If you're already familiar with the ride-sharing app Uber, well, Uber Eats is no different.

With the rising Millenials and convenience on top of mind, there is a quick pace in the food delivery industry.

Even more, when the pandemic hit. Most people would stay home and go for delivery services, thus allowing you as a driver to make money.

Whether you are interested in signing up as an Uber Eats driver or curious how it works, you are ultimately in the right place on the web.

Let's find out how much do Uber Eats drivers make and whether it is the right gig for you.

What is Uber Eats?

Uber Eats is the food delivery platform counterpart of the ride-sharing app, Uber. With Uber Eats, you can make money and work as much as you can. The system is almost the same as any other food delivery apps. You log in, accept orders, drive over to the restaurant, pick up the food, and deliver it straight to the customer.

You log into the app when you want to work and log out once done.

Besides that, Uber Eats is currently operational in over 670 cities in 20 different countries. Its food delivery channels include cars, bikes, scooters, and on foot.

Related: How much do Grubhub drivers make? Grubhub Review 2021

How much do Uber Eats Drivers Make?

First of all, you have to understand that you must consider factors to justify how much you'll earn driving at Uber Eats. Some drivers reported they receive lower than minimum wage, while others are content with the generous tips.

Plus, depending on how busier your area is or where your current location is, pay varies. However, considering the vehicle expenses, the average payout for an Uber Eats driver is around $8-$12.

How much does Uber Eats pay its drivers?

As mentioned above, Uber Eats has a system followed for coming up with your payment (more on it below). Your payment is weekly, every Monday, and if you want to get your earnings immediately, you can instantly cash it out up to five times within the day.

You'll receive your money via direct deposit after 3-5 working days. Also, customers will pay tips in-app or via cash, and then you can keep it all to yourself. Here's how Uber Eats computes for your pay.

Breakdown of factors affecting pay

• Pickup fee– it is the money you get for every pick-up order from a restaurant. Picking up orders is not limited to one. You may have to pick up multiple orders at the same time from the same restaurant.
• Mileage fee– this payout entails the total distance from pickup to dropoff points. You may want to look into whether Uber offers mileage pay in your respective city. Once you sign up to drive, you'll receive more information about your delivery location and pay rates.
• Drop-off fee– also known as the delivery fee; you receive this for each separate order you deliver.
• Service fee– Uber calls its delivery drivers “partners.” It charges a 25% fee (depends on your vehicle of choice) on its partners' fares.
• Boost fee– Boost is a feature to help you position yourself in the best places at the best times. With Boost, there is a multiplier applied to your fare at peak times in specific areas. The busier the pickup area is, the higher the Boost. This means you will make more money per delivery when and where demand is expected to be high, and you will see the Boost applied to your fares in real-time.
• Tips– The last criteria in determining your pay is the added tips. Any tips you earn adds up to your standard pay rate. Plus, you are entitled 100% for all the tips that you make. However, customer tips are not guaranteed.

Expenses to Expect as an Uber Eats Driver

When looking at how much do Uber Eats drivers make, it is also crucial to consider driver's expenses. Remember, as an Uber Eats driver, you work as an independent contractor, meaning Uber does not reimburse you for any costs incurred during deliveries.

And, what exactly are those expenses? Here are the common ones.

1. Gas – Indeed, gas expenses will eat into your profits. That is why you must switch to a fuel-efficient vehicle and drive efficiently. Nowadays, gas is costly.
2. Vehicle Maintenance – Since you are using your vehicle for deliveries, yours should be reliable and in an up and running condition. Maintenance like oil changes, new tires, and replacement of worn-out parts are some of the things you may encounter and deal with within yourself. However, you can compromise by learning this skill to do it yourself.
3. Auto Loan Payments and Insurance – If you are using a car for deliveries, you must include auto loan payments and car insurance in your expense list. Although you are transporting less risky foods than passengers, you still have to maintain state minimum coverage. Don't forget about these expenses when figuring out how much do Uber Eats drivers make.
4. Taxes – You have to pay taxes on your Uber Eats earnings, so be sure to set aside money and file this yourself.

How does Driving for Uber Eats Work?

Like many other delivery apps, Uber Eats works the same. There is no scheduled time to work; you open the app, log in, accept orders, head over to the restaurant, deliver it, and get your pay.

As long as you're online and close to restaurants that use Uber Eats, you'll get matched with any delivery requests near you. Then, after you accept the order, navigate to the restaurant using the in-app GPS instructions.

Once you arrived at the place, check for the order and any delivery notes or instructions by the customer and pick up the order once it is ready. (Don't forget to update the status, so your customers get notified).

After you pick up the order, it's time again to hit the road. Once you arrive at the customer's destination, follow the customer's notes whether to place the order at their door, wait in your car, or drop it off for a no-contact delivery.

In cases where the customer suddenly cancels the order right after you picked up the order, you will receive a payment equivalent to the pickup fee + dropoff fee + estimated mileage fee. On the other hand, you can cancel the order and safely discard the food for no-show-up customers, then still get paid.

How to Maximize your Earnings as an Uber Eats Driver

• Choose a Working area and stick to it– it makes sense to standby on places nearby your location or surroundings; you know the ins and outs. That way, you'll deliver faster.
• Boost Feature– you can increase your earnings by going into Boost Zones which have multiple deliveries. You can easily see these Boost Zones in the app. The good thing about these boost zones is that it boosts or multiplies the ride's net-fare after Uber has deducted its fees.
• Take on more batched orders– if you're lucky, you may encounter multiple or batched orders from the same restaurant and get an additional boost in your delivery fee.
• Make Deliveries Fast– Since payment in Uber Eats is mostly based on mileage and time, it definitely makes sense to be an efficient driver.
• Get Surge earnings by delivering during peak demand times– Surge price occurs when there is a high demand for food deliveries. Again, the Surge multiplier will reflect on the net amount of fare. If you strategized to deliver during peak and demanding hours, of course, it means more money.
• Be very polite to customers– Anyone will appreciate excellent customer service. So, treat your customers with respect and follow any notes they may have during deliveries. Who knows, you may boost your tips!
• Take on Uber Ridesharing too– To double the fun, why not be an Uber Driver also? Well, for passengers! No worries because Uber allows you to become their partner, whether in transporting people or foods. It's now time to make more money!

How to become an Uber Eats Driver

Uber Eats Driver Requirements

Interested in how to become an Uber Eats driver? Here are the minimum driver requirements.

Related reads: How To Make The Most Money As An Instacart Shopper

Who Pays More, Uber Eats, or Door Dash?

Doordash, which is another food delivery app, is one direct competitor of Uber Eats. The average pay for both is the same, ranging from $12-$15 per hour. Also, both allow drivers to keep all their tips.

Is Driving for Uber Eats Worth it?

Definitely! Uber Eats lets you work at your convenience hassle-free. There is no need for scheduling or anything like that. You open the Uber Eats app, go online and do your work, or choose to pause for a day or two and go back to work again. Plus, you can top up by using the ride-sharing option too!

Pros of working as an Uber Eats Driver

Here are some of the likable parts when choosing to work as an Uber Eats driver (plus reviews from actual drivers)

• Easy money.
• No prepaid card requirements.
• Flexible working hours.
• In-app tipping.

Reviews from real Uber Eats drivers

“They make the standard Uber amount per mile and per minute for the drive from when they picked up the food to the dropoff point. Those rates are different in each area. Here in Utah, it's $0.7125 a mile and $0.0825 a minute. There's always a minimum, so if it's really short, we get at least $3 (that amount can vary by area)”

“There are always promotions, for the past several months, and all daytime deliveries are multiplied by 1.6, so the minimum is $5.06; all nighttime deliveries have an extra $5.”

“There are surge prices; if there are more requests than drivers, it will be multiplied between 1.1 to 5.0. Personally, I make $20 an hour.”

Cons of working as an Uber Eats Driver

We all know that not everything is made up of butterflies and roses. Read below a few of unlikeable stuff in Uber Eats, plus reviews from drivers.

• The payout can be lower than the minimum wage if your area isn't busy.
• Parking space, and trouble when customers are not picking up calls.
• Car maintenance, fuel costs, and other driving expenses all at your end.
• Waiting periods.
• Pay varies per state and is based on mileage and time.

“I'm in San Francisco Bay Area, and I average about $6 per delivery. In comparison, I average about $10 per delivery with DoorDash. My recommendation is to do a few Uber Eats deliveries in conjunction with Uber. If you want to do just deliveries, you're better off with DoorDash since they pay more.”

“It depends on the day, time of day, and how many trips you complete. When I go out for driving, I make $280 (before taxes are set aside) in about 10 hours while spending $8 in gas.”

“I have gotten some decent tips from doing Uber Eats, but in all reality, less than 10% of the time, people tip. How do not tip the person bringing you food at  3 a.m.?”

FAQs

Can someone else ride with me while driving for Uber eats?

With Uber Eats, you are allowed to have someone in the vehicle while doing deliveries- a friend, a spouse, whatnot. Again, you are allowed to have someone with you. When you are doing delivery, it is acceptable to have a helper. Especially when there are little or no parking spaces available, or you are running up to the 27th floor delivering an ice cream cone to a client, etc.

You may also happen to give a ride to someone you know, and the place is where you are also making deliveries, which makes the job fun.

Conversely, on the Uber ride-sharing platform, you are not allowed to have anyone else with you.

Does Uber Cover Your Expenses?

No. Unfortunately, Uber does not compensate you for any vehicle expenses like gas, fuel, insurance, and maintenance. This is why you have to take all this expense into account when deciding to take the driving gig.

Can you drive for Uber Eats Without driving for Uber?

Yes, you can. These two platforms are separate yet operate and share with the same brand. Uber for ride-sharing while Uber Eats for online food delivery. Besides, even if you don't have a car, you can still deliver for Uber Eats via motorbike or bicycle.

Do UberEats drivers get paid for waiting?

No. The Wait Time Fees of Uber are only for selected Uber brands such as uberX, uberXL, UberSELECT, UberASSIST, UberBLACK, and UberLUX. With that, if your waiting time exceeds 10-15 minutes, you can cancel the delivery or reach out to Uber support. Although this isn't entirely clear why Uber Eats does not pay for the driver's waiting time, some drivers reported that food orders aren't ready for pick up yet, when they arrive at the restaurant and wait for more than 15 minutes to pick it up.

Wrapping Up

Deciding to be an Uber Eats driver can be a promising money-making opportunity, especially if you have nothing to do during your downtime or looking for ways to monetize your car asset.

The flexibility it offers and the practical ways to increase earnings by going Uber Eats and Uber ride-share at the same time can bring a large amount of pay. However, if you do the math and if in the cost-benefit analysis, the cons outweigh the pros, you'll be better off with other delivery apps out there growing like a mushroom.

Aside from that, UberEATS was the most popular food delivery app, followed by Grubhub and DoorDash.

The good news is that you can sign up for both! But, make sure to take care of your health and take note of the expenses along the way.

We hope you learned from this Uber Eats review. If you had experience in the app, share it with us by commenting down below.

If you are looking for ways to make extra money, try Uber Eats delivery now or check out some helpful tips in this blog.

Happy Riding!