Want to make money on Medium?
Real money. Not pennies for your thoughts.
Sure, you could start publishing your own work on this popular platform…for free.
But if you know where to look, you can make money on Medium and get paid pro-freelancer rates.
Interested?
Medium is the brainchild of Evan Williams, co-founder of Twitter and Blogger. It’s been around for about a decade and has upwards of 100 million readers. And an estimated 400,000 subscribers pay for full access to the site’s content.
That’s great news for freelance writers. Why?
Medium has 10 official pubs, and more than 10,000 others that use the platform to publish content and connect with readers on a wide range of topics in different niches.
Translation: There’s more than 10,000 opportunities to get published so you get started writing for money on Medium.
You can get paid to write for Medium pubs, and earn more through Medium’s Partner Program (basically, it gives you the opportunity to earn more for writing content readers like.).
If you want to earn well on Medium, land an assignment with a pub that pays and participate in the Medium Partner Program.
Want to make money on Medium as a freelancer? Check out these 17 Medium pubs that pay pro rates.
1. The Ascent
The Ascent is a Medium partner pub focuses on the happy things in life, and how its writer got there. It’s looking to inspire and encourage its readers with personal essays.
Contact: Send them a pitch by filling out this form.
Rate: Partner Program—pay varies.
2. Better Humans
Better Humans has more than 300,000 followers. They publish self-improvement pieces of a specific vein. Editor Terri Schweitzer looks for well-written pieces, and nothing short of great. Make sure you look over their submission guidelines first.
Contact: Pitch to Schweitzer on Mastodon.
Rate: Partner Program plus a possible fee—up to $500 per assignment.
3. Creative Cafe
The Creative Cafe welcomes all creative writers to share their passions and words. This pub can be a great starting point for newer writers who just want to see their words on the web. But well-done pieces that get views will be get paid through the Partner Program.
Contact: Follow the guidelines to submit a draft for consideration.
Rate: Partner Program—pay varies.
4. Better Programming
This programming pub was the once fastest growing on Medium, hitting five million monthly pageviews in record time. They’re looking for tutorials, think pieces, and advice to help programmers learn and improve in their field.
Contact: Follow the submission guidelines.
Rate: Partner Program—pay varies.
5. Heated
Heated isn’t just for foodies, but for anything related to the food industry, be it politics, culture, or history. They’re looking for diverse voices and perspectives.
Contact: This publication hasn’t been updated since 2021 so it’s unclear if they’re still taking pitches. We recommend reaching out to Mark Bittman on X (Twitter) or follow up with someone on the BIttman team.
Rate: Reported $1 a word
6. Human Parts
Human Parts is Medium’s essay pub. They’re interested in all kinds of stories, as long as they’re personal and preferably from unique perspectives.
Contact: Pitch editor Jay Ludlow Martin.
Rate: Pay is reported to range from $0.83 to $1.00 per word
7. Level
Level‘s primary audience is Black and Brown men over 30. From sex, to friendship, to race, they’re looking for smart, thought-provoking personal essays and articles. Topics include culture, race, and life in general.
Contact: Follow their pitching guide.
Rate: Pay is reported to range from $0.83 to $1.00 per word
8. Slackjaw
Slackjaw is Medium’s top comedy publication. They’re looking for funny pieces of all types, and publish their monthly theme on the guidelines page. You have a better chance of getting into their popular weekly newsletter “Yapjaw” if you pitch to their theme.
Contact: Follow the submission guidelines.
Rate: Partner Program writers receive an average pay between $25 and $100 per piece, but their top earner this year made $1,800 on one piece.
9. Writing Cooperative
This pub is all about writing! From getting started through to publishing, this community of writers gives advice and lessons learned. Check out this article about how one writer started making money on Medium with the help of Smart Blogger Founder Jon Morrow.
Contact: Follow the guidelines to submit.
Rate: Partner Program—pay varies.
10. Zora
Zora is Medium’s publication by and for women of color. They’re interested in stories that range from the simple to the complex, from personal to current events.
Contact: Send your pitches to editors Carly Rose Gillis and Maia Niguel Hoskin.
Rate: Pay ranges from $0.83 to $1 per word
Get paid to write for Medium pubs
Can you really make money on Medium as a freelance writer? It depends. The average writer on Medium makes around $150 a month. But pitch the right pubs + Partner Program profits, and some writers make thousands off just one piece.
The trick…Keep pitching. Write often and consistently. Work your way up to the bigger pubs. And pay attention to feedback from Medium editors.
Kathie Bullard Harris is a freelance health and wellness writer living in the Southern United States. When she isn’t writing copy, she’s working on her forever-in-progress first novel.
