How Much Do DoorDash Drivers Make in 2024?
DoorDash is one of the most popular food delivery platforms in the world, with over 20 million customers and 1 million drivers. But how much do DoorDash drivers actually make? Is it worth signing up as a Dasher and delivering food to hungry customers? In this blog post, we will explore the factors that affect DoorDash driver pay, the average earnings of Dashers, and some tips and tricks to maximize your income with DoorDash.
How DoorDash Driver Pay Works
DoorDash driver pay is made up of three components: base pay, tips, and promotions. Let’s take a look at each of them in detail.
Base Pay
Base pay is DoorDash’s base contribution for each order. This will range from $2-10+ depending on the estimated time, distance, and desirability of the order. Deliveries that require Dashers to travel a longer distance, that are expected to take more time, and that are less popular with Dashers will have a higher base pay. Base pay will not change based on the customer tip amount.
Tips
Tips are the extra money that customers can choose to give to Dashers when they place or complete an order. Dashers receive 100% of the tips received by DoorDash. The amount of tips can vary widely depending on the customer’s generosity, the quality of service, and the size of the order. Some customers may tip before the delivery, while others may tip after the delivery. Dashers can see the total amount of tips they receive in their earnings tab in the Dasher app.
Promotions
Promotions are additional pay for orders that meet certain conditions, such as delivering during peak hours, completing a certain number of deliveries in a set period of time, or accepting and completing consecutive orders. Promotions can help Dashers earn more money per delivery and increase their overall earnings. Promotions can vary by location, time, and Dasher eligibility. Dashers can see the available promotions in their Dasher app and accept the ones that suit their schedule and preferences.
How Much Do DoorDash Drivers Make on Average?
According to DoorDash, the average Dasher earns about $18 per hour, including tips and promotions. However, this number can vary depending on several factors, such as the location, the demand, the frequency, and the type of deliveries. Some Dashers may earn more than $18 per hour, while others may earn less. The best way to find out how much you can make as a Dasher is to try it out for yourself and track your earnings.
How to Increase Your DoorDash Driver Pay
If you want to earn more money as a Dasher, here are some tips and tricks that can help you optimize your earnings:
- Plan your schedule around peak times, such as lunch and dinner hours, weekends, holidays, and special events. These are the times when the demand for food delivery is high and you can get more orders and higher base pay and tips.
- Choose the right deliveries for you. You can see the estimated earnings, distance, and time for each delivery offer in your Dasher app. You can accept or decline any offer based on your preferences and goals. You can also use the filter feature to set your preferred delivery types, such as fast food, grocery, alcohol, etc.
- Use the promotions feature to find and accept offers that have extra pay incentives, such as peak pay, challenges, and delivery streaks. These can help you boost your earnings per delivery and earn bonuses for completing certain tasks.
- Provide excellent service to your customers. This can increase your chances of getting positive ratings, reviews, and tips. You can do this by being polite, professional, and communicative, following the customer’s instructions, delivering the food on time and in good condition, and thanking the customer for their order.
- Track your expenses and taxes. As an independent contractor, you are responsible for paying your own taxes and expenses, such as gas, car maintenance, insurance, etc. You can use apps like Gridwise or Stride to track your mileage, earnings, and expenses, and get tax deductions and savings.
Final Verdict: Pros and Cons of DoorDash Driver Pay
Table
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Flexible schedule: You can work whenever and wherever you want, as much or as little as you want. | Inconsistent income: Your earnings can vary depending on the demand, the tips, and the promotions. |
| Easy to sign up: You just need to meet the basic requirements, such as being 18 years or older, having a valid driver’s license, and passing a background check. | High competition: You may face a lot of competition from other Dashers, especially in busy areas and peak times. |
| Variety of deliveries: You can deliver different types of food from various restaurants and merchants, and discover new places and cuisines. | Wear and tear on your vehicle: You may have to drive a lot of miles and deal with traffic, parking, and weather conditions, which can affect your vehicle’s condition and performance. |
| Customer interaction: You can meet and interact with different customers and make their day with a delicious meal. | Customer issues: You may encounter some customers who are rude, unresponsive, or unhappy with their order, and have to deal with complaints and low ratings. |
Summary
DoorDash driver pay is composed of base pay, tips, and promotions. The average Dasher earns about $18 per hour, but this can vary depending on several factors. To increase your DoorDash driver pay, you can plan your schedule, choose the right deliveries, use the promotions, provide excellent service, and track your expenses and taxes. DoorDash driver pay has its pros and cons, and you should weigh them carefully before deciding to become a Dasher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions and answers about DoorDash driver pay:
- How do I get paid by DoorDash? You can get paid by DoorDash through direct deposit to your bank account every week, or through Fast Pay or DasherDirect for daily deposits (for a small fee).
- How do I see my earnings on DoorDash? You can see your earnings on DoorDash by tapping the “Earnings” tab in your Dasher app. You can see your earnings for each delivery, each day, each week, and each month. You can also see your tips, promotions, and ratings.
- How do I increase my tips on DoorDash? You can increase your tips on DoorDash by providing excellent service to your customers, such as being polite, professional, and communicative, following the customer’s instructions, delivering the food on time and in good condition, and thanking the customer for their order. You can also use a thermal bag to keep the food hot or cold, and wear a DoorDash shirt or hat to look more official.
- How do I get more orders on DoorDash? You can get more orders on DoorDash by dashing during peak times, such as lunch and dinner hours, weekends, holidays, and special events. You can also dash in busy areas, such as downtown, college campuses, or shopping malls. You can also use the filter feature to set your preferred delivery types, such as fast food, grocery, alcohol, etc. You can also accept more offers and maintain a high acceptance rate.