Here are a variety of publications that pay up to $1,000 per article. This includes publications that cover a wide variety of topics, including sports, woodworking, science, history, health, and the environment.

Be sure to carefully study each publication before sending them a pitch.

1. Defector is a sports blog and media company. They pay at least $1,000 for longer essays and reported pieces, and at least $500 for shorter pieces. You can submit your pitches to pitches@defector.com. To learn more, refer to their pitch guide and freelancer policies. Even if you don’t want to pitch them, read the pitch guide anyways. It includes examples of pitches that actually got articles published, turning it into a very valuable resource.
2. Popular Woodworking Magazine is a woodworking magazine that provides resources, techniques, how-to articles, artist features, and much more. They publish 6 times annually. They accept article pitches from people of all backgrounds. They mostly pay $1,000 to $3,000 per feature (about 2,500 words, 20 photos, and 1 or 2 illustrations). To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
3. Distillations is a magazine by the Science History Institute. Their articles reveal the impact of science on our world, both past and present. They’re actively looking for writers who can unearth little-told history and find historical angles to contemporary topics. They pay $1.25 per word for features; a flat fee of $750 for argued essays, columns, and profiles; and $400 for interviews. If interested, email your pitches to editor@sciencehistory.org. For details, refer to this page.
4. Kitplanes Magazine is a magazine of kit and amateur-built aircraft construction. Contributions are mostly by aircraft builders and recognized experts active in the field. They accept articles on all phases of aircraft construction, from basic design, to flight trials, to construction technique in wood, metal and composite. They also review and analyze products and services related to amateur-built and kit aircraft construction. Short, focused technical articles are always welcome. Query first. Word count: About 2,000 for major features, unspecified for others. Pay: $250-$1,000. Details here.
5. IndigiNews is an Indigenous news platform covering Indigenous communities in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley and Vancouver Island. They focus on relationship building, uplifting storytelling, and holding colonial institutions accountable. They welcome news, stories, features, investigations, and photo essays. Rate: $250 to $750 per story (500 to 2,000 words). To learn more, read their pitching guide.
6. PublicSource is a news organization serving Pittsburgh and the region. They welcome story pitches from journalists and community members. They pay $300 for first-person essays (800 to 1,200 words); $300 for event coverage (600 to 1,000 words); $400 for resource guides/explainers; $600 for enterprise stories; and $1,000 for investigative stories. They usually pay a 25% kill fee. Learn more here and here.
7. Outrider strives to be “an online source of hard-hitting commentary and journalism that calls for the end of nuclear weapons and action against the existential threat of climate change.” They are seeking new voices to produce climate and nuclear non-proliferation journalism. Their standard rate is $1,000/story. Their stories are usually 1,000-1,200 words. If interested, send your pitches through their online submission form. You don’t need to be an expert to contribute. To learn more, read their writer guidelines.
8. Magic at the Margins is a food and beverage newsletter. They publish content that explores “history, culture, nuance, and/or identity through the lens of food and beverage.” They welcome freelancers interested in creating original and relevant pieces for their newsletter. They pay $1/word, capped at $1,000/piece. Majority of the pieces are 800 to 1,000 words. For more information, refer to their guidelines.
9. Health.com is a source for information on fitness, nutrition, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle. The majority of their readers are female. They previously had a detailed pitching guide, which detailed rates as $200-$1,000 for personal essays and topical service; $250-$1,000 for reports/trend pieces; $200-$500 for explainers, as told to, and social trends; and $150 to $300 for product reviews. The pitching guide is not available, but they say they’re actively looking for new writers. To contact them, visit this page.
10. The Earth Island Journal is a quarterly magazine that discusses the environment and how it relates to present-day issues. They pay 25 cents per word — with an average of 2,800 words. They pay just $200 for story published online. To learn more, make sure to read their full submission guidelines.
11. Looking for more? Check out 50 Magazines that Pay $1 Per Word