I echo what Julie says. I'd consider, too, particularly if you're going for paid, and if you're not already known to the editor or sub-editor, how you're going to pitch your idea to a potential editor. A great deal depends on if you're looking to publish in a traditional 'journal' (in the UK this would be a ref-able journal) or a more mainstream journal. I think the US is a bit less binary in the way you approach things, though.
But, for the latter, you'll probably need to pitch your idea to an editor. If you pitch well, you'll need to consider your specific audience/journal as well as the subject and how you, you the person, how you write, brings a perspective to the writing that will align with or speak to what the journal already publishes. But they won't care where your edu background lies as it'll be your ideas and your perspective that speaks to them.
If you're thinking about research-based journals, then perhaps also look at opportunities to co-author. That's the tried and tested pathway, and, again, I'm not sure in the US, but in the UK, it's getting a little more open, but in terms of academia, I'm social sciences not arts, so I'm not entirely sure about essays!
Either way, I expect there are places out there, but my advice, regardless, is to locate your own writing in the wider landscape, so that you can kind of triangulate your approach and pitch/ approach the right journal.
There are loads of online journals that take interesting essays, too, of course, by submission, so that might be an interesting entry route to explore too, although it won't earn you money or academic kudos.
Sarah-Jane
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