How to Earn Money from Medium.com in the USA – Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Medium.com has emerged as a powerful platform where everyday people in the USA are turning their words into real income. Whether you're a passionate storyteller, a niche expert, or just love to write, Medium gives you the tools to share your ideas—and get paid for them.

In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to start making money from Medium.com, even if you’re a complete beginner. Let’s dive in!

What Is Medium.com?

Medium is a popular online publishing platform where anyone can create an account and publish articles. Readers come to Medium to learn, explore ideas, and get inspired. Writers get the chance to reach a wide audience and earn money through the Medium Partner Program.

How Does Medium Pay Writers?

Medium pays writers through the Medium Partner Program (MPP). Here's how it works:

You join the Partner Program (free for anyone in the USA)

You publish original content

Medium tracks member reading time on your articles

You get paid based on how much time Medium members spend reading your work

The more engaging your article is, the more money you earn.

How Much Money Can You Make on Medium?

Earnings vary depending on your article’s quality, topic, and reach. Here’s a rough breakdown:

Beginners: $10 to $100/month

Intermediate writers: $100 to $500/month

Pro writers with a strong following: $1,000 to $5,000+/month

Some top USA-based writers earn over $10,000/month, but it takes time and consistency.

Step-by-Step Guide: Start Earning on Medium.com

Step 1: Create a Medium Account

1. Go to medium.com

2. Click “Sign Up” and choose Google, Apple, or email login

3. Set up your profile with a picture and bio

Step 2: Join the Medium Partner Program

1. Go to medium.com/partners

2. Click Join the Partner Program

3. Connect your Stripe account for payouts (Stripe is available in the USA)

You must live in an eligible country (USA is eligible) and be 18+.

Step 3: Write High-Quality Content

What works best on Medium:

Personal stories with a lesson

How-to guides and tutorials

Productivity, self-improvement, tech, finance

Real experiences and case studies

Tips for success:

Use clear headlines

Break content into short, readable paragraphs

Use images, subheadings, and formatting

Step 4: Publish Your Article

1. Click “Write a story” from your Medium dashboard

2. Add your title and body

3. Use bold, italics, quotes, and headings for better readability

4. Click “Publish” and add relevant tags (up to 5)

Step 5: Share and Promote Your Article

Share on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Reddit

Join Medium publications to get featured

Build a newsletter or email list

How Medium Calculates Your Earnings

Medium pays based on:

Member read time

Engagement (claps, comments)

Referred members (if you bring new readers to Medium)

Writers earn 100% of reading time value and 50% of membership referrals.

How to Maximize Your Income

1. Publish Consistently

Write at least 2–3 articles/week. The more you write, the more chances to get views.

2. Focus on High-Value Topics

USA readers love topics like:

Productivity

Making money online

Personal development

Career advice

Investing

3. Build a Loyal Audience

Engage with your readers in the comments

Create a writing style that’s relatable

Ask readers to follow you on Medium

4. Join Medium Publications

Popular publications in the USA help your articles get more exposure:

Better Humans

The Startup

Mind Cafe

Personal Growth

5. Reuse and Republish Content

You can repurpose your blog content, emails, or LinkedIn posts on Medium.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Copying content from other sites (Must be original)

Ignoring formatting – large chunks of text scare readers

Writing only for money – readers want authenticity

Not joining the Partner Program – you won’t earn without it

Payment Method and Schedule

Payments are made via Stripe to your USA bank account

Paid monthly (around the 8th–10th)

You can track your earnings from your Medium dashboard

Realistic Income Example

Let’s say:

You write 12 articles/month

Each gets about 500 reads from Medium members

Average reading time per article is 3 minutes

You could earn around $300–$600/month if your content is well-targeted.

If a few articles go viral, income can jump to $1,000–$2,000+ in a single month.

Pros and Cons of Earning from Medium

Pros:

Easy to start – no website needed

Trusted by USA readers

Built-in audience

Multiple income streams (reading time + referrals)

Cons:

Income depends on Medium members

Takes time to grow an audience

Stripe-only payments (USA supported)

Bonus Tip: Use Medium to Boost Your Career

Many writers in the USA use Medium to:

Get freelance writing clients

Get invited for podcasts or interviews

Sell their own digital products (ebooks, guides)

Medium can be a stepping stone to other big income streams!

Conclusion

If you love writing and want a legit way to earn online in the USA, Medium is one of the best platforms. Whether you're looking to earn a side income or turn it into a full-time gig, you can achieve it by writing consistently, picking the right topics, and building an audience.

Start today. Write. Publish. Earn.

Want to make your first $500 on Medium? Then follow this guide, and don’t stop writing!