The following is a list of magazines that pay writers $250 or more for writing. Some of these magazines pay less for some writing, but all of them pay a minimum of $250 for at least some of the work they publish. All of them accept submissions or queries from freelance writers. Excluded from this list are magazines that primarily publish creative writing. The focus here is on non-fiction, in a wide variety of subjects.

         General Interest & News

1. The Nation is a liberal political magazine. They accept submissions of political commentary as well as articles. They have a very dedicated readership. In fact, they’re supported by 30,00 donors. This is in addition to their 145,000 weekly circulation. They pay $150 for commentary, and between $350 and $500 for articles. They also accept submissions of art as well as poetry. To learn more, and to submit, be sure to read their full submission guidelines.
2. High Country News is a non-profit magazine covering the American West. They pay between $.50 and $1.50 a word. Their feature articles can be more than 2,400 words. They accept article pitches on an ongoing basis. They do not generally accept pre-written articles. To learn more and to pitch them an article, be sure to read their submission guidelines.
3. Country Magazine is all about living the small town, rural lifestyle. They publish stories, photographs, jokes, and recipes. They feature stories and memories of country living. They pay $250 for stories that run a page or more. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
4. The Sun Magazine is a beautiful magazine with a literary bent and a very loyal following. They have no ads, and they pay their writers well. Up to $2,500 for non-fiction. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
   

   Travel

5. Alaska Airlines Magazine is the monthly in-flight magazine for Alaska Airlines. They are 75 percent written by freelance writers. They pay between $150 and $700. They also occasionally reimburse for expenses. They have thorough guidelines, including an editorial calendar, on their website.
6. Air Canada’s enRoute Magazine. Air Canada’s magazine reaches over 1 million readers a month. They have an international audience, and high expectations. They accept submissions in a variety of categories. They aim to respond to submissions within 30 days. Be sure to read their full submission guidelines.
7. Horizon Edition Magazine. Horizon Air is a regional airline affiliated with Alaska Air. Their magazine is largely written by freelance writers. The pay rates start at $100 for short articles, and $450 for feature stories, plus expenses. Here are their full contributor guidelines.
8. Delta Sky Magazine. Delta is a large airline, with a big audience. They accept submissions of articles ranging from 100 word pieces to 2,000 word feature stories. They also have an editorial internship program.  Here are their writer guidelines.
9. MotorHome, the magazine for RV enthusiasts, covers all aspects of the RV lifestyle. They accept queries, and pay writers up to $900 an article. According to their guidelines:  “The easiest way to sell your work to MotorHome is to query us on an interesting and tightly focused motorhome story.” Learn more here.
10. Travel + Leisure Magazine pays $1 a word. The vast majority of their writing is from freelance writers. They have a very large audience, with a circulation of 950,00. The editors “are looking for a compelling reason to assign an article: a specific angle, news that makes the subject fresh, a writer’s enthusiasm for and familiarity with the topic.” To learn more, read their contributor guidelines.
11. Wanderlust is a British travel magazine. They accept pitches from freelance writers. They pay £220 per 1,000 published words for feature articles.  They accept submissions to their website as well as their print magazine. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
    

    General Interest

12. Christian

13. Guideposts is an inspiration-focused magazines about “people who have attained a goal, surmounted an obstacles, or learned a helpful lesson through their faith.” They typically publish first-person narratives. They pay $250 or more for stories. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
14. Vibrant Life is a bimonthly magazine that publishes family-oriented health pieces from a Christian perspective. Their Nutrition section adheres to the vegan lifestyle and helps readers eat more nutritious foods. They pay $100-$300 for articles. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
15. The War Cry is the magazine published by the Salvation Army. They’ve been around a whopping 135 years. They accept submissions from freelance writers. They pay $0.35 per word for original articles, and $0.15 a word for reprints. They’ve recently published articles around 1,000 words. So that would mean a payment of $350.  To learn more, and to submit, be sure to read their submission guidelines.
16. Power For Living is a weekly take-home publication for Christian adults. They accept feature article submissions on a variety of topics, but they must be inspiring stories that “show the power of Christ at work.” They pay up to $375 for longer articles (1400-1600 words) and $125 for shorter pieces (750-1000). To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
    

    Special Interest

17. DRAFT magazine is a nationwide magazine all about beer. According to our sources, they pay $0.80 cents a word. According to their website “pitches need not be beer-centric, but those that are should focus on beer/brewery news, trends and ideas, rather than the technical aspects of brewing and/or profiles. Aside from beer, we happily accept pitches on topics ranging from food, sports (both professional and leisure), travel, and many other topics.” To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
18. Drum! Magazine is all about one thing: Drumming. They are a niche publication. Their audience is 99% drummers. They pay between $50 and $300 for feature articles. To learn more, be sure to read their submission guidelines.
19. Blade Magazine is about knives and knifemaking. According to their website: ”
    What we need are stories that are brand new in scope and content. Knives being used for unusual purposes, in adventure settings, etc., are always good. New, state-of-the-art knife designs, steels and other knife materials and how they are made are good. The knife collections of celebrities are good. Stories on how to collect knives, what to collect and why, etc., are good.” They pay between $150 and $300 for articles. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
20. Pentimento is a literary magazine for the disability community. Inspired by Sun magazine, they aim to publish ” an accessible, balanced magazine where wonderfully well-written pieces can stand side-by-side with a voice that may not be ready for The Paris Review, but nonetheless, needs to be heard. Where a piece about a promising future can sit next to a glimpse into a bleaker reality.” They pay $250-$250 for submissions. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
    

    Sports, Nature & Outdoor

21. BirdWatching Magazine is a bimonthly magazine for people with an interest in wild birds and bird watching. They accept article proposals from freelance writers and pay $400 for most features. They accept submissions on a variety of topics, including “first-person accounts”, birds in the news, hotspots near you, and photo essays. For more information, and to submit, be sure to read their full submission guidelines.
22. Sport Fishing magazine accepts queries from freelance writers. They pay $250 for their “from the pro” department, and $750 for longer features. They have a very thorough submission guidelines page, with great tips writers. It’s worth a read, even if you’re not submission. To learn more, be sure to read their submission guidelines.
23. Canoe & Kayak, the world’s largest paddling magazine, accepts article queries from freelance writers. They largely depend on their existing writers, but are open to new writers from time to time. According to WritingCareer.com, they pay up to $800 an article. To learn more, be sure to read their contributor guidelines.
24. Hoof Beats Magazine is one of the top harness racing publications. They exclusively cover harness racing and the Standardbred industry, and freelancers are welcome to submit queries for such articles. The magazine is 70 percent freelance written. They pay $100 for departments and $500 for features. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
25. Horse & Rider publishes articles on Western riding. It provides both competitive and recreational riders with information on training, care, and techniques. They accept queries for well-informed articles that discuss any aspect of horse and rider life. They pay $25 to $400 depending on length and complexity. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
26. USDF Connection is the publication of the United States Dressage Federation. They accept queries and unsolicited submissions that cover any area of dressage or USDF programs and members. In particular, they’re looking for pieces that discuss adult amateur riding. They pay $40 to $400 depending on length and complexity. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
27. Backpacker publishes articles that target the backpacking and hiking communities. Their pieces cover foot-based travel, backcountry experience, North American destinations, and other topics that they highlight. They pay up to $1 per word depending on complexity and experience. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
28. Tai Chi Magazine is the international magazine for the form of martial arts known as T’ai Chi Chu’an. They pay between $75 and $500 per publication. To learn more about this publication, and to submit, be sure to read their submission guidelines.
29. Black Belt Magazine is the United States’ oldest martial arts publication. They’re looking for educational and/or enlightening articles on the techniques, strategies, philosophies, and history of martial arts. They pay $150 to $300 for 1,000-3,000 word articles with good photos. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

30. Art & Design

31. HOW is a magazine for graphic designers that discusses business and industry. Since it’s 75% freelance written, the publication is always seeking articles that discuss industry figures, trends, issues, and more. They accept both queries and unsolicited manuscripts via postal mail. They pay $250 to $800, depending on complexity and experience. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
32. The Artist’s Magazine publishes lessons, interviews, and discussions that relate to art, artists, and artistic processes. They accept snail mail queries for intriguing articles that discuss art in an engaging, knowledgeable fashion. They pay $400 to $600 for features. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
33. Pastel Journal is the only national publication that covers the pastel medium. Addressing both professionals and hobbyists, the magazine publishes everything from how-to guides to detailed interviews. They accept queries and prefer them to be snail-mailed. They pay up to $600 for features. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
34. Ceramics Monthly is dedicated to studio ceramics and clay-based art. Writers are welcome to submit to any of the magazine’s numerous departments, which cover everything from studio visits to craft tips. They pay $0.10 per word, while Techno File and Glaze articles are paid a flat fee of $250. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
35. 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, and you can receive up to $1,000 for a feature. To learn more, make sure to read their full submission guidelines.
36. Western Art & Architecture is the magazine for art collectors and art aficionados in the United States. They pay around $400-$600 an article. They accept submissions in a variety of categories, including artist profiles, home features, “illuminations”, “In the Studio”, and “Collector’s Eye.” To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
    

    Farm & Gardening

37. Canadian Gardening publishes pieces for the avid home gardener in Canada. They accept submissions for articles that take a fresh approach to any kind of gardening, whether it’s techniques or growing advice. They pay $125 and up for short items, reviews, and how-to pieces, and $350 and up for features (500 to 2,000 words.) To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
38. Hobby Farms is a magazine dedicated to small farmers. They pay $300 and up for features, while other sections are negotiated. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
39. Central Coast Farm & Ranch is a quarterly magazine based in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in California. They publish articles that cover a variety of topics specific to Central Coast agriculture. They pay up to $1 a word for published features. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
40. The American Gardener is the American Horticultural Society’s official publication. They publish pieces that appeal to experienced amateur gardeners, and topics range from garden design to environmentally appropriate gardening. The magazine is mostly written by freelancers, and they accept article pitches for feature articles and department sections. They pay $300 to $600 for features and $150 to $200 for departments. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
    

    Education

41.  American Educator is published quarterly by the American Federation of Teachers. It addresses the state of education across the country and covers new trends in education, politics, labor issues, and more. They pay at least $300 for articles, which typically run 1,000 to 5,000 words. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
42. Teaching Tolerance publishes articles for a national audience of pre-K through 12 educators with a focus on diversity and social justice. They accept freelance submissions for articles, blog posts, and lessons that reflect their perspective. They pay up to $1 a word for features and their Story Corner section. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
    

    Regional

43. AMC Outdoors covers the Northern Appalachian region from Maine to Virginia. They focus on recreation but also publish pieces on topics such as environmentalism and education. They pay $500 to $700 for features and $150 to $400 for columns. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

44. Vermont Life publishes articles that reflect “the unique heritage, countryside, traditions and people of Vermont.” They’re looking for writing that celebrates Vermont culture in an engaging fashion. They pay $600 to $800, depending on the length and complexity of the article. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
45. New Mexico Magazine is published monthly by the New Mexico Tourism Department. They’re looking for opinionated stories on New Mexico experiences that inspire readers to visit places and participate in regional activities. They pay 35 to 40 cents per word (Up to $250  for a 625-word article). To learn more, their submission guidelines.
46. 1859 Oregon’s Magazine publishes pieces that celebrate the region’s unique history, destinations, and more. They’re accepting queries for articles that demonstrate a love for Oregon and an appreciation for its culture. They pay 30 to 50 cents per word ($150 to $250 for a 500-word article), though web-only articles are paid at a lower rate. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
47. Colorado Life Magazine is Colorado’s only statewide general interest publication. Published six times on a bimonthly basis, the magazine uses anecdote-based storytelling to paint a vivid picture, and they’re accepting queries for articles that do so. They pay $75 to $125 for departments and $130 to $975 for features. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
48. Alaska Magazine is the region’s most respected publication. They’re accepting queries for pieces that demonstrate an excellent narrative slant and focus completely on Alaska and its culture. They pay $200 to $700, depending on word count. Writers who publish both articles and photographs may receive up to $1,500. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
49. Boulevard is a Canadian magazine that covers, among other subjects, the art scene in Vancouver Island. While they’re not strictly an art publication, they publish articles that discuss regional art. They pay 25 to 30 cents for features, which are generally 850 words. That length would earn $212 to $255. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
50. South Carolina Living is a lifestyle magazine published by South Carolina’s not-for-profit electric coopoeratives. They reach a very large audience. They publish general interest articles, profiles, articles about energy issues, and regional travel articles, recipes, and more. Payment is up to $450. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
51. Douglas magazine is a regional business magazine that serves Southern Vancouver Island’s business community. They generally pay $0.40 cents a word. They are looking for features of 1,200 to 3,00 words in length. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.