One of the more popular posts here at All Freelance Writing is my auto-updated list of websites and blogs that pay $100 or more per article. But $100 per post isn't the great rate some newer freelancers think it is. That's a low rate on the professional scale, though thankfully those gigs are advertised more often these days than even just a few years ago.
When you're ready to take your freelance blogging or web content writing work to the next level, you need to aim higher. High-paying online writing gigs are advertised on job boards much less often (due to more supply than demand, unqualified applicants taking a lot of time to sort through, and other ways clients have to find professional writers who are a good fit.
That said, some of these gigs and writers' markets do get advertised publicly -- such as gigs with online properties tied to print publications or blogs with highly-specialized audiences.
To get you started in pitching higher-paying online prospects, here are some websites and blogs that pay writers $500 (and sometimes more) per article.
Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Beneath Ceaseless Skies seeks short stories under 15,000 words. They publish "literary adventure fantasy" with secondary-world settings. They pay 8 cents per word.
Clarkesworld Magazine
This magazine is devoted to science fiction, fantasy, and horror. They purchase both fiction and nonfiction writing. Payment for nonfiction is 10 cents per word up to their 2500 word limit. Payment for fiction (1000-22,000 words) is 12 cents per word.
Copyhackers
Copyhackers accepts guest post pitches for articles sharing first-person stories in over 2000 words. They encourage writers to embrace conflict in those submissions. They pay $300-1000 per accepted post.
Earth Island Journal
Earth Island Journal covers environmental issues such as wildlife conservation,land conversation,public policy, climate and energy, and more. Contributors are paid $.25 per word for print stories up to 4000 words, with 2800 words being most common. Online reports pay $200 and are a good way for new writers to break into the market.
Longreads
Longreads accepts submissions of essays and curated reading lists from freelance contributors. Essays and columns run 2000-6000 words. Personal essays should be pitched on-spec, and they pay $500 per essay. Researched and reported essays, critical essays, and columns may be pitched. They also pay $500 per essay. Curated reading lists pay $350.
Model Railroad Hobbyist
Model Railroad Hobbyist publishes articles and videos "on all aspects of model railroading and on prototype (real) railroading as a subject for modeling." Articles typically run around 3000 words with 10 photos and a short video clip (payments being $230 for these). $200-600 per feature is typical, though they've paid over $1000 for longer articles as well (such as through their website where length isn't an issue).
Smart Business Trends
SmartBusinessTrends.com is a blog covering online marketing, email marketing, Wordpress, and Amazon FBA. They pay $200-500 via PayPal for full rights for tutorials, case studies, and product reviews. They purchase full rights.
Sport Fishing
Sport Fishing magazine publishes 9 issues per year and focuses on saltwater fishing mostly around North America. They accept features of 1800-2400 words, including sidebars, though their departments are usually staff-written. They pay $750 for print features. Digital features pay $200 for up to 1000 words and $300 for over 1000 words.
As always, these market list posts are dynamically-created by pulling current listings from my larger directory of writers' markets. That means any time a new market is added meeting these pay conditions, it will automatically be added to this post. And if markets are removed, they're cleaned from this post automatically too. If you come across dead links or outdated summaries, you can help keep the market collection up-to-date by simply clicking "report link" below an entry, and I'll get a notification to have it reviewed ASAP.