How Much Money Can You Really Make on Medium

On Medium, you can make anywhere between $5 to $100 per 1,000 views.

Sounds lovely, right? Like free money falling from the sky.
But wait… before you start daydreaming, let me tell you the real story behind these shiny numbers.

Let’s be honest — most people join Medium with one of two dreams: either “I’ll make easy money here” or “Uff, nobody earns anything on Medium.” I had both thoughts at different times. But after writing nearly 100 stories, trying every niche I could think of, and refreshing my stats more times than I check my WhatsApp… I think I finally understand how Medium earnings actually work.

The Real Reason Why Medium’s Earnings Range Is So Wide

Most people think Medium pays for views, Absolutely not.
If someone clicks your article, reads two lines, panics, and runs away — congratulations, you earned exactly $0.

Medium pays for engagement, and trust me, they take this very seriously. It’s not enough for people to simply glance at your headline. They want to know:

Are people actually reading your story till the end?
Are they clapping? Highlighting? Commenting? Sharing?
Are Medium members (paid subscribers) reading your work?

Basically, Medium wants quality humans, not drive-by readers.
If someone reads your story with full interest (and not while waiting for their Maggi to boil), that’s when Medium says, “Yes, author. Take money.”

And this is why the earnings range is huge. One article might get you $5 per 1,000 views. Another might magically give you $100 per 1,000 views. It’s all about how deeply your readers connect.

The Harsh Reality: Getting 1,000 Views Is Not a Joke

In your first few weeks on Medium, you’ll realize one painful truth —
1,000 views is not easy at all.
In fact, sometimes getting even 100 views feels like running a marathon with broken slippers.

People imagine Medium as a magical platform where you publish an article and boom — thousands of readers will arrive.
But most of the time, it’s just you refreshing your stats hoping a number has changed.

Medium rewards consistency, quality, and genuine connection. No shortcuts here.

Let’s Talk Real Examples (Because Theories Don’t Pay Bills)

There are writers like Anangsha Alammyan, who makes around $1,500 a month. Impressive, right? But she also has 187,000+ followers, and years of experience. She earned every bit of that audience.

Then there’s Hudson Rennie, who earns around $500 to $1,000 monthly with around 21,000 followers.
Not a massive number, but he writes smart, consistent, valuable content.

And now… let’s talk about me. With less than 500 followers, here’s what happened:

In February 2025, I got around 2,700 reads and earned about $45.
Not bad, considering the size of my audience.

But here’s when things get interesting — and confusing.

One of my stories got just 3 reads and 11 views… and still earned $2.33.

Another story got 1100 reads and earned a royal amount of $0.09.

I know. It makes zero sense.
Medium earnings sometimes feel like astrology.
Your article is Leo today, so it might earn well. Tomorrow it becomes Virgo — back to $0.09.

That’s why I say Medium is unpredictable.
You never know which article will pay your coffee bill and which one won’t even pay for a toffee.

A Secret That Many Writers Don’t Say Out Loud

Medium works a little like life — give and take.
If you show up for others, they show up for you.
If you read, clap, and leave thoughtful comments on others’ articles, they often return the gesture.

This is not cheating. It’s how the community grows. People support people.

The more you engage, the more visibility you get.
The more visibility you get, the more member-read time you earn.
The more member-read time you earn… the more you can actually earn in dollars.

So, How Can You Grow on Medium? Here’s The Honest Path

Start by writing in a niche you genuinely enjoy. Don’t force yourself into popular topics just because they “pay well.” Write what feels natural — money follows authenticity here. Once you’ve written 5–10 articles and feel comfortable, join the Medium Partner Program so you can place your stories behind the paywall.

But joining the program doesn’t magically make you rich.
You still need to engage with others, make friends, support writers, and slowly build your reputation. Once people start recognizing your name, everything gets easier — more reads, better relationships, and slowly but steadily, more earnings.

Medium won’t make you a millionaire, but yes… it can give you a decent side income. And more importantly, it gives you a space to express yourself, share your thoughts, and learn from thousands of writers around the world.

Final Thoughts

Medium isn’t a platform where you get rich overnight.
It’s a platform where you grow — slowly, genuinely, honestly.

If you stay consistent, write with emotion, engage with people, and enjoy the process, money will naturally follow. Maybe not a full-time salary… but enough to make you smile every month.

And hey, if you ever need help — with writing, titles, SEO, growth, anything — just leave a comment. I’ll be happy to help you out.