How to Get Paid to Get Vaccinated – [9 Options for 2024]

Are you one of the holdouts who has finally come around to getting the Covid vaccine?

You’re not alone. According to the CDC’s data, almost 20% of the US population is unvaccinated.

Luckily, it’s not too late. And even better, your company may be willing to pay you to get vaxxed!

This article will reveal how to get paid to get vaccinated in a few simple steps. You’ll also learn who’s paying their employees to get vaccinated and how much.

Can You Get Paid to Get Vaccinated?

Yes, you can. At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccination rates in the country weren’t encouraging.

Some reasons for the low uptake included the conspiracy theories surrounding the possibly harmful effects of vaccination and the resulting widespread distrust of government agencies these rumors caused.

In response, the Federal Government, under the Biden administration, rolled out vaccine incentives that would encourage the average hesitant American to book a vaccination appointment.

For example, President Biden called on all American employers to provide their employees with paid time off so that these employees could get the vaccine.

His rationale was simple: “no working person in this country should lose a single dollar from their paycheck to take time to get the shot or recover from it.”

Thus, if you’re yet to be vaccinated, your company will pay you for the time you take off work to get the shot.

How Much Can You Make by Getting Vaccinated?

The amount you can make from getting vaccinated depends on many factors and varies from one company to the next.

Most companies have followed the government’s lead, meaning they’ll provide paid time off. In this case, the hours vary from four to six hours of PTO, so the amount you’ll make will depend on the following:

• how many hours of PTO your company provides
• your hourly wage

In contrast, companies like Instacart and Kroger prefer to give their employees a one-time cash payment, which can range between $25 and $100.

What You’ll Need to Get Paid to Get Vaccinated

If you want to get paid to get the vaccine, you’ll need the following:

• A Place of Work: The first thing you need to be eligible to get paid for getting vaccinated is a place of work. As mentioned earlier, President Biden tasked employers with paying their employees for the time taken off work to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Therefore, you’ll need to be an employee of a company or non-profit to benefit from this incentive.
• Proof of Vaccination (Optional): While not mandatory in all cases, some employers require that you provide proof that you’ve been vaccinated before they pay you the money offered as an incentive. Therefore, this requirement will depend on your company’s particular policy.

When you meet the above requirements, you can make money from getting the jab.

Where to Get Paid to Get Vaccinated

If you work for one of the companies discussed below, you can get paid to get vaccinated:

1. ALDI (Grocery Store)

In January 2021, Aldi launched a scheme where it gives its hourly employees up to four hours of paid time off to get the vaccine. Also, the company stated that it’d cover vaccine-related costs for its employees and would explore on-site vaccination clinics at its offices and warehouses.

How Much You Can Make

The amount you make will depend on your position at Aldi. For example, according to Indeed, the average salary for a retail sales associate at the company is $15.61 per hour. Therefore, if you’re a retail sales associate at Aldi, you can expect to make $62.44 in PTO.

What Makes This Option Great?

This is an excellent option because it pays you to take time off from work. Using the retail sales associate position as an example, you’d stand to make $62 for nothing more than showing up to get a free jab.

• Typical Fees/Commissions: There are no fees or commissions associated with this side hustle. The most you’ll spend is the gas money you use to transport yourself to and from the clinic.
• Typical Payment Methods: Aldi will presumably add the payment to your wages for the week/month and pay it into your bank account.

2. American Airlines (Airline)

To encourage its employees to get vaccinated, American Airlines offers monetary and work-based incentives through its employee recognition program. The latter incentive would come in the form of an extra day off the following year.

How Much You Can Make

American Airlines gives its employees a one-time payment of $50 to get a vaccine dose.

What Makes This Option Great?

The company’s incentive is excellent for two reasons: first, you get $50 to get a free life-saving shot; second, you get an extra day off work for your trouble.

• Typical Fees/Commissions: There are no fees or commissions payable for this side hustle.
• Typical Payment Methods: American Airlines will likely pay the $50, along with your wages for the week or month, into your bank account.

3. Amtrak (Railroad)

Since 2021, the railroad company Amtrak has run a vaccine incentive program where it gives its employees an additional two hours’ pay for getting vaccinated. Eligible employees will have to present proof of vaccination to qualify for the bonus.

How Much You Can Make

The amount you can make will depend on your role in the company and its associated payment rate. For example, the average Amtrak conductor receives $27.94 per hour (according to Indeed). So if you’re a conductor at Amtrak, you’ll get $55.88 on top of your base wages.

What Makes This Option Great?

Amtrak’s program is fantastic because you can earn an additional two hours’ pay on top of your salary for the week or month.

• Typical Fees/Commissions: There are no fees or commissions payable when you earn money through this side hustle.
• Typical Payment Methods: Amtrak will presumably pay the extra two hours’ wages along with your salary into your designated bank account.

4. Chobani (Yogurt Company)

Greek yogurt company Chobani began offering a financial incentive to its employees to get their shot in February 2021. The money offered took the form of six hours of paid time off or three hours of PTO for each Covid-19 vaccine dose.

How Much You Can Make

Salaries at Chobani vary, so the amount you’ll make will depend on your role at the company.

What Makes This Option Great?

This option is wonderful because you get a whopping six hours of paid time off, which can add up to a lot of money depending on your hourly wage.

• Typical Fees/Commissions: There are no fees or commissions payable for earning money through this side hustle.
• Typical Payment Methods: Chobani will likely pay the money along with your wages into your designated bank account.

5. Darden Restaurants (Fast Casual Food)

Darden Restaurants incentivized vaccine uptake among its employees by offering a total of four hours of PTO to its restaurant team members and managers.

How Much You Can Make

The amount you can make will depend on your role at Darden. For example, on average, servers receive $11.32 per hour as wages. So, as a server at Darden, you can make $45.28 for taking time off work to get vaccinated.

What Makes This Option Great?

Like the other options on this list, Darden will pay you to get vaccinated while you’re on the clock.

• Typical Fees/Commissions: There are no fees or commissions payable for earning money through this side hustle.
• Typical Payment Methods: Darden will likely pay the extra money along with your salary into your bank account.

6. Dollar General (Fast Grocery Store)

Although Dollar General didn’t make it mandatory for its employees to take the Covid-19 vaccines, the company still encouraged them to get the jab. This encouragement came in the form of a stipend that was worth four hours’ pay in a typical workday.

How Much You Can Make

How much you make will depend on your position at Dollar General and its corresponding hourly rate. According to Payscale, the average Dollar General salary is $10.70 per hour, meaning you stand to make $42.80 for getting the vaccine.

What Makes This Option Great?

Getting paid for skipping work for four hours to get vaccinated isn’t a bad way to make some extra change when working for Dollar General.

• Typical Fees/Commissions: There are no fees or commissions payable for earning money through this side hustle.
• Typical Payment Methods: Dollar General will likely pay the vaccine incentive money along with your wages into your bank account.

7. Instacart (Food Delivery Service)

In February 2021, Instacart started offering its independent contractors, shift leads, and in-store employees a vaccine support stipend. To qualify for the incentive payment, the shoppers would have to have delivered at least five times in a month.

How Much You Can Make

Instacart’s vaccine reward is $25. If you’re an Instacart shopper, you can submit a request for the stipend by tapping on the “Covid 19 Vaccine” option in the Shopper app.

What Makes This Option Great?

It’s an extra $25 for getting a life-saving vaccine. While not a windfall by any stretch of the imagination, you didn’t have to do too much to make it. And given the adverse economic effects the pandemic wrought in its heyday, more money is always welcome.

• Typical Fees/Commissions: There are no fees or commissions payable for earning money through this side hustle.
• Typical Payment Methods: Instacart will likely pay the money into your bank account (along with your wages).

8. Kroger (Grocery Store)

Grocery store chain Kroger encouraged its employees to undergo Covid-19 vaccination by offering a cash incentive. To qualify for the money, you’d have to show proof that you’ve been vaccinated.

Interestingly, Kroger doesn’t limit eligibility to employees who’ve received the shot: if you’re vaccine hesitant for health or religious reasons, taking a health and safety course will suffice.

How Much You Can Make

You can make a one-time payment of $100 when you participate in Kroger’s vaccination scheme.

What Makes This Option Great?

This is a fantastic option because it caters to people who don’t want to be vaccinated for religious reasons or health reasons. These Kroger employees are still eligible for the $100, provided they complete a health and safety course.

• Typical Fees/Commissions: There are no fees or commissions payable for earning money through this side hustle.
• Typical Payment Methods: Kroger will likely pay the money into your bank account.

9. McDonald’s (Fast Food Restaurant)

McDonald’s offers four hours of paid time off to get the Covid jab. The incentive applies whether you work on the restaurant floor of one of its many franchises or in the company’s corporate headquarters.

How Much You Can Make

Salaries at McDonald’s vary, so how much you make will depend on your role there. For example, the average McDonald’s fast food attendant makes $10.78 per hour. So if you’re a fast food attendant at McDonald’s, you can make $43.12.

What Makes This Option Great?

This is an excellent option because you earn four hours’ pay while you’re out of the office or kitchen.

• Typical Fees/Commissions: There are no fees or commissions payable for earning money through this side hustle.
• Typical Payment Methods: McDonald’s will likely pay the extra money into your bank account along with your wages.

Why You Should Consider Getting Vaccinated As a Side Hustle

What makes getting vaccinated a side hustle worth considering? Here are some compelling reasons below.

• Get Paid to Take Time Off Work: Paid time off is the most obvious benefit this side hustle provides. You can get paid to take off two, four, or even six hours off work to get your vaccine shot. Best of all, your employer encourages your abstinence from work.
• Get Paid to Protect Others: When you get paid to take the vaccine, the implication is you protect at-risk members of the public who’ve yet to get their shot as well.
• Very Little Required to Earn the Additional Income: If you have a job, you have everything you need to earn income in this way. Yes, some employers require that you prove that you got the jab, but you can easily present the vaccination certificate you’re given after the needle is taken out of your arm.
• Get Paid to Stay Healthy: Finally, this side hustle is excellent because you get paid to immunize yourself from one of the most infectious diseases in recent memory.

Problems With Getting Vaccinated

While vaccination can seem like an interesting side hustle, there are some drawbacks to earning extra income with it. The ones that come to mind include the following:

• The Vaccine Isn’t 100% Effective: Despite the vaccine’s proven efficacy, it may not provide as much protection for the easily transmissible Delta variant.
• It’s Not a Recurring Income: Unlike other side hustles, this is a one-and-done affair, meaning there’s little to no opportunity to make a recurrent income.

• It May Be Dangerous: If you have a history of severe allergies, this side hustle isn’t for you. Some patients experienced anaphylaxis, a severe allergy that can be life-threatening.
• It’s Not a Lot of Money: Don’t expect to make bank with this side hustle. The ceiling for earnings seems to be $100, depending on your role and company.

How to Get Paid to Get Vaccinated: Step-By-Step Instructions

Things to Consider When Getting Vaccinated for Money

When getting vaccinated for money, you need to consider the following factors:

Your Medical History

As already mentioned, you shouldn’t get vaccinated if you suffer from allergies.

The CDC has advised allergy sufferers to refrain from taking the Covid-19 vaccine until further notice.

Some Covid vaccines contain components that could cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.

So heed the CDC’s warning if you have allergies.

Your Work Schedule

Not everyone can take four hours off work at their convenience.

Some occupations (e.g., policing and healthcare) require their employees to be on call at all times, while others (e.g., legal) may be too busy.

Therefore, you’ll need to consider your work schedule when trying to earn money this way.

Your Work Status

This article has discussed how you can get paid for taking time off work to get vaccinated, meaning only employees can take advantage of this side hustle.

If you work for a company as an independent contractor (e.g., a freelancer), you may not be eligible for the company’s Covid incentive.

Your Employer’s Policy

As has been mentioned, different companies have different policies for their Covid incentive.

Some may pay lump sums, while others pay the money as part of your paid time off.

Also, while some employers don’t require proof, others do, so ensure you’re aware of your employer’s policy.

Your Tolerance for Pain

Nobody likes needles, yet they’re how most vaccinations are administered. If you’re driven by morality, expect to experience a little pain.

However, if you’re driven by money but are squeamish about needles, this might not be the side hustle for you.

With the above factors in mind, you should be able to determine whether this side hustle is worth the pursuit or not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Similar Ways to Get Paid

If the thought of a needle in your arm makes you queasy, try these alternative ways to get paid:

• Get Paid for Focus Groups: Focus groups let you share your opinion on products, services, adverts, and more. Companies are willing to pay top Dollar to hear yours.
• Get Paid for Clinical Trials: Clinical trials involve testing new drugs, andyou can get paid some good money for subjecting yourself to one.
• Get Paid to Lose Weight: Carrying some extra weight? You can get paid to lose the pounds. This tutorial shows you how.

Wrapping Up

Getting paid to get vaccinated isn’t difficult. In fact, you can get it done by following the three easy steps outlined in this article.

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to consider your medical history before pursuing this side hustle.

If you’re an allergy sufferer, I think you should consider one of the other similar ways to get paid mentioned in the article.

Please share this article if you enjoyed it, and tell me what you think in the comments!