Paid Research Studies at UW–Madison
Get paid $50–$300+ for online research studies, surveys, and remote focus groups open to WI residents at UW–Madison. UW–Madison's research output and its concentrated campus make Madison a reliable place for students to find paid psychology and behavioral studies close by, plus online studies open across Wisconsin.
Online studies open to WI residents
229 online studies are open to anyone in WI right now — take part from home, on your schedule. In-person studies at UW–Madison are added as recruiters post them.
Focus Group on AI-Assisted Consulting Work - $60
How are AI tools transforming consulting work? Participants are invited to a 20-minute online focus group about the use of chat-based AI tools in consulting. Qualified participants will receive $60 if completed by October 29, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Focus Group on Packaged Food - $125
Do you enjoy packaged cereal or canned soup? Participants are invited to a 90-minute online focus group about food preferences in this category. Qualified participants will receive $125 if completed by October 29, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Research Study on HR Tools and Technologies - $75
What are the key tools and technologies HR professionals rely on? Participants are invited to a 60-minute online 1-on-1 interview about the Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) of HR and their workflows in IT services and manufacturing. Qualified participants will receive $75 if completed by November 2, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Research Study on Beverages - $45
How do your favorite beverages enhance your day? Participants are invited to a 14-minute online research study about your experiences with various drinks. Qualified participants will receive $45 if completed by October 26, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Focus Group on Community Building - $200
Are you a woman looking to make a difference in your community? Participants are invited to a 90-minute online focus group about discussing community building and empowering women in rural and suburban areas. Qualified participants will receive $200 if completed by October 29, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Research Study on Phone Usage - $50
Are you between 25 and 35 years old? Participants are invited to a online research study about phone usage. Qualified participants will receive $50 if completed by October 28, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Research Study on Personal Pension Apps - $100
How does your pension app enhance your financial experience? Participants are invited to a 75-minute online research study about their experience using personal pension apps. Qualified participants will receive $100 if completed by October 30, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Research Study on Outsourced Nurse Triage - $80
How does outsourcing after-hours nurse triage impact your practice? Participants are invited to a 60-minute online research study about the management of patient calls after hours. Qualified participants will receive $80 if completed by November 4, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
Research Study on Workflow Challenges - $60
What are the challenges you face in your daily workflow? Participants are invited to a 60-minute online research study about their responsibilities and difficulties in their roles. Qualified participants will receive $60 if completed by October 30, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please sign up and take the survey to see if you qualify! Spots are limited and tend to fill fast. Applying doesn't guarantee a slot, and qualification criteria may change at any time without notice.
How to get paid for research studies at UW–Madison
Most paid research open to UW–Madison is now online — remote focus groups over video, online interviews, paid surveys, product tests, and diary studies you can do from home, open to anyone in WI. UW–Madison's research output and its concentrated campus make Madison a reliable place for students to find paid psychology and behavioral studies close by, plus online studies open across Wisconsin. StudySnag aggregates these into one feed so you don't have to hunt across panels, Craigslist, and university boards.
Most studies pay $50–$300, and paid clinical trials can pay significantly more. Because the studies are remote, you can take part whether you're near Madison or downtown or anywhere else in WI — and in-person focus groups and trials at UW–Madison are listed here whenever recruiters are running them.
Not tied to UW–Madison specifically? Browse paid studies near you, or go straight to paid psychology studies and other ways to get paid for your opinion.
Madison is effectively a college town wrapped around UW, so paid behavioral and medical studies tend to cluster within a short walk or bus ride of campus, rather than being spread across a large metro.
Getting started is free: create an account, tell us a little about yourself, and browse the studies you qualify for at UW–Madison. Registering takes one tap, and you're paid directly by the research panel on completion.
Who runs paid research at UW–Madison
- The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study
- One of the longest-running studies of its kind anywhere, following the same Wisconsin residents since the 1950s — the sort of research that pays for periodic interviews across decades rather than for a single session.
- The Waisman Center
- Studies human development and neurodevelopmental conditions, recruiting children, families, and adults from across southern Wisconsin.
- UW Health and the departmental subject pools
- The hospital system supplies the clinical trials; psychology and communication sciences run the behavioural studies through term.
What paid studies at UW–Madison actually pay
Madison's advantage is proximity rather than rate. Because the campus, the hospital, and the research institutes are all within a short walk or bus ride, the effective hourly return on a $25 study is much better here than in a city where the same study costs you an hour of driving. That sounds minor and is not: it is what makes stacking several small studies in a week actually workable.
Getting to in-person studies at UW–Madison
The campus runs along Lake Mendota with State Street connecting it to downtown, and the university's bus routes cover the rest. Essentially every in-person study in Madison is reachable on foot or by bus from student housing.
When recruiting picks up at UW–Madison
Departmental pools follow the semester. The practical local factor is January and February, when recruiters have trouble filling evening in-person sessions and sometimes raise incentives to compensate — worth watching for if you do not mind the walk.
Paid research studies at UW–Madison — FAQ
Are studies at UW–Madison walkable from campus?+
Almost all of them. The university, UW Health, and the research institutes sit within a compact area along the lake, so a study paying $25 does not cost you an hour of travel each way. That is the real advantage of a college town over a large metro for this kind of work.
Can non-students take part?+
Yes. UW Health's trials and the Waisman Center's developmental studies recruit from across southern Wisconsin, and the long-running population research recruits Wisconsin residents specifically. The departmental subject pools are the student-restricted exception.
How much do paid research studies at UW–Madison pay?+
Most paid studies for UW–Madison participants pay between $50 and $300, while clinical trials can pay much more. You'll always see the exact payout before you register.
Are there online paid studies for UW–Madison students?+
Yes. Many studies are fully online and open to anyone in WI, so you can take part from Madison or anywhere nearby. In-person focus groups and clinical trials are also listed when available.
Do I need to be a student to join?+
No — anyone US-based can join. UW–Madison students are especially in demand, but it's open to everyone.
How do I get started?+
Create a free StudySnag account, tell us a bit about yourself, and browse the studies you qualify for at UW–Madison. Registering for a study takes one tap.
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How much do paid research studies at UW–Madison pay?
Paid research studies open to WI residents and UW–Madison students typically pay $50–$300+, and clinical trials pay more; the top study on StudySnag right now pays $200. Right now 229 online studies are open to anyone in WI. You always see the exact payout before you register, and it's free to join.
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