How to Earn Money on Medium in 2026

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.

2026 is closer than you think. If you’re passionate about writing, don’t wait for the “perfect time” or overthink every detail. You don’t need to be an expert-you just need to start. A few words today can turn into skills, confidence, and income tomorrow. Write a little, learn a little, and keep going. 2026 can be the year you turn your passion for writing into real income-one article at a time.🌱
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