Is it True That The New Yorker pays $1000+ for a Short Story?

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The New Yorker, which was established in 1925 and is published by Condé Nast, is a very famous weekly magazine worldwide for its political reviews, cultural coverage, and literary content.

Their fiction section is considered very prestigious, containing literary stories that focus on character development, thematic depth, and a distinctive writing style. With more than a million readers, this magazine offers very high visibility for writers, which is why it is highly sought after for publishing short stories.

Short Story Payments

According to our researched data, The New Yorker pays between $1,500 and $4,000 for short stories in the literary fiction category. This range is quite high compared to many other literary magazines, for example:

Granta: A fairly prestigious literary magazine as well, but reportedly its payment for short stories is usually in the range of hundreds of dollars, far below The New Yorker.
The Paris Review: Similar to Granta, this is also a famous literary magazine, but its payment for short stories is often less than $1,000.
Ploughshares: This magazine has a good reputation, but its payment for short stories is usually in the range of a few hundred dollars.
Tin House: This magazine is also quite well-known, and its payment for short stories is likely below The New Yorker’s range, possibly in the few hundred to one thousand dollar range.
The Kenyon Review: This is a highly respected literary journal, but its payment for short stories tends to be lower, possibly in the range of a few hundred dollars.
University Literary Journals: There are many literary journals published by universities. Often, their payment is very small (tens or hundreds of dollars) or they may even only pay with copies of the magazine or contributor copies. There are many examples, such as The Iowa Review, The Missouri Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, and others. The New Yorker shows that they are indeed a short story market with good pay.

Interestingly, the exact rates are not on their official website, as mentioned in the submission guidelines from Writers Write – The New Yorker Guidelines. Some other sources, like a Medium article by George Atkins, mention payments reaching up to $7,500, possibly for longer or more prominent stories.

However, the 2025 data we have points more to the $1,500–$4,000 range. This variation may be because the payment depends on the length of the story (usually 2,000–10,000 words, according to the guidelines) or the author’s reputation.

To illustrate, let’s look at the potential income based on word count, assuming a per-word rate:

For a 2,000-word story with an estimated $0.75 per word (to reach $1,500), the rate would be high, in line with professional standards.
For a 10,000-word story with a payment of $4,000, the rate would be $0.40 per word, which is still quite good.

Payment Range	Estimated Word Count	Potential Rate per Word (Calculation)
$1,500	2,000–10,000	$0.15–$0.75
$4,000	2,000–10,000	$0.40–$2.00

This table shows the variation, but it’s important to remember that the payment structure isn’t really per word, according to the official guidelines.

Prestige and High Standards

The prestige of The New Yorker is undeniable; many works by great writers like John Updike, J.D. Salinger, and Alice Munro have been published there. This magazine is like a gateway for literary fiction, so being able to publish there is a huge achievement.

Its high standards are evident in its editorial process. As mentioned in an interview with Fiction Editor Deborah Treisman in “Questions for Deborah Treisman | The New Yorker,” every story considered definitely gets opinions and evaluations from the fiction department, so only the very best are selected.

The competition is also very fierce, to the point where a writer in “Where to Submit Short Stories: 30 Options for Writers” says the chance of acceptance is very small, only 0.0000416%.

For international readers, especially from the US, this prestige is very helpful for careers, because The New Yorker is based in New York City and has a wide readership, including worldwide. Its iconic cover and cultural influence also make this magazine even more appealing.

How to Submit Manuscripts and Guidelines

The manuscript submission process is structured to accommodate a large number of submissions. According to the official contact page “About Us – The New Yorker | The New Yorker,” writers can submit fiction as a PDF attachment to fiction@newyorker.com or by mail to Fiction Editor, The New Yorker, 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007.

The guidelines are as follows:

All manuscripts are read within 90 days.
Writers are only notified if their story is accepted for publication.
There are no phone calls or emails for rejections, and if there is no news within 90 days, writers should assume their story will not be published.
Manuscripts sent by mail will not be returned, so do not send original copies.

This process shows the magazine’s efficiency in managing submissions. Efficient here means they have an organized and fast way to handle the large number of manuscripts received from writers.

Why? Because the competition to be published in The New Yorker is very fierce. Many writers want their work to appear there. So, they must have a good system so as not to be overwhelmed and so that all manuscripts can be handled properly.

In addition, The New Yorker does not accept unsolicited non-fiction manuscripts; their focus is solely on fiction (short stories, novels) and poetry.

Literary fiction, like that published by The New Yorker, differs from genre fiction because it prioritizes narrative depth, character exploration, and stylistic innovation over plot-focused stories.

This is evident in recent stories found in “Short Stories | The New Yorker,” such as works by Joyce Carol Oates and Yiyun Li in early 2025, which focus on human experience and thematic richness. The length of the stories, usually 2,000–10,000 words, allows for such depth, in line with the magazine’s editorial vision.

Implications for Writers, Especially from the US

For writers from the US, submitting manuscripts to The New Yorker not only offers financial benefits but also very significant exposure. Because it is based in New York City, the magazine has a strong influence on American literary culture, while its global readership ensures international recognition.

The payment range of $1,500–$4,000, combined with its prestige, makes this magazine an attractive option, although its high standards mean writers must produce exceptional work. For example, a writer from Texas can gain local and global recognition, which can boost their career.

Potential Variations and Controversy

There are slight differences regarding reported payment rates, with sources like Reddit and Medium mentioning it can go up to $7,500, while our 2025 data remains in the $1,500–$4,000 range. This variation could be due to differences in story length, author popularity, or special editorial decisions.

It’s also important to remember that such differences are common in the literary market, where rates are often negotiated or not publicly announced, as seen in r/AskNYC on Reddit: “How much does the New Yorker pay for published short fiction?”.

This shows the need for writers to find out the latest rates and perhaps contact the magazine directly for clarity, although the official guidelines remain the most reliable source.

Opinion

The New Yorker remains the pinnacle for literary fiction short stories, offering payments of $1,500–$4,000, high editorial standards, and significant prestige. Its manuscript submission process is efficient, with a 90-day response time, making it easily accessible yet highly competitive.

For international readers, especially from the US, this magazine presents financial and reputational opportunities, although succeeding there requires exceptional writing. The potential for higher payments, as mentioned by some sources, adds an interesting layer, but our data provides a clear benchmark for expectations.

Interested in writing short stories for The New Yorker? The pay is good, you know!

Sources:

Nikos Nikos