DoorDash hourly earnings are the great equalizer, an even playing field for comparing full-time and part-time drivers. For this reason, we are taking a close look at, how much do DoorDash drivers make per hour?
As we look at these numbers, you should know that they come from the over 500,000 gig drivers, both full-time and part-time, who have downloaded the Gridwise app. Gridwise aggregates and anonymizes the numbers to give you the best picture of DoorDash driver earnings.
Here's what we cover:
This blog post has lots of good information, but if you want to know more, you can check out the Gridwise post 2023 Doordash Earnings Report. You can also compare your earnings to what other drivers earned in 2022 in this Gridwise blog post, DoorDash Driver Pay: What Do Dashers Earn in 2023? While this blog post focuses on how much DoorDash drivers make per hour, high-performing drivers find it important to understand all aspects of Dasher earnings. Gridwise examines these aspects in other blog posts.
- How much do DoorDash drivers earn per day?
- How much do DoorDash drivers earn per delivery?
- How much do DoorDash drivers earn before tips?
DoorDash driver earning numbers per hour
Source: Gridwise Analytics. Graph also appears in 2023 Doordash Earnings Report.
How much do DoorDash drivers make? DoorDash hourly earnings for the last seven quarters, ending in Q3 of this year, averaged $15.20 to $16.00 per hour. Notice that rates increased during the first and fourth quarters, which run concurrently with the football season and the holidays. We don’t see the same increases during March Madness or baseball season for DoorDash drivers (or Dashers, as DoorDash refers to them).
Food delivery is one of many gig driver jobs that sees a positive impact from football season. A recent Gridwise post, The Impact of Pro Football Home Kickoff Games on Gig Mobility Demand, shows a marked increase in rideshare business.
Keep in mind that these numbers represent the average. High-performing DoorDash Dashers, those in the 90th percentile, earn as much as $20 or more per hour. Dashers in the largest metropolitan areas earn even more. Becoming a high-performing driver may answer your question, Is DoorDash worth it?
As we said in the first paragraph, hourly earnings are the great equalizer between all DoorDash drivers, full- and part-time. For a different perspective on how to look at DoorDash earnings, see the Gridwise post, 2023 Doordash Earnings Report.
DoorDash driver earnings averages across cities per hour
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The per-hour numbers you saw in the first chart represent a national average. Earnings at all levels for gig drivers vary geographically, and Gridwise can break it down per city. The major metropolitan cities have the highest earning rates because of their sheer density. The volume and variety of restaurants also drive this higher rate.
Large suburbs, carpeted with homes, surround many of these cities. These smaller, densely packed communities attract many restaurants, too.
For those drivers not based in a major metropolitan area, DoorDash launched an Earn by Time feature for drivers this past June 27. Read about it in the Gridwise blog post Gig Worker News: DoorDash Offers Hourly Pay to Dashers.
Busiest times of the day for DoorDash drivers
| DoorDash peak times | Total hours | Earnings | Comments |
| Lunch (11:30 am–1:30 pm) | 2 hrs. × 5 days a week = 10 hrs. | $200 | Weekends tend to eliminate the business lunch crowd. |
| Dinner (5:00 pm–9:00 pm) | 4 hrs. × 7 days a week = 28 hrs. | $560 | Hours may vary in your region. |
| Late night | 1.5 hrs. × 7 days a week = 10.5 hrs. | $210 | If your territory includes colleges and universities, you’ll get good results in this time block. |
| Totals | 48.5 hours | $970 |
Chart initially published in How to Make $1000 a Week with DoorDash
Food delivery is not a 24/7 job. Yes, there are those odd orders at 4:00 in the morning or 3:00 in the afternoon, but you can generally rely on lunch and dinner as your peak times.
The exception to this is when there are major sporting events. These are more likely to carry the food delivery demand through a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Also, remember that football is a weekend-long pursuit. College games are on Saturdays, professional games on Sundays, and football games on Monday and Thursday nights.
What do food delivery drivers do in the afternoon hours or after 9:00 pm? This is where multi-apping comes in. You can get in several hours of rideshare in the afternoon rush hour or late at night. Check out the Gridwise blog post on multi-apping, The Art of Multi-apping: How-Tos and Strategies for Gig Drivers.
If you familiarize yourself with Amazon Flex, for example, you can also squeeze in a delivery block from that company. Check out these recent Gridwise blog posts on the parcel carrier:
You can also see how hourly earnings fit into the wider perspective of DoorDash earnings in this blog post, 2023 Doordash Earnings Report.
Tips for maximizing hourly DoorDash driver earnings
As a DoorDash Dasher, there are some things you can do to increase your profits.
Take advantage of DoorDash double orders
There are scattered reports that the DoorDash app is good at doubling up on orders, meaning that you can, on your way to pick up an order, get a second order going in the same general direction. According to this Quora page on DoorDash double orders, drivers have mixed reviews of this. You can also read more about DoorDash double orders on the DoorDash website.
Communicate with the customer
It’s better to let the customer know in advance that there’s a hold-up at the restaurant or you’re stuck in traffic. Alternatively, they get upset, look for someone to blame, and the delivery driver becomes the likely target.
Double-check those orders
Make sure the restaurant gets the complete order. You don’t have to open dishes or unwrap sandwiches to verify what they are, but at least count the components and ensure nothing is missing. Someone might be counting on those onion rings.
Remember all the condiments
Some restaurants could be better regarding including extra ketchup or mustard. Make sure you include some. Drop in an extra handful of napkins and some plastic forks, knives, and spoons. If you’re picking up beef dip sandwiches, ensure someone at the restaurant remembers the au jus.
Familiarize yourself with DoorDash incentives
DoorDash offers you ways to make more money. Learn about Peak Pay promotions, DoorDash driver Challenges, and the Dash Now program—all described in a recent Gridwise blog post, DoorDash Incentives 2023: How Do They Work?
Work those tips
Tips are a significant source of income for DoorDash Dashers. If you do a lot of dashing, consider getting cards printed that thank people for allowing you to bring them their delivery. Include your information for PayPal, Zelle, or any of the other electronic cash-handling services. Some people would rather tip you directly. Drop one in every bag.
Check out Gridwise for more information on DoorDash
Visit the Gridwise blog and type “DoorDash” into the search bar. You’ll get a host of excellent blog posts about DoorDash. Recent ones include A Guide to Dashing: DoorDash for New Drivers vs. Experienced Drivers.
Download the Gridwise app
Gridwise is the place to go regarding the latest information on DoorDash or other food delivery, rideshare, and parcel delivery gig jobs. Download the Gridwise app and check out When to Drive and Where to Drive on the Gridwise app. You can also save money at tax time using the Gridwise mileage tracker, the best mileage tracker app for gig drivers, and the Gridwise expense tracker.
Ready to take your gig work to the next level?
Download Gridwise, the app that helps you track your expenses and maximize your earnings
Gridwise also maintains one of the most authoritative blogs in the gig industry. Check out our recent blog post, 2023 Doordash Earnings Report, for a more encompassing look at DoorDash earnings, and once again, also read DoorDash Driver Pay: What Do Dashers Earn in 2023?.
Get more DoorDash Dasher earnings insights from Gridwise
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