As one of the most popular and used food delivery apps in the world, Uber Eats has created a livelihood for thousands of gig workers. Last year alone, Uber Eats drivers and couriers took home around $7.9 billion, according to company data.
But despite this being common knowledge now, lots of would-be drivers still want to know this: How much do Uber Eats drivers make a delivery in 2022?
In this post, we are going to discuss the Uber Eats pay rates, conditions which determine the amount of money you make, and an estimate of how much money you can make per delivery. Whether you’re considering signing up or just wondering about the numbers, we’ve got you covered.
What Is Uber Eats?
Uber Eats is an international food delivery app available in more than 6,000 cities worldwide. It links users to their preferred restaurants and provides meals in their homes. To drivers, it is a flexible way to make money from a car, scooter or, in some markets, a bicycle.
Drivers can accept or reject delivery requests, set their own hours, and are paid according to time, distance, and demand for each delivery.
How Much Can You Make Per Delivery for Uber Eats?
In the United States, Uber Eats drivers make an average of $9 or $10 per delivery. But the number can differ greatly due to a number of things including:
• Distance of the delivery
• Time (peak to non-peak)
• Tips from customers
• Which city or region are you delivering in?
• Ongoing promotions or surge pricing
For example, a quick job in the suburbs could pay as little as $6 to $8, whereas a high-demand lunchtime order in a city might earn you $12 to $15 or more.
What Factors Affect Per-Delivery Earnings?
Uber Eats driver pay is based on a few factors, such as:
Uber Eats driver pay formula
Uber Eats offers drivers a flexible pay system that includes:
Base Pay
This includes:
• Pick-Up Fee (if it’s for pickup)
• Drop Off Fee (to deliver to the customer)
• Distance Fee (depending on how far the restaurant is from the customer)
Trip Supplement
This is in addition to waiting time, potential traffic, slow cook times at the restaurant.
Promotions
Boosts and surge prices help your payout during peak times and in areas with lots of ride requests.
Tips
Drivers are paid 100 percent of customer tips. A good attitude and a timely delivery generally result in a more generous tip.
Incentives
These are bonuses for completing a certain number of deliveries within a certain time frame (for example, $50 for completing 10 deliveries in a day).
What About Hourly Earnings?
The typical Uber Eats driver, he said, earns an average of $10 to $20 an hour, depending on the number of deliveries that are able to be made and location.
In big cities, such as New York City, Austin or Los Angeles, drivers may be able to earn more money because of the higher volume of orders and greater opportunities for tips.
Real-World Earnings by Region
Here’s what Uber Eats drivers can make per year in a few of the highest-paying U.S. cities, data from ZipRecruiter show:
• Berkeley, CA: $50,004
• Bailey’s Crossroads, VA: $47,548
• Daly City, CA: $47,323
That’s about $3,900 to $4,100 a month, if it were full-time hours.
Ways to Increase Your Pay Per Delivery
If you want to get more money out of each delivery, certain tactics can help:
• Drive during lunch, dinner and weekends
• Target high-demand or sale areas
• Add in that little extra of being polite and professional and it will increase your tip amounts
• Utilize route optimization apps such as Upper Route Planner to save time and money on fuel
• Keep an eye on what the driver incentives are too
Is It Worth Driving for Uber Eats?
Uber Eats won’t be a full-time job for everyone, but it could be a reliable source of part-time income. For anyone seeking flexibility, freedom and relatively low barriers to entry to the gig economy, driving for Uber Eats is worth it.
A lot of drivers discover that by driving at peak times and utilizing intelligent delivery tactics, they can make good money per delivery and per hour consistently.
Bottom Line
So, what do Uber Eats drivers earn per delivery? The average is $9 to $10, but when you strategically plan and take advantage of promotions, incentives, and customer tips, you could earn significantly more.
If you’re thinking about becoming an Uber Eats driver in 2025, it’s a good time to give it a go. With flexible hours, a series of frequent promotions, and tools such as route planners that can make one’s deliveries more efficient, many drivers are thriving on the platform.