I still remember the day I published my first article on Medium.
No followers.
No audience.
No idea if I’d ever earn even one dollar.
I clicked Publish, closed my laptop, and honestly forgot about it. A few weeks later, I opened Medium again and saw something unexpected.
💰 Earnings: $1.27
It wasn’t much-but it proved something important.
Earning money by writing online was real.
This article will walk you through how to earn money on Medium, how it actually works, how much you can earn, and what it really takes—without hype.
🌍 What Is Medium and Why Do People Earn From It?
Medium is an online writing platform where people share ideas, stories, lessons, and experiences. Millions of readers visit Medium every day looking for content about life, money, productivity, tech, and personal growth.
Unlike blogs or YouTube, Medium already has:
A massive audience
Built-in traffic
A system that pays writers directly
That’s why Medium is beginner-friendly.
💸 How Does Medium Pay Writers?
Medium pays writers through the Medium Partner Program (MPP).
Here’s how earnings are calculated:
⏱️ How long Medium members read your article
❤️ Engagement like claps, highlights, and responses
📖 Overall reading experience
❗ Important:
Only paid Medium members’ reading time counts toward earnings.
So it’s not about clicks—it’s about real reading.
💳 Is There Any Cost to Earn on Medium?
Let’s be fully transparent 👇
✅ Creating a Medium account: FREE
✅ Joining Medium Partner Program: FREE
⭐ Medium Membership Price (Optional but Helpful)
$5 per month
$50 per year
Why many writers choose to pay:
Unlimited reading
Learn what content performs well
Support other writers
Improve your own writing faster
💡 You can earn without paying, but membership helps you grow.
🚀 Step-by-Step: How I Started Earning on Medium
🧾 Step 1: Create Your Medium Account
Set up your profile properly:
Clear profile photo
Short bio explaining what you write about
Follow topics related to your niche
First impressions matter.
🔐 Step 2: Join the Medium Partner Program
Go to:
Settings → Partner Program
You’ll need:
A Stripe account (for payments)
To accept Medium’s terms
📆 Medium pays writers monthly.
🎯 Step 3: Choose a Niche That People Actually Read
This step changed everything for me.
Popular and profitable Medium niches:
💰 Personal finance
🌐 Making money online
🧠 Self-improvement
💻 Technology & AI
✍️ Personal stories with lessons
👉 Write what you know, or what you’re learning.
📝 Step 4: Write Consistently (Not Perfectly)
At the beginning, my articles weren’t great.
But they got better because I kept writing.
Recommended:
2–4 articles per week
800–1,500 words
Simple language
Clear structure
Consistency beats talent on Medium.
👀 Step 5: Write for Humans, Not Algorithms
Medium rewards content that feels real.
Focus on:
Short paragraphs
Honest experiences
Clear takeaways
Easy reading flow
If readers stay longer, Medium pays you more.
💰 How Much Can You Really Earn on Medium?
📊 Realistic Medium Earnings:
First month: $0 – $20
After 3 months: $50 – $200
After 6 months: $200 – $500
Experienced writers: $1,000+ per month
🔍 SEO Tips to Earn Organically on Medium
Medium articles can rank on Google if optimized correctly.
✅ Simple SEO Tips:
Use keywords naturally
One main topic per article
Clear, emotional headlines
Use H2 & H3 subheadings
Answer real questions people search for
🔑 Organic SEO Keywords to Include:
how to earn money on Medium
Medium Partner Program earnings
make money writing on Medium
Medium income for beginners
Medium writing tips
⚠️ Common Mistakes Beginners Make
Writing once and quitting
Copying viral articles
Ignoring formatting
Expecting fast money
Writing without a clear message
Depending only on AI
🔗 Extra Ways to Earn Through Medium
Medium can open many doors:
Affiliate marketing
Freelance writing clients
Driving traffic to your website
Selling services or digital products
Building a strong personal brand
Medium is more than ad revenue.







