DoorDash is one of the most popular food delivery services, providing a convenient way for people to get meals from local restaurants delivered right to their door. For drivers, working for DoorDash can be a lucrative side hustle or even a full-time job. But how much money can you really make delivering for DoorDash? Let’s take a closer look at how the pay structure works and how much high earning DoorDash drivers are making.
How Does DoorDash Driver Pay Work?
DoorDash pays drivers using a base pay + tips model. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
- Base Pay: DoorDash provides a guaranteed base pay per order. This usually ranges from $2-10 depending on factors like estimated time, distance, and desirability of the order.
- Promotions: DoorDash frequently offers promotions like guaranteed minimum earnings per order or peak pay bonuses.
- Tips: Customers have the option to tip you through the app. Tips make up the majority of earnings for most drivers.
- Bonus Pay: Occasionally DoorDash offers challenges or bonuses for completing a certain number of orders in a set time.
The base pay aims to cover the basic costs of completing an order, while tips are intended to be the driver’s actual profit. DoorDash also uses data like acceptance rates and customer ratings to determine access to priority orders that tend to be more valuable.
How Much Do Top DoorDash Drivers Make?
Obviously earnings can vary significantly depending on your market, hours worked, and efficiency. However, here are some reported earnings from top DoorDash drivers:
- Part-Time: $15-25/hour on average
- Full-Time: $20-35/hour on average
- Top Dashers: $25-45/hour at peak times
While part-time and full-time drivers can earn a respectable hourly wage, the top DoorDash drivers really optimize every advantage and strategy to earn upwards of $30-45 per hour during peak times like dinner rushes and weekends.
Factors That Affect DoorDash Driver Earnings
There are several key factors that determine how much money you can make delivering for DoorDash including:
- Your Market – Busy urban areas with lots of restaurants generally have more orders and higher tips.
- Times You Dash – Peak meal times like breakfast, lunch and dinner tend to be the most lucrative.
- Acceptance Rate – Maintaining a high acceptance rate gives access to priority orders.
- Customer Rating – A high rating (4.7 or above) also provides access to better orders.
- Efficiency – Minimizing wait times at restaurants and optimizing routes earns you more per hour.
Top earners optimize for each of these factors to maximize their hourly earnings potential.
Strategies Used by Top DoorDash Drivers
So what are some of the key strategies used by the top DoorDash drivers to earn $25-45 per hour?
Being Selective With Orders
One of the biggest keys to earning more per hour on DoorDash is being highly selective with the orders you accept. Top Dashers tend to decline any orders with low pay, high mileage, or restaurants with slow service. This ensures they maximize the number of profitable orders completed each hour. Declining poor orders also helps maintain a high completion rate which gives access to better orders.
Only Dashing At Peak Times
The most lucrative DoorDash driving times are Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons when dinner orders are at a peak. Top earners will often only drive during these busy meal times to earn more per hour and avoid wasting time during slow periods.
Multi-apping
Many top earners use multiple apps like DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub simultaneously to maximize the number of orders they can receive per hour. Having multiple delivery apps provides more options to only accept the most profitable deliveries.
Memorizing Maps and Shortcuts
Learning your delivery region inside and out helps optimize routes and minimize drive time between stops. Top earners memorize maps and shortcuts around their zone to deliver orders more quickly and efficiently.
Tracking Miles for Tax Deductions
DoorDash drivers are independent contractors so they can write off work-related mileage on their taxes which reduces their overall taxable income. Savvy Dashers use apps to meticulously track mileage for these substantial tax deductions.
Is Being a Top DoorDash Driver Achievable?
Becoming a top DoorDash earner making $25-45 an hour takes work, but it absolutely attainable for drivers willing to put in the effort. It requires optimizing every variable including when, where and how you Dash. It may take some time to learn the ropes, build knowledge of your delivery area, and establish great customer ratings. But with diligence, the top tier earnings Reported by top Dashers are possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do average DoorDash drivers make?
The average DoorDash driver earns $15-25 per hour depending on factors like location and time worked. Part-time drivers tend to earn around $15-20 per hour, while full-time drivers can earn $20-25 per hour on average.
How much do DoorDash drivers make per delivery?
DoorDash drivers earn an average of $5-10 per delivery in base pay and tips. Each delivery can pay out anywhere from $2-$20+ depending on distance, duration and tip amount. Higher paying orders generally involve driving farther distances.
How much do DoorDash drivers make per month?
Most DoorDash drivers earn between $500 to $2,000 per month. Part-time drivers typically earn around $500-$1,000 per month working under 20 hours per week. Full-time drivers make $1,500-$2,000 per month working over 40 hours per week.
Do DoorDash drivers get hourly pay or just per delivery?
DoorDash drivers only get paid per delivery – they do not receive an hourly wage. Their per delivery earnings include base pay from DoorDash and tips from customers.
What expenses do DoorDash drivers get?
DoorDash drivers are independent contractors so they are responsible for all job expenses. This includes gas, vehicle maintenance, insurance, phone data, and other costs incurred while Dashings. They also have to pay self-employment taxes.
Is DoorDash a good full-time job?
For some, DoorDash can be a lucrative full-time job, especially in busier markets. It offers flexible scheduling and average earnings of $20-$30 per hour. However, there are challenges like covering contractor expenses and inconsistent income.
Conclusion
While hourly earnings can vary, top DoorDash drivers are able to consistently earn $25-$45 per hour by working during peak times, optimizing their delivery routes, maintaining great metrics, and leveraging multiple apps. It requires diligence and efficiency, but the high hourly earnings reported by top Dashers are achievable for dedicated drivers. At the end of the day, DoorDash can be a great opportunity to earn solid income with the flexibility of being your own boss if you’re willing to hustle.