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How Much Do Shipt Shoppers Make? (2025 Data)
How much do Shipt shoppers actually make per order? Not the vague "$15 to $20 per hour" estimates scattered across forums -- the real numbers, from real shoppers, tracked at scale. Based on data from 3,316 Shipt shoppers tracked through Gridwise in 2025, we can show you exactly what Shipt pays per hour, per order, and in tips. The headline finding: Shipt is the highest-paying grocery delivery platform we track, beating Instacart by a wide margin. Whether you are considering signing up or want to see how your earnings compare to other Shipt shoppers, this guide covers everything: hourly pay, per-order earnings, the role tips play, the best times to shop, how to earn more, and the head-to-head comparison with Instacart that every grocery delivery shopper wants to see.
Quick Answer -- How Much Do Shipt Shoppers Make Per Hour?
Shipt shoppers earn a median of $17.44 per hour in total trip pay, based on data from 3,316 shoppers tracked through Gridwise in 2025. When you include all earnings sources (base pay, tips, and bonuses), the median gross pay rises to $18.57 per hour.
That is the midpoint -- half of all Shipt shoppers earn more, half earn less. The top 25% of shoppers earn $21.02 or more per hour, and the top 10% clear $25.05 per hour. These are gross earnings before expenses like gas and vehicle maintenance.
The number that stands out: Shipt's median of $17.44/hr makes it the highest-paying grocery delivery platform in our dataset. For comparison, Instacart shoppers earn a median of $12.21/hr -- meaning Shipt pays 43% more per hour. Per-order pay tells the same story: $16.64 median per Shipt order versus $12.79 per Instacart batch. Tips are strong too, at $5.83 median per order, making up roughly 33% of gross earnings.
Shipt Shopper Earnings Breakdown (2025 Data from 3,316 Shoppers)
Here is the complete picture of what Shipt shoppers earn, broken down by every metric that matters. All figures are based on 2025 data from Gridwise's network of 3,316 tracked Shipt shoppers.
Hourly Earnings
Total trip pay per work hour (base pay + tips combined):
- Average: $17.95/hr
- Median: $17.44/hr
- Top 25% (p75): $21.02/hr
- Top 10% (p90): $25.05/hr
Gross pay per work hour (all earnings including bonuses and promotional pay):
- Average: $19.30/hr
- Median: $18.57/hr
- Top 25% (p75): $22.96/hr
- Top 10% (p90): $27.21/hr
The gap between total trip pay and gross pay ($1.13/hr at the median) reflects bonuses and promotional pay that Shipt offers on top of base order pay and tips. The top 10% of shoppers earn over $25/hr -- comparable to rideshare earnings on Uber and Lyft, which is rare for grocery delivery.
Per-Order Earnings
How much Shipt shoppers earn per completed order:
- Average: $17.34 per order
- Median: $16.64 per order
- Top 25% (p75): $19.26 per order
- Top 10% (p90): $22.74 per order
Gross pay per order (including all bonus and promotional pay):
- Average: $18.51 per order
- Median: $17.83 per order
- Top 25% (p75): $20.57 per order
- Top 10% (p90): $24.28 per order
Shipt per-order earnings are the highest of any grocery delivery platform. The median Instacart shopper earns $12.79 per batch. The median Shipt shopper earns $16.64 per order -- 30% more. Each order involves shopping for groceries in-store and then delivering them, so per-order pay is higher than food delivery apps where you simply pick up a prepared bag. The median DoorDash driver earns $7.44 per delivery -- less than half what a Shipt shopper earns per task.
Tip Earnings
Tips per order:
- Average: $6.15 per order
- Median: $5.83 per order
- Top 25% (p75): $7.54 per order
- Top 10% (p90): $9.88 per order
Tips per work hour:
- Average: $6.45/hr
- Median: $6.14/hr
- Top 25% (p75): $8.34/hr
- Top 10% (p90): $10.75/hr
Tips represent approximately 33% of gross pay on Shipt -- a significant portion of earnings. At $5.83 median per order, Shipt tips are comparable to Instacart tips ($5.39 per batch) in dollar terms. We will break down tip strategy in detail below.
Orders Per Hour
- Average: 1.05 orders per hour
- Median: 1.02 orders per hour
- Top 25% (p75): 1.23 orders per hour
- Top 10% (p90): 1.42 orders per hour
Shipt shoppers complete about one order per hour at the median -- very similar to Instacart's 0.96 batches per hour. This makes sense because both platforms involve the same workflow: drive to the store, walk the aisles picking items, check out, drive to the customer, and deliver. Each order takes roughly 55 to 65 minutes. The top 10% of shoppers complete 1.42 orders per hour (one every 42 minutes), primarily because they know their stores cold and shop with maximum efficiency.
How Shipt Pay Works
Shipt overhauled its pay model in 2023, switching from a transparent commission-based system to an algorithm-based pay structure. Understanding how the current system works is essential for evaluating orders and maximizing your earnings.
Algorithm-Based Pay (Post-2023)
Before 2023, Shipt shoppers earned a straightforward commission: 7.5% of the order total plus tips, with a guaranteed minimum. That model was simple and predictable. Shipt replaced it with an algorithm-based system that calculates pay for each order individually based on several factors:
- Estimated shopping time: Larger orders with more items receive higher base pay because they take longer to shop
- Delivery distance: Farther deliveries pay more to compensate for driving time and fuel
- Order complexity: Orders requiring special handling, heavy items, or unique store layouts may receive higher pay
- Market demand: When order volume is high and shoppers are scarce, pay increases (similar to surge pricing on rideshare)
The switch was controversial among longtime Shipt shoppers, many of whom reported lower pay on certain order types under the new system. However, our 2025 data across 3,316 shoppers shows a median of $17.44/hr -- the highest grocery delivery rate we track. Regardless of how shoppers feel about the algorithm, the actual earnings data tells a strong story.
Base Pay
Base pay on Shipt typically ranges from $8 to $15 per order depending on the factors above. Shipt guarantees a minimum per-order pay (varies by market but generally $8 to $10), so even small orders have a floor. Larger Target or Meijer orders with 40 to 60 items and moderate delivery distance will generally land in the $12 to $15+ base pay range.
Tips
Customers can add a tip when placing their Shipt order, and they can also adjust the tip after delivery. Tips are shown to shoppers in the order offer, making it possible to evaluate total pay before accepting. At a median of $5.83 per order, tips are a critical part of Shipt economics -- shoppers who consistently provide great service build relationships with repeat customers who tip generously.
Order Bundles
Shipt sometimes bundles two orders from the same store into a single delivery run. Bundled orders pay more total but less per individual order than if they were separate. Evaluating bundles requires quick math: is the combined pay worth the extra shopping and delivery time? Experienced shoppers learn to spot good bundles (two small orders from the same store going to nearby addresses) versus bad ones (two large orders going in opposite directions).
Shipt Is Target-Owned
Shipt was acquired by Target in 2017 for $550 million. This means Target orders make up the bulk of Shipt volume in most markets. You will also see orders from Meijer, CVS, Petco, and other retail partners, but Target is the core. If your market has a strong Target presence, Shipt will likely have consistent order volume. In markets without many Target stores, Shipt demand may be limited.
How Much Do Shipt Shoppers Make in Tips?
Tips are a significant driver of Shipt earnings. At a median of $5.83 per order, tips represent approximately 33% of gross pay. Here is how Shipt tips look across the distribution:
- Median tip per order: $5.83
- Average tip per order: $6.15
- Top 25% earn: $7.54+ per order in tips
- Top 10% earn: $9.88+ per order in tips
On an hourly basis, the median Shipt shopper earns $6.14/hr in tips, and the top 10% earn $10.75/hr -- more than some gig workers make in total hourly pay on other platforms.
Why Shipt Tips Are Strong
- Grocery order totals are large: A typical Target or Meijer grocery order is $80 to $150+. Shipt suggests percentage-based tips, so even a modest 5% tip on a $120 order is $6. Larger weekly grocery hauls can generate $15 to $25+ tips.
- Personal shopping creates a tipping dynamic: You are physically selecting produce, finding specific brands, and making replacement decisions. Customers recognize this effort more than a simple food pickup and delivery. The personal service element drives stronger tips.
- Preferred member relationships: Shipt's preferred member system (more on this below) lets customers request specific shoppers. These repeat relationships build loyalty and trust, and loyal customers tend to tip more over time.
How to Maximize Your Shipt Tips
- Communicate proactively about replacements: When an item is out of stock, send a photo of alternatives and ask the customer which they prefer. Never make a substitution without asking. This is the single biggest driver of tip satisfaction on grocery delivery platforms.
- Pick quality produce: Customers notice when you select great-looking fruits and vegetables. Take a few extra seconds to choose well and you will see it reflected in your tips and ratings.
- Deliver organized: Separate cold items from pantry items, keep fragile items protected, and follow delivery instructions exactly. A well-organized delivery creates a positive impression that translates to better tips.
- Build preferred member relationships: Provide excellent service to repeat customers. Once they add you as a preferred shopper, you get first access to their orders -- and preferred customers tend to be the best tippers.
Best Times to Shop Shipt (Delivery Earnings by Day and Time)
When you shop matters as much as how many hours you work. Our data shows clear patterns in delivery earnings by day and time. The following data shows average gross earnings per hour for delivery drivers across all delivery platforms (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Shipt, and others) -- the patterns apply to Shipt since grocery demand follows many of the same day-of-week patterns, though Shipt has some unique characteristics we will call out.
Highest-Earning Delivery Time Slots
- Sunday 6-8pm: $18.28/hr -- Sunday dinner is the single highest-earning window for delivery drivers
- Saturday 6-8pm: $17.48/hr -- Saturday dinner rush with high order volume
- Friday 6-8pm: $17.42/hr -- Friday dinner matches Saturday for top earnings
- Sunday 6-8am: $17.30/hr -- early morning Sunday has surprisingly strong pay
- Sunday 3-5pm: $17.27/hr -- late afternoon Sunday stays strong heading into dinner
Lowest-Earning Delivery Time Slots
- Tuesday 12-2pm: $14.17/hr -- midday Tuesday is the weakest window
- Tuesday 9-11am: $14.25/hr
- Thursday 9-11am: $14.43/hr
- Thursday 12-2pm: $14.45/hr
- Tuesday 0-2am: $14.48/hr
Shipt-Specific Timing Patterns
While the heatmap above covers all delivery platforms, Shipt has unique demand patterns driven by grocery shopping habits and Target's customer base:
- Weekend mornings are prime for Shipt: Many families place their weekly grocery order on Saturday or Sunday morning for same-day delivery. Weekend mornings tend to be the strongest window for large Target grocery orders with good tips.
- Target-driven patterns: Since most Shipt orders come from Target, demand correlates with Target shopping patterns. Weekends and early evenings tend to have the highest volume. Target sales events and seasonal promotions can spike Shipt demand.
- Pre-holiday surges: The days before Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and July 4th are among the highest-earning windows for grocery delivery. Order volume and tip generosity both increase during holiday periods.
- Same-day delivery windows: Shipt customers select delivery windows (e.g., 10am-11am, 2pm-3pm). Orders tend to cluster around lunchtime and dinner windows. Scheduling your availability around these windows ensures consistent order flow.
How to Earn More on Shipt
The gap between the median Shipt shopper ($17.44/hr) and the top 25% ($21.02/hr) is $3.58 per hour. Over a 30-hour week, that is an extra $107 per week or $5,564 per year. The top 10% earn $25.05/hr -- 44% more than the median. Here is what separates top earners from average shoppers:
Become a Preferred Shopper
This is the single most important factor for maximizing Shipt earnings. Shipt's preferred member system lets customers designate specific shoppers as their "preferred" shoppers. When a preferred customer places an order, their preferred shoppers get first access to claim it -- before it goes to the general pool. Preferred customers tend to be repeat, high-value shoppers who tip well and order consistently. Building a base of 15 to 20 preferred members can keep your schedule full with high-quality, well-tipping orders.
How to earn preferred status: deliver exceptional service consistently. Communicate well about replacements, pick great produce, deliver on time, and be friendly. After a few great deliveries, many customers will add you as their preferred shopper on their own.
Master Order Selection
Not every Shipt order is worth your time. Before accepting, evaluate:
- Total pay vs item count: A $20 order for 15 items is excellent. A $20 order for 55 items will take much longer. Look for at least $0.40 to $0.75 per item as a rough threshold.
- Tip amount: The tip is visible in the order offer. Orders with generous tips usually come from customers who value the service -- they are likely to become repeat customers and preferred members.
- Delivery distance: Shorter deliveries get you back to availability faster. A 2-mile delivery is almost always better than an 8-mile delivery at the same total pay.
- Store type: Orders from stores you know well are faster to shop. If you have Target memorized, prioritize Target orders over unfamiliar stores.
Shop Faster
Speed is the biggest lever for hourly earnings. If you can complete an order in 45 minutes instead of 60, your effective hourly rate jumps by 33%. Top shoppers build speed by:
- Learning store layouts: Know where every aisle is in your regular stores, especially Target. Shop by aisle order to eliminate backtracking.
- Pre-scanning the order: Review the full item list before you start shopping. Mentally group items by store section so you make one efficient pass.
- Handling replacements efficiently: When an item is out of stock, immediately message the customer with a photo and suggested alternative. Keep shopping other items while you wait for their response.
- Using self-checkout when faster: If lines are long and the store allows it, self-checkout can save 5 to 10 minutes per order.
Protect Your Rating
Your Shipt rating directly affects order access. Higher-rated shoppers see better orders first. A rating drop means you are seeing the orders that top shoppers already passed on -- the low-tip, high-effort jobs. Protect your rating by communicating about every replacement, delivering on time, following delivery instructions exactly, and selecting quality produce.
Multi-App During Slow Periods
When Shipt order volume is low (typically weekday midmornings), running Instacart or DoorDash alongside Shipt can fill dead time. Many grocery delivery shoppers toggle between Shipt and Instacart to minimize idle minutes. Turn off other apps once you accept a Shipt order -- never accept orders from two platforms simultaneously when each order involves 45+ minutes of shopping and delivery.
Shipt vs Instacart -- The Grocery Delivery Pay Comparison
This is the comparison every grocery delivery shopper wants to see. Both Shipt and Instacart involve the same work -- shopping for groceries in-store and delivering them to the customer. Here is how they compare, based on 2025 Gridwise data:
Hourly Earnings
- Shipt: $17.44/hr median (3,316 shoppers)
- Instacart: $12.21/hr median (20,538 shoppers)
- Difference: Shipt pays $5.23 more per hour -- 43% higher
Per-Order Earnings
- Shipt: $16.64 median per order
- Instacart: $12.79 median per batch
- Difference: Shipt pays $3.85 more per order -- 30% higher
Tips
- Shipt: $5.83 median per order (33% of gross pay)
- Instacart: $5.39 median per batch (42% of total pay)
- Difference: Similar dollar amounts, but tips represent a larger share of total pay on Instacart because Instacart base pay is lower
Orders Per Hour
- Shipt: 1.02 median
- Instacart: 0.96 median
- Difference: Nearly identical -- both platforms involve the same shop-and-deliver workflow
When to Choose Shipt
- You are in a market with strong Shipt demand (significant Target presence)
- You want the highest per-hour and per-order pay in grocery delivery
- You are willing to invest in building preferred member relationships for consistent high-quality orders
- You value the preferred shopper system that rewards great service with loyal customer access
When to Choose Instacart
- You are in a market where Shipt has limited availability
- You want more order volume and wider store variety (Costco, Aldi, Kroger, etc.)
- You want the highest tip percentage of any platform (42% of pay on Instacart)
- You prefer delivery-only order options for faster turnaround
The best move for many grocery delivery shoppers: run both apps. Accept the best available order from either platform at any given time. For full Instacart shopper earnings data, see our complete breakdown.
Is Shipt Worth It?
At a median of $17.44 per hour in total trip pay, Shipt is the highest-paying grocery delivery platform we track. That puts it well above Instacart ($12.21/hr) and in the same range as food delivery platforms like Grubhub and Uber Eats. Here is what the numbers look like after expenses:
- Gas: Delivery distances on Shipt are typically short (store to nearby customer), so fuel costs are modest -- roughly $0.08 to $0.12 per mile
- Vehicle maintenance: Lower mileage per order keeps wear and tear costs down -- approximately $0.03 to $0.07 per mile
- Insurance: Standard personal auto insurance covers grocery delivery in most states -- no additional rideshare insurance required
- Phone and insulated bags: Minimal ongoing costs that pay for themselves in better ratings and tips
After expenses, most Shipt shoppers net approximately $14 to $16 per hour. That is a solid rate for flexible, self-scheduled gig work.
Shipt works best for people who:
- Live in markets with strong Shipt demand: Shipt's availability depends heavily on Target store density. In cities with many Target locations, order volume is strong and consistent. In markets with few Target stores, you may struggle to fill your hours.
- Are willing to build customer relationships: The preferred member system is Shipt's biggest advantage over Instacart. Shoppers who invest in building a base of preferred members earn consistently more than those who rely on random order assignment.
- Enjoy grocery shopping: Like Instacart, Shipt is an active gig -- you are on your feet walking aisles, selecting items, and making decisions. If you prefer this to sitting in a car, grocery delivery is a better fit than rideshare.
- Want the highest grocery delivery pay available: The data is clear -- no other grocery delivery platform pays as much per hour as Shipt. If you are choosing one grocery delivery app, Shipt offers the best earnings potential.
Make sure you understand the tax side of gig work. Shipt income is self-employment income, which means quarterly estimated tax payments and tax deductions for gig workers that can save you thousands per year. Track every mile from the start -- the IRS standard mileage deduction alone can significantly reduce your tax bill.
Shipt Shopper Earnings FAQ
How much can you make on Shipt full-time?
At the median hourly rate of $17.44, a full-time Shipt shopper working 40 hours per week would gross approximately $698 per week or $36,275 per year before expenses. Top 25% earners working full-time could gross $43,700+ per year. After expenses, full-time Shipt shoppers typically take home $29,120 to $33,280 per year. Availability depends on your market -- in areas with strong Target presence, filling 40 hours of Shipt orders is feasible. In smaller markets, supplementing with Instacart or DoorDash may be necessary.
How much do Shipt shoppers make per order?
The median earnings per order is $16.64, with an average of $17.34. This includes base pay and tips combined. Top 10% of shoppers earn $22.74 or more per order. Including all promotional pay, the median rises to $17.83 and the top 10% earn $24.28+ per order.
How much do Shipt shoppers make in tips?
Shipt shoppers earn a median of $5.83 per order in tips, which represents approximately 33% of gross pay. On an hourly basis, tips contribute a median of $6.14 per hour. Tips are strong on Shipt because grocery order totals are large, customers appreciate the personal shopping service, and the preferred member system builds loyal tipping relationships over time.
Is Shipt better than Instacart?
Shipt pays significantly more per hour ($17.44 vs $12.21 median) and per order ($16.64 vs $12.79). However, Instacart has more order volume and wider availability in most US markets. Instacart also partners with more stores (Costco, Aldi, Kroger, etc.) while Shipt is primarily Target-based. Many grocery shoppers run both apps and accept the best available order. If your market has strong Shipt demand, it should be your primary grocery delivery platform based on earnings alone.
How much do Shipt shoppers make after expenses?
After accounting for gas, maintenance, and depreciation, most Shipt shoppers net approximately $14 to $16 per hour. Short delivery distances keep per-order expenses low. The IRS standard mileage deduction ($0.725/mile in 2025) can significantly reduce your tax liability -- track every mile to maximize this deduction.
Did Shipt cut pay?
In 2023, Shipt switched from a commission-based pay model (7.5% of order total + tips) to an algorithm-based system. Many longtime shoppers reported this felt like a pay cut on certain order types, especially large orders where the old commission generated more pay. The change was controversial, with shoppers criticizing the lack of transparency in how pay is calculated. That said, our 2025 data across 3,316 shoppers shows Shipt remains the highest-paying grocery delivery platform at $17.44/hr median -- higher than Instacart, DoorDash, and other platforms we track.
Start Tracking Your Shipt Earnings Today
The data in this article comes from 3,316 Shipt shoppers who track their earnings through Gridwise. The shoppers who earn the most are not just shopping more hours. They are shopping smarter: they know their real per-order rate, they know which days and stores pay best, they build preferred member relationships, and they track every mile for tax deductions.
Whether you are brand new to Shipt or a veteran shopper looking to optimize, the first step is knowing your numbers. How does your actual hourly rate compare to the $17.44 median? Are you shopping during peak hours or leaving money on the table? Are your tips higher or lower than the $5.83 average? How much are you really spending on gas per order?
Compare your earnings to Instacart shopper earnings or DoorDash driver earnings -- and decide whether multi-apping could boost your income.
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