How Much Do Uber Eats Drivers Make?
With so many food delivery services out there, how do you decide which is the best one to drive for? Driving for Uber Eats has become one of the most common side gigs for those looking to supplement their income.
There’s not much commitment involved, and it can be a great way to earn money and save up for a special occasion like a wedding, a vacation, retirement or paying off debt. If you’re looking for a new side hustle, continue reading to see whether driving for Uber Eats is right for you.
What Is Uber Eats and How Does It Work?
Uber Eats is a global food delivery service platform used by restaurants to deliver food to their customers. Restaurateurs can customize their food delivery accounts to their needs. Within the app, they also have the option to market their restaurant services to customers, creating a wider reach and, potentially, repeat customers.
When customers order from a restaurant using the Uber Eats app, the restaurant accepts and prepares the order. An Uber Eats delivery driver claims the order on the app, picks up the order from the restaurant and delivers the food to the customer.
Customer-Driver Interaction
People want the food they order from restaurants to be delivered correctly and quickly. Many rely on food delivery service apps such as Uber Eats so they won’t have to go to the restaurant themselves.
It’s easy for customers to use the Uber Eats app. They browse participating restaurants and can search for them by name or cuisine and then tap the restaurant to order their food. After placing an order and checking out, customers can track their delivery in the app.
How Much Do Uber Eats Drivers Make?
According to Indeed, Uber Eats drivers in the United States, on average, earn $17.31 per hour before taxes and expenses like gas and vehicle maintenance. Earnings can also vary according to location, time and day.
Use Uber Eats Promotions To Earn More Money
Uber Eats offers two promotions — Boost and Surge — to help you increase your earnings. With Boost promotions, you earn more per trip, as Uber Eats guarantees higher rates in specific locations and at specific times.
With Uber Eats’ Surge promotions, your earnings increase during higher demand times. You can see areas with high demand on your Uber Driver app home screen shaded in red along with the extra dollar amount that you will be paid.
How To Become an Uber Eats Driver
Uber Eats food delivery is not like traditional restaurant food delivery. Uber Eats delivery drivers work for themselves and set their own hours. Drivers deliver food when it’s convenient for them.
Maybe you’re already an Uber Eats customer and are looking for a way to supplement your income on your own schedule. Here’s how you can set yourself up to get paid for delivering food with the Uber Driver app.
Sign Up on the Uber Driver App
- Download and install the Uber Driver app on your iOS or Android mobile device.
- Consent to a background check.
- Upload a photo ID and other required documents.
- Once you are notified that your driver account is active, you can begin receiving delivery requests.
Start Receiving Delivery Requests
- Open the Uber Driver app menu.
- Tap the status bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the settings icon at the bottom of the screen, then tap “Driving Preferences” to turn on deliveries.
- When you’re offered an order, tap “Delivery” to accept.
- Review the delivery terms.
- Tap “Start delivery” at the bottom of your screen.
Deliver Your Orders
- Use the Uber Eats suggested navigation information from the restaurants to your customers’ locations to facilitate a smooth delivery.
- You can contact Uber Eats support in-app if you need additional support.
Earn Your Money
- You get paid for every food order pickup and delivery that you complete.
- You also get paid a per-mile rate.
- Depending on the city you work in, you may also get paid a per-minute rate.
- Uber Eats customers have the option of tipping you in-app or in cash at the time of delivery.
Uber Eats Delivery Driving Pros
| Pro | Why It’s Good |
|---|---|
| You can use different modes of transportation. | You choose how you deliver. You can drive a car, ride a bike, ride a scooter or even walk to deliver food to your customers. |
| Work whenever or for how long you want. | You can work for one hour, several hours, on weekends or several days throughout the week. |
| Payout is immediate. | When you drive with Uber Eats, your earnings are automatically transferred to your bank account once every week. If you don’t want to wait, you can use Instant Pay and cash out your pay up to five times per day for $0.85 per payout. Or you can apply for the Uber Pro debit card and checking account and have your earnings sent to your Uber Pro Card automatically within five seconds after delivery — free of charge. |
| Earnings are easy to track. | Before accepting an order for delivery, you can see how much you will get paid to deliver it. You can also see how much customers tip you in-app. |
| Take time off whenever you want. | You can turn your delivery requests on and off in the Uber Driver app whenever you choose. |
| Simple sign-up process. | The Uber Driver app gives you exact instructions for creating an account, picking up orders and delivering orders. |
| No need for advanced scheduling. | You can earn more money using Uber Eats’ Boost and Surge promotions. |
Uber Eats Delivery Driving Cons
| Con | Why It’s Not Good |
|---|---|
| The pay is not steady. | Some days or times of day Uber Eats drivers receive higher earnings, but it’s not consistent. |
| There is wear and tear on your vehicle. | More frequent maintenance and more trips to the gas station add up. However, you can take a mileage deduction when filing your income taxes to alleviate some of the burden. In 2023, the mileage deduction is 65.5 cents per mile. |
| The app sometimes doesn’t work. | Bugs and glitches sometimes happen, especially when Uber Eats drivers use older smartphones. |
Requirements for Becoming an Uber Eats Driver
You don’t have to own a vehicle to deliver food with Uber Eats. Check out what you need to deliver with Uber, whether by car, by scooter, on foot or on a bicycle.
Uber Eats Delivery by Car
- Must submit your Social Security number for a background check
- Must be at least 19 years old
- Must have a valid driver’s license
- Car must have two or four doors
Uber Eats Delivery on Foot or Bicycle
- Must submit your Social Security number for a background check
- Upon sign-up, must select “Delivery by bicycle” or “Delivery by bicycle or foot” — whichever option is available for your city
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have a valid government-issued ID
Uber Eats Delivery by Scooter
- Must submit your Social Security number for a background check
- Must be at least 19 years old
- Upon sign-up, must select “Delivery by scooter”
- Must have a motorized scooter under 50cc
- Must have a valid driver’s license
Good To Know
Uber Eats drivers work in thousands of cities, from major metropolises like Los Angeles and New York to smaller places in between. Drivers can also find work with Uber Eats in more than 40 countries worldwide, including Canada, the United Kingdom and France.
Is Being an Uber Eats Driver Worth It?
Considering how much Uber Eats drivers make and the associated costs, is it worth your time? You won’t retire rich driving with Uber Eats, but you can make some easy side money during your downtime. To maximize your earnings, plan to deliver during lunch and dinner rush hours.
If you have some financial goals and want a relatively easy, low-commitment way to earn extra cash, becoming an Uber Eats driver might be right for you.
Uber Eats Driver FAQ
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about driving with Uber Eats.- Can you make good money with Uber Eats?
- Uber Eats drivers can expect to make an average of $17.31 an hour, according to Indeed. Depending on how many deliveries you make per week and the hours worked, that could pad your income. However, you also need to consider mileage, insurance and how much gas you’re consuming. Think about time as well, such as delays or waiting for food to be ready. Uber Eats drivers are considered independent contractors, so you’ll have to factor in this and other expenses when you become a driver.
- Can you make $1,000 a week with Uber Eats?
- At an average of $17.31 an hour, per Indeed, you’d have to work nearly 58 hours in that week to expect to make $1,000. But remember the age-old adage to work smarter, not harder. If you select jobs during peak hours, such as on the weekends, you might be able to take advantage of surge pricing. Also, customer service is key, so if the customer comes away with a positive delivery experience, you’ll reap the benefits in tips.
- How do Uber Eats drivers get paid?
- Uber Eats drivers can be paid instantly if you have your debit card linked to your account. Another alternative is to transfer your pay to your bank account. Navigate to the Uber Driver app, and make sure that your bank account information has been entered correctly. All of your earnings will include tips. Also, if you’ve reached a certain number of trips completed, you can start using Instant Pay, which allows you to cash out your earnings up to five times per day. You’ll only need to have $1 in your balance.
- How much do most Uber Eats drivers make?
- According to Indeed, Uber Eats drivers can expect to make $17.31 an hour, on average. If you work 20 hours per week, that’s around $346 per week. If you work 40 hours per week, 52 weeks out of the year, then that’s a yearly salary of just over $36,000.
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Daria Uhlig, Cynthia Measom, Cameron Cole and Melanie Grafil contributed to the reporting for this article.
Information is accurate as of April 24, 2023.
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