Attention freelance science writers: These publications accept submissions on a wide range of science topics. Whether you write in-depth and technical articles or more consumer-oriented science stories, you're bound to find a paying market or two here to consider pitching.
Browse the list of science writers' markets below. Click the links to view each publications' full submission guidelines.
If you come across broken links or outdated information, you can click the "report link" link below any listing to send a pre-populated email to flag that market for review.
Paying Markets for Freelance Science Writers
Archaeology
Archaeology magazine explores "the discipline of archaeology through the lens of the discipline of journalism." They accept articles focused on specific archaeological sites, new discoveries, or reevaluations of existing theories.
Astronomy
While Astronomy's editors commission most of their content, they do accept freelance pitches as well for both science features and hobby features.
Coastal Review Online
Coastal Review Online is published by the North Carolina Coastal Federation. They accept freelance submissions for their "Our Coast" section, news and features, science stories, and special reports.
Defector
Defector is a subscription-based sports and culture website. They accept freelance pitches for stories covering "sports, politics, TV, movies, science, weird shit that happens on the internet, and anything else that catches [their] attention." According to their freelancer policies, they pay a minimum of $1000 for longer essays and a minimum of $500 for shorter pieces.
Listverse
Listverse publishes list-based posts covering topics ranging from the bizarre to entertainment to science. They pay $100 per accepted post via Paypal. Posts must include at least ten list items.
New Scientist
While most content for New Scientist magazine is written by staff, they're open to freelance submissions about exclusive stories, news, and features. Payments are on a per-word basis.
Popular Science
Popular Science accepts articles covering "new and emerging technology in the areas of science, automobiles, the environment, recreation, electronics, the home, photography, aviation and space, and computers and software. Freelance pieces range from features to short content accompanying their "What's New" products.
Science
Science accepts freelance contributions including 140-word news briefs to 2500-word features. Freelancers author around half of Science's online-only stories and around a quarter of stories found in weekly print issues. Rates begin at $1.00 / word for online-only stories and $1.25 / word for print-only articles. Some projects pay a flat rate. Online Q&As pay $500.
Scientific American
Scientific American accepts articles on "recent scientific discoveries, technical innovations and overviews of ongoing research." They prefer submissions from scientists with first-hand knowledge in their field or experienced science journalists. Feature articles typically run 2000-4000 words. Opinion and analysis articles run around 1000 words. They also accept poetry.
The Open Notebook
The Open Notebook is a nonprofit organization providing tools and resources for science journalists. They accept freelance pitches for reported features and "story-behind-the-story" interviews. They also accept pitches for features intended for their Diverse Voices in Science Journalism series. Pay is $1800 for interviews and $2500 for reported features (both running 1500-2000 words).
The Scientist
The Scientist accepts freelance submissions for news stories covering new life science findings and studies (preferably still under embargo).
WIRED
Most freelance contributions to WIRED are longform feature articles. They also sometimes assign freelancers pieces for their business, science, gear, and service sections. Features run from 2000-10,000 words, with 5000 words being the "sweet spot." Pay is per-project, with features starting around $2500.
Don't Miss Changes to These Science Writing Markets
Remember to bookmark this page as it will automatically update any time these markets are updated or new paying markets for science writers are added to the larger All Freelance Writing writers' market database.
Find More Paying Markets to Pitch
Browse the full collection of writers' markets for even more freelance writing opportunities related to science writing. For example, you'll find publications seeking stories related to the nature, animals, gardening, technology, and more.
Do You Accept Stories from Freelance Science Writers?
If you run a paying science writers' market and you'd like it to be included in this list and the larger market database, you can submit your market for consideration. Market listings are free.
