On-demand delivery service apps, together with ride-hailing sites like Lyft or Uber and home rental sites like Airbnb and HomeAway, are the most popular online platforms among gig workers. Many choose to deliver with an app because it allows them to plan their schedule, work at their own pace, and pick the vehicle of their choice. Even if they don’t have all the necessary resources, they can begin side hustling as independent contractors. It’s super easy to manage one’s tasks with a smartphone these days.

How much do delivery drivers for Grubhub, Instacart, Uber Eats, and other delivery companies earn?

how much do delivery drivers make
Photo by Patrick Connor Klopf on Unsplash.

How much do delivery drivers make?

The average amount is around $14-$17 in the U.S. The actual sum varies from city to city. In places like Seattle, Washington D.C., Denver, and Houston, delivery drivers earn more than the national average according to some statistics. Aside from the location, another factor that may affect wages is experience. Just like waiting tables, completing deliveries counts as a service job. So, on top of the cost of the delivery, delivery drivers often receive tips.

Let’s take a closer look now at the salary earned by delivery drivers working with on-demand delivery service apps such as Postmates, Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and more.

1. How much does Instacart pay?

Grocery shopping jobs in Spokane, WA - Instacart
Courtesy of Instacart

Instacart slightly differs from other on-demand delivery service apps because they hire in-store shoppers earning an hourly wage and work with full-service shoppers signed up as independent contractors.

How does Instacart calculate your pay?

Shoppers can preview additional information before accepting gigs. The total price of a shopping trip consists of the following components: pay-per-mile rate (between store and delivery locations) + batch incentive (considering number of units, types of items, retailer, store location, and special requests, etc.) + quality bonus (for every five-star rating on Full-Service orders) + customer tip (100%) + peak-hour-pay boost (when the need for shoppers is high).

How much do Instacart delivery drivers make?

Shoppers make around $9-$18 per hour. (This is probably a gross amount.) It’s location dependent.


Read also: What’s New in the Gig Economy? 11 Social Benefits Gig Workers Should Know About!

Find a delivery job in your city!

2. How much does Shipt pay?

Grocery delivery jobs in Memphis, TN - Shipt
Courtesy of Shipt

Another app that offers grocery delivery to customers is Shipt. They work exclusively with independent contractors.

How does Shipt calculate your pay?

Shipt grocery shoppers are informed about the estimated pay rate that is based on how long it takes to complete the order.

How much do Shipt delivery drivers make?

A grocery shopper makes about $16-$22 per hour.

3. How much does Grubhub pay?

Grubhub bike delivery jobs in Tampa, FL

With Grubhub, you will deliver food to hungry customers around your city. Since its launch, the platform has acquired other apps.

How does Grubhub calculate your pay?

Grubhub has updated its pay model recently. The total order earnings are based on time (driving and waiting) and mileage (to the pick-up location and from there to the drop-off site), and delivery drivers get 100% of the tips left by the customer. If a driver accepts an offer with multiple orders, Grubhub calculates the estimated total time and mileage for all orders together. If a driver accepts a new offer during delivery, the platform calculates the estimated time and mileage for the new order starting from the drop-off location of the current delivery. Time and mileage estimates don’t change based on actual time and mileage driven.

How much do Grubhub delivery drivers make?

According to some statistics, delivery drivers using the *Grubhub for Drivers app* make $20.48 per hour. (This is a gross amount.) The pay rates vary by market. Some markets offer a guaranteed hourly minimum as long as you accept a specific amount of orders.

Find a delivery job in your city!

4. How much does DoorDash pay?

DoorDash - food delivery jobs in Charlotte, NC
Courtesy of DoorDash

Another delivery company you can join to deliver take-out food to hungry customers is DoorDash. With DoorDash, you may receive delivery requests directly from clients. You can also use DoorDash Drive through which restaurants can ask you to deliver orders to their customers. Delivery drivers working with DoorDash called Dashers.

How does DoorDash calculate your pay?

You can see the pay for each delivery on the acceptance screen. Then you can decide to accept or decline the delivery request. For a delivery, Dashers receive a base pay, promotion (bonuses and peak pay), and 100 percent of the tips left by customers. The guaranteed amount is calculated based on a variety of factors including the size of the order, whether or not you have to place the order in person, and the projected driving distance, traffic, parking, and wait time at the store. If the base pay and the tip together are less than the guaranteed minimum, DoorDash will chip in so you can pocket the guaranteed amount. You will keep any amount above the minimum guaranteed.

How much do DoorDash delivery drivers make?

It depends on the market served. Some statistical data shows that a Dasher can earn a gross amount of $15-$25 per hour.

5. How much does Uber Eats pay?

how much uber drivers earn
Photo by eggbank on Unsplash

With Uber Eats, delivery drivers don’t have to hand over the order to customers. You should know that the company has some requirements regarding vehicles used during deliveries. If you have ever taken passengers with Uber, this should not surprise you.

How does Uber Eats calculate your pay?

Uber Eats calculate delivery fares differently depending on location. The fare is comprised of a flat pick-up fee (a multiplier may apply if you have more orders from various restaurants), a flat drop-off fee, a per-mile rate (only in select cities), a per-minute rate (only in select cities), and percent reduction on fare (in select cities.) Uber Eats usually keeps 25% of the total cost of the delivery fare.

How much do Uber Eats Couriers make?

The hourly rates vary from location to location. Some drivers say the average hourly rate is $10-$14 per hour. (This is probably a gross amount.)

6. How much does Favor pay?

 

Favor works with a number of Runners in cities. The platform available only in Texas is similar to Postmates as you would deliver not only food but also other goods.

How does Favor calculate your pay?

As a Favor Runner, you would receive 35% of the delivery fee and 100% of all tips. In case you schedule your shifts ahead of time, you would get an hourly guarantee of $9-$10 per hour.

How much do Favor delivery drivers make?

Favor says it’s possible to make $12-$18 per hour before taxes as a Favor Runner, tips included.

7. How much does Caviar pay?

caviar pay

Caviar differs from most delivery service apps. It’s a high-end delivery service, so delivery drivers visit rather posh restaurants. The platform is available in select cities.

How does Caviar calculate your pay?

The amount Caviar Couriers receive for a delivery includes base pay, tips, peak pay, milestone bonuses, and adjustments. The platform can change or end these guarantees at any time. Different markets pay differently. Couriers can request a payout right after the delivery using the Cash App

How much do Caviar Couriers make?

Caviar Couriers typically make $18-$25 per hour before taxes. They get to see the details (earnings, pick-up and drop-off location) of the delivery before accepting it. They may get reimbursed for parking tickets paid while working. You should contact Caviar and ask them about your cities before getting started as a Courier.


Read also: What Is It Like to Work As a Delivery Driver? A Foodora Rider Answers!

8. How much does Postmates pay?

Postmates, as Postmates call their delivery drivers, deliver food, household essentials, electronic devices, and other types of goods to customers in a huge number of cities.

How does Postmates calculate your pay?

Postmates receive a base pay of $1.35 per order, $0.10 per minute while waiting at the store or restaurant, $1.03 per mile traveled between the pick-up and drop-off location, 100% of their tips, and sometimes bonuses when the demand for deliveries is high. Within the app, customers can choose to leave a tip of 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% of the delivery fee.

How much do Postmates delivery drivers make?

With all these amounts calculated, you could earn an average of $12 per hour. You can even batch deliveries, deliver mostly during peak hours or in the busiest neighborhoods indicated by Postmates to earn more.

Insider Info:
Cesar Guerrero worked with Postmates in Las Vegas and thought that the market was great. He managed to earn $101.86 while working a shift of 5.5 hours, during which he drove about 81 miles and delivered a total of 14 orders. Cesaro made around $18 per hour excluding vehicle expenses.

This is the breakdown of his earnings:
Base fees: $62.60 + App tips: $36.26 + Cash tips: $3 = Total: $101.86 (You should know that you may receive app tips 24 hours after job completion.)

Harry, the RideShare Guy, didn’t have such a profitable experience with Postmates in Los Angeles, Orange County. Maybe because it was his first time using the Postmates Fleet app. During his three hours of work, he completed four deliveries and made $39.35 while driving 34 miles. His gross hourly rate was $12.97. He made $9.03 per hour after vehicle expenses.


Read also: 11 Tips On How to Make the Most Money Working with Postmates

9. How much does EatStreet pay?

EatStreet delivery drivers work as W-2 employees, so no quarterly contractor tax bills apply.

How does EatStreet calculate your pay?

Delivery drivers earn a guaranteed hourly pay, which is location dependent, plus tips.

How much do EatStreet delivery drivers make?

They make $5-$23 per hour depending on their availability and performance. (This is probably a gross amount.) You may request a payout daily through Daily Pay.


Read also: The on-demand economy model

10. How much does Deliv pay?

With Deliv, you would deliver packages to the customers of a list of retailers, businesses, pharmacies, hospitals, medical device companies, dentists, and so on. As of February 2020, the platform operates in 35 markets in the US. (Manhattan is the only market where you can deliver goods by bike or on foot, too.)

How does Deliv calculate your pay?

Deliv Driver Partners are paid for their time on task and for delivery miles.

How much do Deliv delivery drivers make?

According to Deliv, they earn up to $22 per hour. Some data shows that they can expect to make around $15-$22 per hour on average. (This is probably a gross amount.)

 [wp-faq-schema title=”FAQ” accordion=1]