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
This 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: Reach out to Editor Steven Campbell on Twitter.
Rate: Partner Program – pay will vary.
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 Twitter.
Rate: Partner Program plus a possible fee – up to $500 per assignment.
3. Creative Café
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, or reach out to Editor Alexandria Brown on Twitter.
Rate: Partner Program – pay will vary.
4. Better Programming
This programming pub was the fastest growing on Medium last year – hitting 5 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: Pitch Editor Zack Shapiro on Twitter.
Rate: Partner Program – pay will vary.
5. Elemental
Elemental offers readers information and opinions on health and wellness, as long as it’s backed by science. From coronavirus to meditation, all things for the mind and body can be found here.
Contact: You can pitch Executive Editor Sarah Collins on Twitter.
Rate: Pay ranges from $0.83 to $1 per word
6. Forge
Forge puts out content on how to navigate this complicated world we’re living in. Don’t bring “inspiration speak” or quick fixes to complex personal problems. Do bring sharp journalistic skills and science-backed facts from credible sources.
Contact: Find Editor Indrani Sen on Twitter.
Rate: Pay ranges from $0.83 to $1 per word
7. Gen
Gen is one of the largest publications on Medium. Editors here are looking for articles on culture, power, and politics.
Contact: Send pitches to gen@medium.com, or track down Editor-in-Chief Brendan Vaughan on Twitter.
Rate: Pay ranges from $0.83 to $1 per word
8. Heated
This pub 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: To pitch, you can reach out to editors Melissa McCart or Mark Bittman on Twitter.
Rate: Reported $1 a word
9. 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 Deputy Editor Harris Sockel via Twitter.
Rate: Pay ranges from $0.83 to $1.00 per word
10. Level
Level is one of Medium’s newest pubs, whose 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: To pitch, you can follow the guidelines or find Executive Editor Peter Rubin on Twitter.
Rate: Pay ranges from $0.83 to $1.00 per word
11. Marker
Marker, one of the newer Medium pubs, focuses on the business niche. They’re looking for news and analysis from owners and entrepreneurs. Journalism pieces are welcome.
Contact: To pitch, reach out to Editor-in-Chief Danielle Sacks on Twitter or by email at marker@medium.com.
Rate: Pay varies
12. Modus
With 29,000 followers, this pub for UX/UI designers to improve their game. They’re looking for trends in the tech and design industry, and deep dives into relevant subtopics.
Contact: Pitch the editor your article idea via email at modus@medium.com.
Rate: Pay varies
13. OneZero
OneZero is the tech and science pub for Medium, discovering what’s next in these industries. They champion editorial independence, from Medium and any brands they may cover or review.
Contact: You can pitch to Editor-in-Chief, Damon Beres, via email or find him on Twitter.
Rate: Pay ranges from $0.83 to $1 per word
14. P.S. I Love You
This popular Medium pub is all about the heart. They take everything from fiction to non-fiction and poetry jobs. The subtopics vary widely, so think outside the box.
Contact: Pitch to editors Dan Moore or Kay Bolden KayBolden on Twitter.
Rate: Partner program – pay will vary.
15. 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: Reach out to Editor Alex Baia on Twitter.
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.
16. 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 to make money on Medium with the help of Smart Blogger Founder Jon Morrow.
Contact: Follow the guidelines to submit, or pitch Editor Justin Cox on Twitter.
Rate: Partner Program – pay will vary
17. 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 Executive Editor Vanessa K. DeLuca on Twitter.
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.
Do you make money on Medium as a freelance writer? Let’s discuss in the comments.
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.
