How Much Does DoorDash Pay?

If you're exploring ways to rake in some extra cash, becoming a DoorDash driver could be an attractive option. Being part of the more than seven million drivers worldwide who make deliveries through the popular food ordering and delivery platform means you can make supplemental income on your own time. 

But how much does DoorDash pay? Here, we'll cover how much you can make while dashing, DoorDash's way of calculating pay, and tips and tricks to earn more. 

How much can you make with DoorDash and factors that influence pay

As for DoorDash driver hourly pay, on average, you can expect to earn $16.61 an hour as a Dasher, per data from Indeed. In California, the average hourly wage is $19.91, while in Alabama, it dips to $13.30. 

How much you can expect to earn dashing can range widely and hinges on a handful of factors:

• Number of deliveries completed. The more deliveries you complete, the higher your earnings. 
• Location. The Dasher app features a heatmap that shows you areas that are "busy" or "very busy." You can make the most of the heatmap by taking advantage of high demand and plotting out your deliveries so that you can finish a higher volume of deliveries in a shorter amount of time. 
• Time of day. The time of day you're making deliveries can also impact your earnings. 
• Customer service ratings. With many fellow Dashers, customer reviews count. High ratings can boost your odds of snagging more customers and raking in more tips. 
• Seasonality. Busier times of the year mean more opportunities to pick up delivery jobs on Doordash. 
• Size of the order. As with takeout or dine-in, customers will generally tip Dashers a percentage of the total order. Therefore, a larger order can mean a larger tip. 

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How DoorDash calculates pay 

Your base pay, tips and promotions is how much you'll earn as a Dasher. 

What is the DoorDash base pay?

All offers have a base pay. There are two options for a base pay: 

Flat rate per delivery or task

Any offer you accept has base pay. The actual amount varies between $2.00 and $10.00 (and sometimes more) and depends on three main criteria: the estimated time, distance, and desirability. Desirability simply refers to the likelihood that you will accept the delivery or task.

Hourly wage

You also have the option to get paid hourly. If you select the "Earn by Time" option, you'll receive a guaranteed hourly rate before you start. The rate can change throughout the day, but once you accept the hourly rate, it's locked in for the duration of the session. 

You have the option to accept or decline one offer per hour. If you opt out of more than one offer per hour, your "Earn by Time" session will end. 

Tips

You'll get all of the customer tips sent your way on the DoorDash platform. 

Promotions

DoorDash offers what it calls "Plus Promotions," which include Peak Pay, Challenges, and Delivery Streaks. 

As the term implies, "Peak Pay" is when you get paid more per delivery or gig. Challenges give you the opportunity to rake in more money if you finish a set number of tasks or deliveries within a given period. Delivery Streaks are promotions where you can earn more when you accept and finish offers in a row. 

How frequently DoorDash pays 

When it comes to how fast you can get your earnings, there are three options: 

Weekly. This is the standard option. Typically, you can get paid weekly via direct deposit. 

Daily. If you'd like to receive your earnings sooner, you can pick "Fast Pay" which drops the funds into your account once a day. There is a fee of $1.99 per transfer (note this is currently only available for Dashers in the U.S. and Canada). 

Instantly. If you have a DasherDirect prepaid Visa business card, you can get paid instantly. This is a fee-free option. There's no annual fee, and as of right now, the DasherDirect card is only available to U.S. Dashers. 

How to earn more with DoorDash

In many ways, making the most as a Dasher is a game of strategy. To earn more, consider doing the following: 

• Work during peak periods. Peak periods typically include lunch and dinner time, and during the holidays. This will make it easier to scoop up more offers in the same stretch of time. 
• Focus on efficiency. Plan routes to bump down your travel time and how much gas you use. Accept orders that are within a certain vicinity. Consider prioritizing offers from merchants that are higher-end or whose customers tend to make larger orders. 
• Hone in on hotspots. The DoorDash app's heatmap will point you to areas with a higher volume of orders.
• Keep up a strong customer rating. A streak of high ratings and stellar customer reviews can make it more likely for you to be offered an order during slower periods. Also, it can increase your odds of netting more in tips. 
• Scoop up promotions. Keep an eye out for DoorDash promotions, like bonuses, peak pay, and challenges, which can help you earn more for the same amount of work. 
• Switch to "Earn by Time" mode during slower periods. When there's a lull in offers, toggling to the hourly base pay mode can help you make more than waiting around. 
• Be clued into your tax write-offs. To keep more of the money earned from Dashing, be aware of your tax deductions.This may include car-related expenses for your side hustle, such as insurance, maintenance and repairs, parking fees, title and registration fees, tolls, roadside assistance, and gas. You can likely take a mileage deduction.
• Factor in your expenses. To know your pay, you must also know your expenses. This includes car maintenance and repairs, gas, insurance, parking and tolls, roadside assistance, and supplies and equipment you use on the job. 

The good news is that the DoorDash platform makes it easy for you to preview your weekly earnings. To ensure that "the juice is worth the squeeze,” be aware of your expenses and write-offs. This will help you figure out your "true earnings." 

Getting your head around how much DoorDash pays, using tactics to boost your earnings and staying on top of tax deductions could make being a Dasher worth your while. You'll want to weigh the pros and cons and know how this side hustle fits into your overall financial goals.