The following is a list of magazines that pay writers $500 or more for their writing. Some of these magazines pay less for some writing, but all of them pay a minimum of $500 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.

LiisBeth is a “a reader and community supported zine that examines entrepreneurship, start-up culture, and the innovation eco-system through a progressive feminist lens.” They pay up to $2,000 for articles. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

AARP: The Magazine accepts submission from freelance writers on a variety of topics, including personal essays. They want “thoughtful, timely, new takes on matters of importance to people over 50.” According to our sources, they pay up to $1 a word. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Almost Fearless is an adventure/travel magazine for parents. They want practical information about how to have adventures (and travel) with kids. They also want essays and think pieces about what it means ot be a parent and live a fulfilled life. They pay $1 per word for print, and $50 to $250 for web articles. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Huck Magazine explores “the many facets of radical culture, be it surf, skate, snow, music, art, activism, pop culture” etc. According to our research, they pay up to $500 for articles — though expect low-end rates, in general. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Boys’ Life is a monthly magazine published by the Boy Scouts of America. Articles should interest and entertain boys of 6-17. They cover a broad range of non-fiction, from professional sports to American history. Department pieces include nature, aviation, health, pets, history and music. Fiction is assignment-only; do not query. Query by mail for non-fiction. Word count: 500-1,500 for major non-fiction articles; up to 600 for departments. Pay: $500-1,500 for major non-fiction articles; $100-600 for departments. Details here.

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 30,000 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.

Ruralite Magazine publishes articles on rural goings-on in the West. They’re looking for submissions for features on people, places, news, and other happenings. Submissions must be mailed in and accompanied by a query letter to the editor. They pay $50 to $800, depending on the length of the feature. To learn more, read Ruralite Magazine’s submission guidelines.

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.

Watercolor Artist is a bi-monthly magazine for water color artists of all skill levels. They seek queries for features or columns. Writers are paid depending on length and completeness of the article submitted. For features about artists, they like to match the artist with the writer, but also accept queries for articles about any specific artist whom the writer is in contact with. Writers should be able to write specifically about the artist’s techniques, from the artist’s viewpoint using the language of art. Payment usually does not exceed $600. To learn more, request their writer’s guidelines via email here.An old copy of their guidelines is available here.

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, request their writer’s guidelines via email here.

HOW is a magazine for graphic designers that discusses the 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. According to a previous version of their submission guidelines, they pay $250 to $800, depending on complexity and experience. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

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.

Journey is AAA’s magazine for their members in Washington and Northern Idaho. They reach over 600,000 readers a month. Payment reports indicate $1 a word for payment. They aim to “present readers with lively and informative stories on lifestyle, travel and automotive topics that encourage them to discover and explore the Northwest and beyond.” To learn more, read their submission guidelines. When visiting the page, type in the Zip Code 98225 so you can access the right page.

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. According to our sources, they pay $1 CDN per word. Be sure to read their full submission guidelines.

MotorHome, the magazine for RV enthusiasts, covers all aspects of the RV lifestyle. They accept queries, and pay writers up to $900 an article, with photos. 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.

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.

Education Forum is the official magazine of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. They are “a progressive voice on public education and on all issues affecting those that work in public education. ” They reach 60,000 public education workers in Ontario. They pay $500 for features. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Bitch Magazine is a nonprofit, independent, feminist media organization dedicated to providing and encouraging an engaged, thoughtful feminist response to mainstream media and popular culture. They pay $500 for feature articles, $200 for dispatches. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

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 submitting. To learn more, be sure to read their submission guidelines.

Outside Magazine is a monthly publication that covers “the people, sports and activities, politics, art, literature, and hardware of the outdoors.” According to our research they pay between 25 cents and $1 per word for the writing they publish. To learn more, read their contributors’ guidelines.

Northwest Fly-Fishing is a bimonthly magazine covering the Northwest regions of the US and Canada. A compelling publication with stunning photography, Northwest includes feature articles about angling destinations, as well as several other departments. They pay up to $500 for feature articles. For more info, check out the Writer’s Guidelines.

Deer & Deer Hunting is a specialized magazine (published 8 times per year) offering practical information about white-tailed deer and deer hunting techniques. Its readership includes people hunting with bow, gun, or camera. Editors look for articles on “white-tailed deer biology and behavior, management principles and practices, habitat requirements, natural history of deer, hunting techniques and hunting ethics.” Payment is $150-$600 for 1,000-2,000 word articles and $25-$250 for “Deer Browse” department (200-500 words). To learn more, read the submissions guidelines: http://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/editorial.

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.

American Angler is a magazine all about fly fishing. They cover every aspect of the sport, with a focus on coldwater fishing for trout, steelhead, and salmon. They pay $450 to $600 for feature articles, and $200 to $400 for short features. They also pay $600 for “Waterlines” or “Expeditions” essays. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Virginia Wildlife Magazine is published bi-monthly by the Department of Game and Fisheries. It’s been published for over 70 years. fish recipes, hiking, camping, outdoors safety and ethics,natural history, and environmental stewardship/education. They pay up to $500 per article. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Australian Yoga Life is a magazine published 4 times per year. It is a “uniquely all Australian magazine which is intended to be accessible to the broadest spectrum of readers.” Editors look for articles from yoga practitioners. Payment is 20 cents per word (up to $500 for a published article of maximum of 2,250 words). To learn more, read writers’ guidelines: http://ayl.com.au/contribute/ and http://ayl.com.au/contribute/contribution-guidelines/.

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.

Analog is the magazine of “science fiction and fact.” They publish stories in which some “aspect of future science or technology is so integral to the plot that, if that aspect were removed, the story would collapse. ” They pay 8-10 cents a word, up to 7,500 words. That means payment up to $750. They also publish serials and novellas, up to 80,000 words, at 6 cents per word. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

The Catholic Digest is a lifestyle magazine that “encourages and supports Catholics in a variety of of stages and circumstances.” They pay $500 for many of their articles, including personal stories. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Pennsylvania Heritage magazine is published by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission with the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation. They focus on Pennsylvania’s “rich culture and historic legacy.” They pay between $250 and $500 for articles. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Honolulu Magazine is a regional magazine for the city of Honolulu. They’re not a travel magazine, they’re a magazine for the residents of the city. They pay up to $1,800 for feature stories. They pay $100 to $600 for departments. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Arizona Wildlife Views Magazine publishes articles on Arizona wildlife and wildlife management, habitat issues, outdoor recreation, and historical articles. E-mail queries are preferred over manuscript submissions. Payment for features varies by length from $450 to $800 per accepted article. To learn more, read their contributor guidelines.

Chatelaine is a Canadian magazine that covers the topics of health, fashion, and beauty. They publish briefs, how-tos, and features. For seasonal articles there is a four to six month lead time. They pay $1 per word. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

subTerrain (Strong Words for a Polite Nation) is a literary magazine published 3 times per year. Its content includes fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, essays, and commentary. Editors look only for original material and are “happy to consider work from all corners of the identity spectrum.” Payment is $0.10 per word (to a maximum of $500) for fiction (up to 3,000 words), non-fiction (up to 4,000 words), and commentary ((up to 4,000 words). To learn more, read writers’ guidelines: http://subterrain.ca/about/35/sub-terrain-writer-s-guidelines/.

Boundary Waters Journal is a Canadian print magazine that features articles that “help readers enjoy their trips to canoe country.” What ‘country’ is that? The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), Quetico Provincial Park and Superior National Forest. They pay up to $500 for features. They also pay $50 to $150 for photos. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Organic Lifestyle Magazine publishes in-depth educational articles about natural health, healing, the environment, food, and more. They pay $150 per article, plus up to $500 in bonuses if your article goes viral. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

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.

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.

National Parks is an award-winning, quarterly magazine known for high-quality photography and writing. The magazine is published by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), a non-profit group dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the National Park System. Reports indicate they pay $1 per word. To learn more, read their submission guidelines. Be sure to click “Downloads” on their guidelines page to access the file.

Coral and Amazonas are magazines published by Reef to Rainforest Media. They cover freshwater aquariums, “tropical discovery”, coral reefs, and more. They pay $100 to $500 per article. To learn more, read their contributor guidelines.

Scrap is the trade magazine for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. They’re published bi-monthly. They represent around 1,300 companies throughout the U.S. They aim to provide practical information to help scrap professionals succeed in their business. They pay $600 to $1,000. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

learnaboutgmp offers “Online Compliance & Regulatory Training in a Modern Cloud Based LMS.” They want articles written for an audience that works in either the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology or Medical Device Industry or similar.” They pay $200 to $500 for articles. If you’re a life sciences professional, they may be worth looking into. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Early American Life is a history magazine, centered on American history through the mid 1800s. They publish articles about history, architecture, antiques, crafts, and travel. They pay around $500 for feature articles from new writers. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Sailing Magazine covers all aspects of sailing, from learning how to sail in a dinghy to crossing an ocean on a large cruiser. They focus on sailing places that are realistic destinations for their readers, but can occasionally feature an outstanding and unique sailing destination. Readers are experienced sailors, so articles should use proper sailing terminology. They do not accept first-time sail experiences. Word count: 100-500 for short news stories, 1,000-3,000 for features. They pay: $50-$500. Details here.

Sail Magazine is the magazine for sailing. They “write, edit, and design for everyone who sails – aboard a one-design boat or an offshore racer, aboard a daysailer on a tiny lake or a cruiser crossing great oceans and great distances.” According to our research, they pay $200 to $800 per article. They particularly want “small stories with punch.” To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Flight Journal is an aviation magazine that covers “the world of flight from its simple beginnings to its high-tech, no-holds –barred future.” The average length of their articles is 2,500 to 3,000 words. For a full-size article, their base pay is $600. Further details can be found on their contributors’ guidelines page.

Let’s Travel is a bi-monthly travel magazine that focuses on “articles with a twist that offer first person accounts of travel in New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific Islands.” They also publish a few stories from far flung places like, South East Asia, Europe and Americas. Their “readership demographics is luxury”, so if the pitch is about getting by on a few dollars, they would probably not be interested in it. Their feature articles are of 800 to 1,200 words. They pay a flat fee of NZ$300 per story to unpublished writers. While, to previously published writers, they pay NZ$500. To find out more, refer to this page.

AKC Gazette and AKC Family Dog feature hands-on techniques for solving common behavior problems with inspiring and entertaining features about dogs. Their regular columns share information about natural therapies, health-care, nutrition, and more. They request a word count of 1,000-3,000 and will pay $300-$500. Their editors can be contacted here: https://www.akc.org/products-services/magazines/

Oregon Humanities Magazine is a triannual publication that “offers a forum through which Oregon writers, scholars, and readers can use the humanities to explore timeless and timely ideas and themes.” For shorter department pieces, they pay $50 to $200 and for personal essays and features, they pay $300 to $800. To find out more, refer to this page.

Science Magazine covers news on science, science policy and issues that are of importance to the scientific community. They want “everything from 140-word news briefs to 2500-word features to investigative projects.” According to payment reports, they pay up to $1 per word, and sometimes more. To learn more, refer to this page.

National Geographic Kids is a general interest nonfiction magazine for 6 to 14 year-olds. It is published 10 times per year. Their stories cover a wide range of topics including “natural history, science, geography, history, and human interest.” They do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. They prefer short and to the point queries of about 250 words. One payment reports suggest that they pay over $1 per word. To find out more, refer to their submission guidelines.

The Point is a Chicago-based print and digital magazine of “philosophical writing on everyday life and culture.” Each issue of the magazine contains three sections which are essays, symposium and reviews. Print essays are 4,000 to 7,000 words long, symposium articles and reviews are 1,500 to 3,000 words long. They pay authors whose articles are published in the print journal. According to one payment report, they paid $500 for a 3,000 word article. To learn more, refer to this page.