Are you making as much money as other Lyft drivers? Is it worth it for you to work for Lyft? Working alone as a Lyft driver sure does beat having a micromanaging supervisor breathing down your back, but there are some things you have to sacrifice.
One is the camaraderie that comes with working around your peers. From time to time, you may bump into other Lyft drivers and ask them things like how much they’re making per day. Sadly, you’ll rarely get any realistic intel, outside of their opinions about what Lyft driver earnings are like. But are they telling the truth?
Gridwise has data that reflects actual figures from other drivers, without the need to fact-check your airport cell phone lot buddies’ boasts, or to guess whether they drive the same way you do. On top of data, this article gives you tips for out-earning all your peers. Here are some questions we’ll shed light on:
Here's what we cover:
What is Lyft driver base pay like?
Lyft calculates base pay by adding together the base fare plus the time and distance you will clock during the ride. Besides these variables, you’ll have to take into consideration bonus and tip pay, and your expenses, including gas, car maintenance, and job-related equipment. The wide range of base pay numbers account for differences in location, as well. A ride that takes place in New York or San Francisco, for instance, will be more profitable than a short ride in the suburbs of Butte, Montana.
Gridwise data illustrates base pay ranges across the country:
How much do Lyft drivers make per ride?
When you ask this question, you’re likely to get a whole lot of different answers. Business Insider asked a number of drivers, who reported figures ranging from $22 to $40 per hour. It’s hard to know how many rides a driver makes in an hour, and it can definitely vary. Other sources estimate that median per trip earnings hover around $10.
It’s important to look more closely at how much you’re making with every ride, and then you can begin to estimate how much you can make in a day. This data from Gridwise gives you actual numbers that reflect the nationwide experience of per trip earnings of Lyft drivers.
What cities offer the biggest per ride earnings?
Cities such as New York and Seattle have laws that set minimum wages for drivers, so on the whole, their per trip earnings will be high. Other cities, where demand is less and cost of living lower, will show per trip earnings for Lyft drivers that match that situation.
This data shows how much Gridwise drivers make per ride in key cities.
In all cities and in less populated areas as well, trips involving big events, rush hours, and bad weather will yield more profitable rides. Download Gridwise to get information about events, traffic, and weather when you need it most.
How can Lyft drivers make more with every ride?
When you work with Lyft, there’s a big difference between simply taking the rides as they come, and strategic driving. Here are some action items that are sure to help you make the most out of every ride you take.
- Download Gridwise and use When to Drive. Each ride you make will be more profitable once you know the best times to drive. When to Drive gives you intel that is sure to boost your earnings. It shows you the days and times when rides are really paying off.
- Use multi-apping to make the most of your time. When Lyft rides don’t come one after the other, you can jump on another app to keep your cash flow going.
- Work for more customer tips. By being efficient and pleasant, you’ll garner more tips from your passengers. Use these pointers and watch your earnings soar!
- Track your mileage and expenses. Your Lyft app only tracks the miles you travel while you’re on a ride. Download Gridwise to keep an account of the miles you drive in between. This lets you take full advantage of your deductible mileage allowance. Gridwise also tracks your other expenses, putting you in the perfect position for tax time.
Ready to take your gig work to the next level?
Download Gridwise, the app that helps you track your expenses and maximize your earnings
