The relationship between consumers and prepared food delivery isn’t letting up. The industry continues to boast double-digit growth and is expected to do so for the foreseeable time to come.
Restaurants up and down the spectrum, from quick-serve to fine dining, all offer delivery, most of the time through third-party vendors like Uber Eats. Gig drivers find Uber Eats to be a great way to add to their gig economy earnings.
We will examine the nitty-gritty of how much Uber Eats drivers make. Holding a solid second place in the food delivery arena with a 23% market share, Uber Eats is included by many gig drivers in their stack of gig employment.
How Much Do Uber Eats Drivers Actually Make?
The best food delivery drivers and the best gig drivers look at all the numbers. They wish to understand and determine: Is Uber Eats worth it for drivers? How much is Uber Eats driver pay?
They wish to see data on earnings from Uber Eats driver tips. What is Uber Eats hourly rate? What is included in Uber Eats driver incentives?
By understanding each of these factors, it is easier to see areas for improvement.
How Much Do Uber Eats Drivers Earn Per Delivery?
In numerous markets, food delivery demand is driven by events and the day of the week. Football season gives you four days a week for earning opportunities, with college games on Saturdays, professional games on Sundays, and professional football on Monday and Thursday nights.
The food delivery industry sees peak order times each year beginning in September.
As you review the chart below, note that from a data perspective, statisticians classify each food delivery as a distinct task. Rather than “earnings per delivery,” they label it “earnings per task.”
As you can see, Uber Eats driver pay per task goes up and down throughout the year. Drivers consistently earned between $9 and $10 per delivery, with the highest rates during Q1 and the beginning of Q4 through Super Bowl Sunday in February.
Strategic drivers like to look at their per-delivery pay, knowing that increasing their deliveries per hour can also increase their hourly rate.
What is Uber Eats ‘ Hourly Rate?
Not surprisingly, an Uber Eats hourly-rate graph mirrors the per-task rate, though the extremes are less severe.
Uber Eats drivers make between $13.49 to over $16.50 hourly. However, drivers can increase that figure if they complete more deliveries per hour.
How Much Do Uber Eats Drivers Make Overall?
If we look at overall earnings for Uber Eats, we see a combination of
- Uber Eats base pay
- hourly earnings before tips
- tips (which average 40%–50% of total earnings)
These numbers amount to an average hourly earnings range of $13 to $16. Keep in mind that this is a nationwide average number. In some regions, drivers get higher earnings.
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings by hour | $13 – $16 | Includes base pay, tips, incentives, and bonuses |
| Earnings Before Tips | $7 – $9 per hour | Base pay without tips |
| Tips | $7 – $8 per hour | Approximately 40-50% of total earnings |
| Earnings Per Delivery | $7 – $11 | Varies by location and other factors |
| Earnings per day | $70 – $130 | Depends on hours worked and location |
How Do Uber Eats Earnings Vary by Market?
In some cities, Uber Eats drivers average much higher than the national average. For some drivers living in the suburbs of these cities, the earnings increase is enough to compel them to travel a short way into a high-earning territory.
Los Angeles Uber Eats drivers earn an average of $18.93 per hour, the highest among main markets.
Chicago delivery partners for Uber Eats can expect to make around $14.05 per hour.
In New York City, Uber Eats couriers typically get $13.96 per hour for their services.
Dallas/Fort Worth Uber Eats deliverers bring in approximately $13.92 an hour.
Miami’s Uber Eats delivery workers make about $12.05 hourly, the lowest among these major metropolitan areas.
| City | Average Hourly Earnings |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $18.93 |
| Chicago | $14.05 |
| New York City | $13.96 |
| Dallas/Fort Worth | $13.92 |
| Miami | $12.05 |
Maximising Uber Eats Earnings
How do you increase your earnings as an Uber Eats driver? Surprisingly, it is not that hard.
Pay attention to Uber Eats peak hours
Food delivery most definitely has peak hours, and you can increase earnings by taking advantage of the best times to drive for Uber Eats.
On working days, the lunch surge, especially for businesses, goes from about 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. The real surge is for dinner, beginning at 4:30 pm and continuing until roughly 9:00 pm. Morning and mid-afternoon hours see little action. Also, keep in mind that peak hours will vary by location.
Keep Tabs on Special Events on TV
We’re in the season of politics. There are lots of political junkies glued to the television for the debates, election night, and other related events.
Likewise, the Academy Awards, the Grammys, and other shows generate prepared food home deliveries. Be sure to work those nights.
Work Football Season and Other Sporting Events
From September until February, Sunday is a full day of professional football games, and women now comprise more than 50% of NFL viewership. Devotees find they enjoy the game much more when food is delivered.
Pay Attention to Neighbouring Markets
As mentioned earlier, driving from the outer suburbs to more profitable areas is often worth the time and additional gas.
Watch the Trends Tab on Your Uber Eats app
One way to know the best markets is to check the trends tab on your Uber Eats app.
This feature gives you a 28-day history of what is happening in your market, showing you peak days and best times.
Pick and Choose Your Orders
Some orders are more profitable than others. Learn how to discern which ones to accept. Be careful about taking orders with a long driving distance.
Once you drop off the order, returning to an area where more orders are available might take a while. That is time you could be accepting and delivering other orders.
Some orders are just not profitable and are an inefficient use of one’s time. When in doubt, use this handy Uber Eats earnings calculator.
Pick and Choose Your Restaurants
Some restaurants are better set up for the delivery business. When drivers arrive, the orders are ready and often correct. Other restaurants just can not get the delivery business right; orders are often not ready to be picked up, and are incorrect.
As a driver, slow orders mean you stand around cooling your heels when you could be on the road doing deliveries.
Incorrect orders also influence tips. Always accept orders from restaurants you know are good for delivery. Avoid the slower, less organised orders.
Consider Bike and Scooter Deliveries
Food delivery gig workers have found bicycles and scooters okay in densely populated downtown areas.
They can quickly manoeuvre through traffic while avoiding parking issues. Many of them make as much or even more than if they were driving.
Take Advantage of Uber Eats Driver Incentives
Watch your Uber Eats app for additional earnings chances. Uber Eats offers a per-delivery bonus in some service areas if you remain in a specific territory.
You can also take advantage of other Uber Eats bonuses, in which drivers earn extra money for completing a set number of orders in a designated time.
How to Increase Uber Eats Driver Tips
We have already discussed the factors contributing to Uber Eats driver pay. These are Uber Eats’ base pay, the delivery fee, any incentives Uber Eats offers, and customer tips. Of these four, customer tips are where drivers have the strongest influence. Tips often exceed 50% of food delivery driver pay.
Here are Some Ways to Ensure Better Tips as an Uber Eats Driver:
- Ensure correct orders. One of the most common complaints of food delivery customers is an incorrect order. This is likely the restaurant’s fault, but as the delivery personnel, you’re the last link in the chain, and you get blamed. Check orders to ensure correctness.
- Use a thermal bag. Cold food is another common customer complaint. A thermal bag should be an Uber Eats driver requirement.
- Do not forget the extras. Additional napkins, extra forks, and extra condiments are always appreciated.
- Deliver on time. Customers do not like to wait. Avoid traffic, and do not dawdle.
- Communicate clearly. This is the customer’s best. Let them know when you have the order in your vehicle and how long you expect to be. Also, let people know if the restaurant does not have their order ready or if you get caught in traffic.
- Leave a nice note on the app. Something as simple as “Enjoy your meal” or “Have a nice evening” makes the customer happy.
- Remember the regulars. If someone is a regular and you have a connection with them, commit their name to memory. People love to hear their name; it is their favourite word.
- Smile. Even if you do not see the customer face-to-face, they might be watching on their doorbell camera. People reward happiness.
- Follow directions. Watch for special requests such as “Deliver to the pool in the backyard” or “Come to the side door.” People appreciate it when you follow their special instructions.
- Be mindful of your Uber Eats driver reviews. Customers check these things, and they like to reward winners. If you have five stars, you can expect nicer tips.