There have been times when I have sent a pitch to a magazine, have my pitch accepted, and then be crushed to find out that the publication doesn’t pay. Since then, I never pitch unless I know a magazine’s rates.

There are several ways you can investigate their rates. Here’s how.

Writer’s Market

Writer’s Market has been around for decades and gives writers a detailed inside scoop on rates, submission guidelines and editor contact information. I got my very first copy when I was just 16 years old. You can get the Writer’s Market (it hasn’t been updated for 2021 yet) in book form, or you can join their online site for a fee.

From Amazon:

Writer's Market Deluxe Edition 2019 includes everything you expect in a regular copy of Writer's Market, PLUS a one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com. With it, you'll gain instant access to more than 7,500 listings for book publishers, magazines, contests, literary agents, and more--with daily updates.

Beyond the listings, you'll find all-new material devoted to the business and promotion of writing. Discover the secrets to ten-minute marketing, how to make money covering live events, and seven steps to doubling your writing income. Plus, you'll learn how to do video effectively, create a business plan for success, and so much more. This edition includes the ever-popular pay-rate chart and book publisher subject index!

You also gain access to:

Lists of professional writing organizations

Sample query letters

A free digital download of Writer's Yearbook, featuring the 100 Best Markets: WritersDigest.com/WritersDigest-Yearbook-18

Contently’s Rates Database

Contently has a database where writers can add how much a publication paid them, along with any notes on the editors. This database is free to anyone who’s curious. It’s updated often and you can add information anonymously, too. Here’s some of the latest updates:

One of the best things about this database is you can find out which publications are deadbeats and don’t pay on time… or at all. You can view the Contently Rates Database here.

Who Pays Writers

I have a list of 20+ High Paying Magazines Looking For Pitches, but I want more. There’s never enough information when it comes to rates, in my option. So, another great resource I love is Who Pays Writers.

Basically, you find a publication in the alphabetically list on the left, and then the rates will pop up on the screen. You can also submit information about websites and magazines you’ve written for to help keep the database up-to-date.

Journalism Freelance Rates

Another good database is the JR Database. It is updated fairly often, so they have recent information about publication rates. I also like how easy the site is to use.

Find a publication that you like and that pays well? Read this next article on how to pitch magazine articles to editors.