Whether you’re rooting for your city’s sports teams, hyping up a music festival in your city, or you just love the people there, there’s always something to be proud of in your hometown. But are gig drivers making the most in your city?
The area you work in has a significant impact on your earnings. Consider factors like demographics, economic activity, and cost of living, which can all influence your earnings potential.
Now that earnings are making a comeback from their COVID-19 lows, we wanted to see which cities outperform the rest. Here is the list of the five worst and best performing cities in the US for rideshare and delivery drivers.
Lowest Earnings
1. Memphis, Tennessee ($13.23)
At $13.53/hour, average earnings in Memphis are nearly 50% less compared to top cities. This might be a little surprising to Memphis locals since Memphis is known for being a tourist destination. Maybe it’s because they don’t allow cars on Beale Street!
It might also be that the population is just over 650,000, less than all of our top performers. The only saving grace here is the city has a relatively low cost of living, so you’ll be able to keep more of what you earn.
2. Tulsa, Oklahoma ($13.53)
Tulsa is the second-worst performer on our list, with the average earnings sitting at $13.53/hour. This could be because it’s the third-least populated city on the list, sitting just above Toledo and Orlando.
3. El Paso, Texas ($13.59)
Gig drivers in El Paso pull in an average of $13.59/hour. Interestingly enough, El Paso is the second busiest international crossing point in the US, after San Diego, with almost 850K residents. So why aren’t rideshare and delivery drivers earning more?
One way to take the sting out of lower earnings is to save more of what you take home. Scheduling your vehicle maintenance with CarAdvise helps you find the best price at trusted shops. You can save an average of 10-40% when you book through the app.
4. Toledo, Ohio ($14.43)
Drivers in Toledo, Ohio, earn on average $14.43/hour before expenses. This actually isn’t a bad number considering Toledo is by far the least populated city on our list.
5. Orlando, Florida ($14.53)
Despite being a tourist hotspot with over 12 theme parks, Orlando doesn’t offer much in the way of earnings.
Rideshare and delivery drivers in Orlando make an average of $14.53/hour. The cost of living in Orlando is also higher than all other worst-performing cities on the list. So, Orlando drivers are definitely getting the short end of the stick.
The city attracts millions of tourists every year, with a whopping 75 million tourists visiting in 2018 alone. Typically, a strong tourism industry means better earnings, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. We’re betting on two possibilities: lower tourist numbers due to pandemic restrictions and/or too many drivers.
Uber and Lyft are offering incentives to drivers to come back to both platforms. But with experienced driver shortages, there’s a chance for higher earnings possibilities in this populated market.
Highest Earnings
1. San Diego ($21.73)
The rideshare and delivery gold goes to San Diego. Drivers earn an average of $21.73/hour, making San Diego the best-performing city in the US. Although, we have to admit it was a tight race.
San Diego is a major economic hub with a population of over 1.4 million. This densely populated coastal town pulls together the earnings trifecta with a high population, great tourist traffic and a thriving social scene.
2. Bay Area ($21.61)
If you had to guess the highest-earning cities in the US for rideshare and delivery drivers, many of you would have thought about the Bay Area. It’s an obvious guess, as the region is an economic powerhouse and home to Silicon Valley. And it’s also where giants like Uber and Lyft started.
3. Los Angeles ($21.23)
Los Angeles is the largest city in California, in terms of both population (4 million) and geographical area. With a dynamic economy and influx of tourists, it’s no surprise that LA is a money-driven powerhouse for drivers.
4. Boston, Massachusetts ($20.88)
Boston drivers make on an average of $20.88/hour. It’s also the highest any gig driver earns per hour outside of California.
Part of Boston’s higher earnings can be attributed to its dense urban environment. We also have to tip our grad caps to the students. Known as the nation’s college capital, Boston is home to many world-renowned colleges and universities, attracting more than 360,000 college students. Sure to keep you up and earning more!
5. Denver, Colorado ($20.54)
Drivers in Denver earn an average of $20.54/hour. Over the years, Denver has been ranked as one of the best places to live in the country. Denver also has a lower cost of living than other top-earning cities.
Denver has a high minimum wage of $14.77/hour. Still, Uber, Lyft, and rideshare drivers can expect to earn a little more.
How to make more than your city’s average
If you happen to live or work in a city listed as one of the worst performers, don’t fret! There are still ways and strategies to make more than your city’s average.
Net earnings only tell one part of the story. For example, some cities are prohibitively expensive to live a comfortable life, while others fare much better. So, remember that the cost of living in your city will most likely influence what you are bringing in.
On the other hand, if you are driving in a city that offers top-notch public schools, healthcare facilities, and government welfare programs, you are likely to enjoy higher purchasing power for your money.
Did your city make the list?
If your city made the list, (or even if it didn’t), we’d love to hear about your experiences driving in your area. Drop us a comment, or contribute to our growing Facebook group to connect with fellow drivers.
Gridwise goes wherever you drive!
Gridwise helps rideshare and delivery drivers, like you, track performance and earnings across all of your gig platforms. Gridwise automatically tracks your mileage during a shift and allows you to log expenses and calculate your tax deductions in one centralized location.
Opt-in to receive notification updates on weather reports, customize airport and flight alerts, event and hotspot alerts when you download and sign up for Gridwise! Download Gridwise app and join the thousands of drivers that are earning more with Gridwise today!
