How much you make from uber eats

Uber Eats is the second biggest online food delivery service in the US. Though the acquisition of Postmates in 2020 helped the company to expand market share, it is still not enough to overtake DoorDash as the market leader.

Nevertheless, Uber Eats is growing—and fast. With the acquisition of Postmates, Uber Eats is attempting to position itself as the only real alternative to DoorDash.

But you’re probably wondering:  

  • What does all this mean for delivery drivers and their earnings? 
  • How much can you earn as an Uber Eats driver? 
  • Is driving for Uber Eats worth it in 2022? 

Let’s take a look at the data from 250,000 real Gridwise drivers to find the answers. 

How much does Uber Eats pay?

Just like DoorDash, driver pay on Uber Eats consists of three core components: standard delivery fare, customer tips, and promotions. 

Standard delivery fare includes flat amounts for each pickup and drop-off and is calculated by using trip distance and time. Promotions include conditional bonus payments for completing a set number of deliveries in a certain amount of time or for driving during busy times in certain locations. 

Uber Eats guarantees higher rates for delivering in specific areas and times to balance driver demand and supply. This incentive is Uber’s take on DoorDash’s Peak Pay, also known as Boost.

According to the data, Uber Eats drivers earned, on average, $9.37 per trip and $15.84 per hour so far in 2022. 

How much you make from uber eats

How much you make from uber eats

With those numbers, it ranks second in earnings per trip and first in earnings per hour when compared to DoorDash and Grubhub.

Uber Eats drivers also received an average tip of $4.90 per trip this year.

How much you make from uber eats

Uber Eats drivers monthly take home pay is less than most other rideshare and delivery drivers, with the median monthly pay ranging from $114-$130.

How much you make from uber eats

Overall, the total trip count on Uber Eats has also fallen consistently. A survey of Gridwise drivers indicates that drivers are restricting how often they’re on the road to cut down on gas costs. Although their driving has decreased, these stats show that Uber Eats drivers are still making the same amount of money despite accepting fewer trips.

What factors impact Uber Eats driver earnings?

  • Where you drive – Your location is easily the most important factor in determining your earnings as an Uber and Uber Eats driver. Our analysis of earnings data confirmed this by showing variances in driver pay across different cities. But generally, you earn more in urban areas and less in rural areas.
  • When you drive – Driving when demand is high improves your earnings through surge pricing and promotions. You can earn more if you’re willing to forgo some of the flexibility of driving on your own terms. 
  • How often you drive – Drive more. Earn more. It’s that simple! Strategizing to improve your earnings per trip and per hour will not yield much if you aren’t spending enough time behind the wheel.

What are the most significant expenses for Uber Eats drivers?

Gross earnings alone never tell the whole story about your gig earnings. You have to consider all the expenses involved to know your take-home wages. 

And that’s not always simple. You have to carefully track of all your expenses (the Gridwise app can help) to accurately calculate your net earnings from the job. Some of the most common expenses include:

  • vehicle financing or rental costs
  • registration and licensing costs
  • vehicle maintenance 
  • vehicle repair costs
  • vehicle depreciation costs
  • phone bill, taxes, insurance, and other operating expenses
  • the opportunity cost of your time and resources
  • medical expenses 

Though most drivers do a good job of tracking their direct and recurring expenses, hidden expenses like vehicle depreciation don’t get the same treatment. 

According to AAA , depreciation can account for nearly 36% of the total vehicle ownership costs in a year. Still, most drivers don’t account for this expense according to the Wall Street Journal. 

Have the rising gas prices impacted driver earnings?

The national average price for regular gas rose by 43.65% (nearly 45%) in a year, going from $2.864/gal to $4.114/gal, according to data from AAA. 

The price of diesel saw an even bigger surge during the same period, jumping from $3.083/gal to $5.042/gal in a year, which translates to a staggering increase of 63.54%.

This sharp rise in fuel prices adversely affects the net earnings of all gig economy drivers, including those delivering for Uber Eats. 

In an effort to reduce the burden and keep drivers on the road, Uber has started charging customers a fuel surcharge of either $0.45 or $0.55 on every Uber trip and $0.35 or $0.45 on every Uber Eats delivery, with all the money going to drivers. 

The exact rates depend on the location and will take into account the average trip distance and increase in gas prices in different states. This temporary relief measure came into effect on March 16, 2022, and will last for a minimum of 60 days, after which Uber will reassess its driver relief program.

Here are a few other options available to help drivers stay on the road despite rising costs:

  • join Gridwise for to access driver-specific benefits.
  • sign up for our free Gridwise Gas program to get discounts on fuel.
  • use Gridwise mileage tracker for Uber Eats to save on taxes.
  • follow our guides for tips on lowering fuel costs.
  • qualify for the Uber Eats Pro benefits program for better rates and more trips.

So, is it worth driving for Uber Eats in 2022?

Though Uber Eats drivers earn more per hour, overall earnings are fairly consistent across the major food delivery apps.

If you’re deciding between Uber Eats and another service like rideshare or package delivery, it’s worth noting that food delivery pays the lowest per hour. 

A hybrid business that includes food delivery during peak hours but focuses more on high-earning gigs like rideshare and packages is likely the best option. For this tactic, Uber does come out on top since drivers can easily switch between rideshare and food delivery jobs in a single platform.

We’d love to hear your experience as a driver! Join and share with our driver community on Facebook! 

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