am a medical student though, but we can accumulate points for now until we are board certified?
Thanks!

Lisa 07.12.14 Reply

Referral please! Thanks for sharing

LP 07.15.14 Reply

I’d love a Sermo referral please!

Ben 07.15.14 Reply

Julia,

You won’t be able to join Sermo without finishing school, but you can certainly join QuantiaMD and accumulate points gradually by completing the activities. Then, once you finish up medical school, you’ll be able to confirm your “clinician status” and redeem your points (which is what I did). Basically as long as you log in once a year, the Q-points don’t expire. I actually can’t remember offhand anymore the vetting process for MDLinx or Brand institute, which are the other two I’ve had success with.

Dan 07.31.14 Reply

Ben, I’d be interested, too. Send me an invite, please!

Jaclyn Richards 08.05.14 Reply

I would love a referral as well

Ryan Mallory 09.03.14 Reply

Please send me a referral as well. Thank you!

Amy 09.05.14 Reply

I would like a referral as well. Thanks

Sarah 09.13.14 Reply

Hey i’d like a referral please??? =]

Lyra 09.24.14 Reply

Great information! Thank you
I’d love a Sermo referral please.

Amy 09.29.14 Reply

Sermo referral please (and thank you!)

Tony 10.01.14 Reply

Sermo please. Thanks!!

Dave 10.03.14 Reply

Is it just me or does Sermo suck these days? I swear I haven’t gotten a survey from them in several months.

Ben 10.04.14 Reply

Sermo is a bit irregular, with frequency depending a lot what specialty you’ve provided. Having $100 in honoraria saved up to reach “preferred status” also makes a signficant difference. Getting the first $100 can be a challenge.

Jodi 10.19.14 Reply

I would love a referral

Ian 11.03.14 Reply

I want in (:

Dustin Boothe 11.10.14 Reply

Hey Ben, I would like a referral to Sermo please! Thanks!

GMB 11.12.14 Reply

I would love a referral to as many as possible.
Thanks a lot for posting the info

Roberto 11.23.14 Reply

I would like a referal. Thanks!

Michael 12.09.14 Reply

Do you have to disclose this survey taking as a relevant financial relationship in a presentation you give?

Ben 12.10.14 Reply

Nope. The actual companies sponsoring these surveys are not dislosed to you as a survey taker, so you don’t even have a way of knowing to whom you could have any sort of relationship.

stacey 12.15.14 Reply

Please send me a referral!

Benecia 12.16.14 Reply

Please send me an invite :)

tim 12.18.14 Reply

liked the article, I would be grateful for a referral, thanks!

irina jenkins 01.24.15 Reply

QuantiaMD sounds good to me as an MD and I would love a referral. Thanks

fares 01.30.15 Reply

hello. thanks for your help. I would like a referral please. thanks

Katrina 01.31.15 Reply

I’d love an invite too. Thanks!

Ben 02.04.15 Reply

For anyone who is reading this and wondering, yes, I do respond to the these requests (usually the same day!).

SK 02.06.15 Reply

Sermo has worked very poorly for me to the point that I do not trust them to be secure. I registered and they could not verify who I am. I sent documentation and they emailed me that I was verified and the account active. Then later they emailed and said they can not verify who I am. I responded that you already did. They responded that they did not have any record of an account with my email and asked me for more documentation. Don’t trust a site that can’t even keep track of what info it collects – that’s how identity theft happens; last thing any physician needs is someone getting his/her licensing info and doing illegal things.

Ben 02.06.15 Reply

Sounds super frustrating. Can’t say I’ve heard of anything like that happening to anyone else I know or myself, but I’d definitely be annoyed under those circumstances.

Typically I’ve seen people provide their medical school diploma or state medical license when it comes to providing documentation for these sites. License numbers are readily available online, and NPI numbers are also public info. So with regards to that sort of information, I don’t really see the harm regardless.

Justin 02.20.15 Reply

I have never gotten anything from Brand Institute. Do you need to be a VIP member to actually get any surveys?

Ben 02.21.15 Reply

Definitely don’t need to be a VIP. The VIP program gives you access to open surveys, but the vast majority of surveys still come from direct invitations.

I have noticed that the survey invitations seem to come in spurts of activity, and that there is a lot of variability in how soon they come after signing up. For example, I didn’t get a single invitation for the initial three months after signing up and have since continued to get them regularly, so it may just be a matter of time until they kick in. I do know others who received surveys immediately, but it seems like waiting a bit first is probably more common.

Dana 03.14.15 Reply

Hey Ben, I was hoping you had a few more referrals for Sermo to send out? If you do, I would appreciate one! And thanks for all the links!

CA 03.21.15 Reply

Ben, thanks for the informative post. As many above, I would very much appreciate a Sermo referral, if possible!

JT 04.10.15 Reply

Interested in joining the Sermo community. Thanks

LP 04.14.15 Reply

Interested too joining the Sermo community.

Thanks

emarie 05.15.15 Reply

interested in Sermo and any other referrals. Tnx!

Divya 06.08.15 Reply

would love referral to Sermo, or other paying sites thank you

S. M. 06.16.15 Reply

Would like a referral please :)

S. M. 06.16.15 Reply

Would like a sermo referral please, and to other similar sites, thanks!

Fran 07.15.15 Reply

Hello Ben,
I would like a referral to Sermo and other paying survey sites-Please. Thank you.

Ben 07.15.15 Reply

Still featuring same-day referrals for those wondering at home.

Ryan 07.24.15 Reply

Ben,

Would appreciate a referral to Sermo. Thank you very much!

Maja 07.27.15 Reply

Pls send me referral for Sermo and Brand. Thanks!

Dan 08.07.15 Reply

Referral for Sermo pls. Thanks!

SallyG 08.10.15 Reply

Great article.
Do you have insight on other sites that cater for Pharmacists as well.

Ben 08.10.15 Reply

Brand Institute and QuantiaMD definitely both cater to pharmacists as well as other clinicians. Sermo does not; a few of the others (e.g. Curizon) do as well, but they don’t seem to me to be quite as active. MDLinx does (perhaps ironically), and is one of the most active for physicians, but I’m not sure how good the site is for pharmacists=—my guess is that it would be one of the best bests though.

Rachel 08.16.15 Reply

Invite for sermo please! THANKS!

Nic 09.10.15 Reply

Invite for Sermo please.

JUAN BASILIO 09.23.15 Reply

Please send me a referal for Sermo, I’m dermatologist, thanks

Ben 09.24.15 Reply

Still responding within minutes to hours for those keeping track at home.

Saga 09.30.15 Reply

Please send me a referral, thanks!

john malouf 11.03.15 Reply

I’d love a referral–thanks!

Jeff 01.14.16 Reply

I’d love a referral as well. Dermatologist.

Royson Mann 02.07.16 Reply

Send me an email for referral to Sermo.

Ben 02.08.16 Reply

Sent

Irina 02.12.16 Reply

Hello,

Do you know if PAs can join? If you feel comfortable, please send me a referral as well.
Thanks!

Ben 02.12.16 Reply

Sermo is only for physicians (and they do verify), but most of the others are open to all types of providers.

Kyle 02.21.16 Reply

I would love a referral to Sermo. Thanks!

Risa 02.22.16 Reply

Can i get a sermo referral? Thanks!

Ben 02.22.16 Reply

Of course!

Matt F. 04.02.16 Reply

Could you please send me a referral to Sermo? Thanks!

Ben 04.03.16 Reply

Sent

Tom 04.15.16 Reply

Referral please :)

Ben 04.15.16 Reply

Sent

Kaden 05.07.16 Reply

Can you send me a referral to Sermo please?

Thanks!

Ben 05.07.16 Reply

Sent!

MV 05.23.16 Reply

I would like a sermo referral please. Also your book for the law exam was awesome, passed with a 98

Ben 05.23.16 Reply

Sent (thanks!)

Owen 06.20.16 Reply

Hey Ben. I’d love a Sermo invite if you’re still handing them out

Ben 06.20.16 Reply

Sent

Owen 06.22.16

Thanks for sending. Didn’t see the invite come through though. will it let you resend it?

Ben 06.22.16

Resent. These get lost in the spam folder not infrequently, so check there as well.

Amir 06.25.16 Reply

Please send me a referral as well :)

Sam 06.25.16 Reply

I wouldn’t mind a referral to sermo as well. Thanks!

Ben 06.25.16 Reply

Sent & Sent

Kevin 07.08.16 Reply

I’d take a referral to Sermo and any others that you have as well. Thanks for all of the great info.

Ben 07.08.16 Reply

Sent

G 08.23.16 Reply

I would appreciate a referral to Sermo. thank you for your website and showing us all these different opportunities!

Ben 08.23.16 Reply

Sent

Alexander LaFortune 08.26.16 Reply

I’d love a referral to Sermo.

Ben 08.26.16 Reply

Done

Anna 09.24.16 Reply

I will love a referall to sermo too

Ben 09.24.16 Reply

Sent

Jane 09.24.16 Reply

Sorry for disturbing i found this site and i was really interested in it can a referall for the sermo site if it is possible ?

Ben 09.25.16 Reply

Sent

Howard 09.27.16 Reply

Ben thanks for posting this resource and keeping it alive all these years, would you kindly send over a sermo referral please? Much appreciated.

Ben 09.27.16 Reply

Very welcome (sent!)

luke 12.05.16 Reply

Can residents join sermo?

Ben 12.05.16 Reply

Yes, absolutely, though they won’t end up qualifying for some surveys.

Peter 12.14.16 Reply

Please send me a referral!

Ben 12.14.16 Reply

Sent!

Scott 01.11.17 Reply

Please send a referral for Sermo.
Thanks!

Ben 01.11.17 Reply

Sent!

Al 01.23.17 Reply

If you could please send me a referral for Sermo, I would greatly appreciate it!

Ben 01.23.17 Reply

Done

Joseph 02.02.17 Reply

Hi,

Please send me a referral for sermo and medefield. Thanks

Ben 02.02.17 Reply

Sent

Chris Weiss 02.28.17 Reply

“High yield” article ;-) -thanks.

Could you send me a referral for Sermo & Medefield (I’d be open to other referrals, as well.) Thanks again!

Ben 02.28.17 Reply

Sent Sermo. Links to the rest including Medefield should work, let me know if any seem broken.

Michael 03.01.17 Reply

I would appreciate a referral to Sermo. Thanks!

Ben 03.01.17 Reply

Sent

Thomas Joseph 03.14.17 Reply

Just found out I matched yesterday–would love an invite to Sermo as well.

Also, thanks for the informative list of books needed as a psych resident.

Have a good day!

Ben 03.14.17 Reply

You’re welcome. Here you go (but you won’t be able to sign up until you get your NPI number)

Sumit 03.15.17 Reply

Id like an invite as well, please! thanks

Ben 03.15.17 Reply

Sent

John 04.21.17 Reply

Hey Ben,
Would love a referral. Graduating medical school and waiting to start residency. Thank you

Ben 04.21.17 Reply

Sent

Matt 06.10.17 Reply

Hey Ben! Would love a referral also!

Thanks for the info and the great site btw, been reading off and on for years =)

Ben 06.10.17 Reply

Thanks! (Sent)

Sam 06.13.17 Reply

Hi Ben,

Can I please have a referral?

Thanks!

Ben 06.14.17 Reply

Sent

Rich 07.10.17 Reply

Hi Ben,
What do these survey companies do if they find that you are not representing yourself accurately (i.e. not actually a practicing cardiologist or whoever)?

Ben 07.10.17 Reply

Not pay you for starters. They could conceivably report you to your local medical board, but I haven’t heard of any cases of that happening on the grapevine.

B 08.17.17 Reply

Hey Ben,
Would love a Sermo referral. Thanks!

Ben 08.17.17 Reply

Sent

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