"$18/hour" sounds great — until you subtract gas, taxes, car wear, and the time you spent waiting. Find out what you're actually making.
Enter your numbers — we'll show what you actually earn
| Platform | Avg App Rate | Est. True Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 👤 You | — | — |
| 🍕 DoorDash (avg) | $18–$22/hr | $10–$14/hr |
| 🚘 Uber (avg) | $20–$25/hr | $12–$16/hr |
| 🛒 Instacart (avg) | $17–$22/hr | $11–$15/hr |
| 📦 Amazon Flex | $18–$25/hr | $12–$17/hr |
DoorDash might tell you that you earned $22 per hour last week. But that number doesn't account for the $70 you spent on gas, the $30 in car wear your vehicle silently absorbed, the 2 hours you spent waiting for orders, or the $120 you'll owe in self-employment tax on that income. When you do that math, $22/hour can quickly become $11 or $12 — sometimes less.
This isn't a conspiracy — it's just how the platforms report earnings. They show you gross revenue during "on-trip" time. You're responsible for calculating everything else. That's what this calculator is for.
Based on driver surveys and expense analysis, most experienced gig workers net between $10 and $17 per hour after all real costs. Amazon Flex tends to pay the most reliably, while food delivery in low-density areas can fall below $10/hour after expenses in some markets.
A true hourly rate above $15 after all costs is generally considered strong for gig work. Below $12 and you're approaching minimum wage territory in most states — at which point it may be worth reconsidering which platform, city, or time of day you're working.
Platforms report gross on-trip earnings because that's the most favorable number — it's what they use in marketing ("earn up to $25/hour!"). They're not obligated to show you net earnings after expenses, and doing so would make their platforms look less attractive. It's on each driver to understand the full cost picture, which is exactly what this calculator is designed to help with.
For the purposes of this calculator, include all miles driven once you open the app, including positioning miles to a busy area. For tax deductions specifically, only miles driven after your first order acceptance of the day are clearly deductible — though there is some nuance. When in doubt, consult a tax professional about your specific situation.
The simplest method is to use the IRS standard mileage rate ($0.70/mile in 2026), which is designed to cover all vehicle operating costs including depreciation. For this calculator we use a percentage of your miles based on vehicle type to estimate weekly wear cost. For tax purposes, stick with the standard mileage deduction — it's simpler and covers the same costs.
It depends entirely on your market, hours, and how well you manage expenses and taxes. At $14–$17/true-hour in a strong market with good deduction tracking, gig work can be competitive with many part-time or entry-level W-2 jobs — with the added benefit of flexibility. Below $12/true-hour, you're likely better off finding supplemental W-2 income, especially given the lack of benefits.
Running two or more gig apps simultaneously — accepting orders from whichever platform offers the best rate at any given moment — is the most effective way to increase your true hourly rate without working more hours. Experienced multi-appers often report 20–35% higher effective earnings. The tradeoff is complexity, potential platform violations (check each app's TOS), and higher cognitive load.