How Much Do Instacart Shoppers Make?

Arturo Torres / Instacart

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How much you get paid for working for Instacart depends on how many hours your work, where you’re located and whether you’re an independent contractor or a part-time employee.

Indeed estimates that a full-service shopper can make about $15,000 per year. Zip Recruiter shows in-store shopper openings that pay around $15-$17 an hour.

How Full Service Shopper Pay Is Calculated

There are several categories that make up your earnings:

Batch Pay

Your earnings are calculated based on:

• Travel time to the customer and store
• How many items are in the order
• How long it will take you to gather all of the items
• Weight of the items, with heavier items earning “Heavy pay”
• Boosts if there aren’t many shoppers in the area you’re working

Promotions

Instacart will also offer limited time promotions that can help you earn more money.

Tips

Instacart gives 100% of any tips from customers to the shopper.

Full-Service Instacart Shopper Requirements

Here are the basic requirements you must meet to become a full-service shopper:

• At least 18 years old 
• Eligible to work in the U.S. or Canada
• In possession of a functioning, registered vehicle with insurance
• Able to access a smartphone with Android 5.0 or later, or iOS 9 or later
• Can lift at least 30 pounds 
• Able to satisfy Instacart’s food safety policies

Schedule

As a full-service Instacart shopper, you set your own schedule — you can work as little or as much as you want. You can also maximize your earnings by working during peak grocery shopping times, such as late evenings and holiday weekends, since hours aren’t restricted.

Taxes

As an independent contractor, you’re subject to self-employment tax. Therefore, you may have to make quarterly estimated tax payments. This is because Instacart doesn’t withhold taxes from earnings.

If you’re looking for a full-time gig, this role might be ideal for you, since the hours you can work aren’t restricted and you can fulfill as many orders as you can. Plus, there’s a potential for higher-paying batches.

How In-Store Instacart Shopper Pay Is Calculated

Because in-store shoppers are part-time workers, instead of independent contractors, you’ll know how much you will make per hour when you apply for the position

In-Store Instacart Shopper

To become an in-store shopper, you must meet the following basic requirements:

•  18 years of age or older
•  Legally allowed to work in the U.S. or Canada 
•  Able to access a smartphone with Android 5.0 or later, or iOS 9 or later
•  Can lift at least 30 pounds
•  Able to follow Instacart’s food safety policies

The in-store shopper position is slightly different from the full-service shopper gig — there’s no driving or delivery involved. Instead, you are considered a part-time employee and work in scheduled shifts of up to 29 hours per week.

Once your shift starts, Instacart assigns you batches to complete. Just like full-service, you’ll need to purchase products on the customer’s grocery list, but instead of delivering them, you place them in a staging area for pickup.

If you’re looking for a flexible side gig, working as an in-store Instacart shopper might be a good option for you.

How To Sign Up to be an Instacart Shopper

To become an Instacart shopper, you need to download the Instacart Shopper app and sign up.

Once you pass a background check, you’re good to get started. The best thing about being an Instacart shopper is that you can dictate your own schedule and work any time you want. However, the job duties and how much you can earn depend on whether you’re an in-store shopper or a full-service shopper.

Full-service shoppers are independent contractors whose responsibility is to shop for customers’ orders using the app and deliver them to their homes. You can look for orders available in the platform, which you either accept or decline, fill the accepted orders at the customers’ selected stores and deliver them.

How to Maximize Your Earnings

Full-service shoppers have the ability to earn extra money if they:

• Accept large orders or orders with tips
• Work during peak hours
• Work when there are less shoppers available
• Take advantage of tax deductions on gas

In-store shoppers will have less flexibility with their earnings.

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