Free Tool · Earnings Optimization

Gig Worker Real Hourly Rate Calculator

What DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart pay you and what you actually earn are different numbers. Enter your earnings, hours, and miles per platform to find your true hourly rate after vehicle costs.

Vehicle cost estimated at IRS standard mileage rate: $0.70/mile (2025). Covers fuel, depreciation, oil, tires, and insurance.

Why your actual hourly rate is lower than you think

Gig apps report gross earnings — before vehicle depreciation, fuel, tires, and the miles you drive between orders. At the IRS rate of $0.70/mile, a gig driver putting 300 miles on their car in a week has $210 in vehicle costs that come straight out of their net pay.

Add in unpaid waiting time between orders and self-employment tax (~15.3% of net income), and the gap between advertised and real hourly rates can be $8–$12 per hour. This calculator uses the IRS standard mileage rate to give you the most accurate, tax-aligned cost estimate.

How to use this to earn more

The most effective way to raise your real hourly rate isn't working more hours — it's identifying which platform, time of day, and zone produces the highest net-per-hour in your specific market. Enter your weekly data for each platform and sort by effective hourly rate. Shift more of your hours toward the winners.

Common findings: shorter-distance, dense-order apps often beat long-haul delivery apps on net hourly rate. High-surge windows are significantly more valuable than baseline pay — so knowing your off-peak vs. peak hourly rates lets you schedule with intention.

What this calculator doesn't include

This tool estimates vehicle cost using the IRS standard mileage rate and does not separately account for SE tax, income tax, or platform promotions. For a full picture, pair this with the SE Tax Calculator and the Quarterly Tax Estimator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my actual hourly rate lower than what gig apps advertise?

Gig platforms advertise gross per-order or per-hour figures that don't account for vehicle expenses, waiting time between orders, deadhead miles, or the self-employment tax you owe. After fuel costs at the IRS mileage rate ($0.70/mile in 2025), SE tax (~15.3%), and unpaid waiting time, many gig workers net $8–$14/hour — well below the headline rate.

How do I calculate my real gig earnings per hour?

Real gig hourly rate = (Gross earnings − vehicle expenses − platform fees) ÷ total hours on-app. Vehicle expenses are best estimated using the IRS standard mileage rate ($0.70/mile). Include all time the app is open — not just active delivery time — because waiting between orders is unpaid work.

Should I include miles driven between orders (deadhead miles)?

Yes. Miles driving to restaurants, between pickups, and back to your zone while on the app all count as business miles under the IRS standard mileage deduction. They also reduce your effective hourly rate because you're spending time and fuel without earning. Include all active-app miles in this calculator.

Which gig platforms pay the highest effective hourly rate?

Effective hourly rate varies significantly by market, time of day, and surge pricing. This calculator lets you compare your actual results across platforms based on your own earnings data — which is far more accurate than industry averages. Many drivers find that Instacart batch orders yield higher net hourly rates than delivery apps in urban markets.

How does this calculator handle vehicle costs?

This tool uses the IRS 2025 standard mileage rate of $0.70 per mile to estimate the full cost of operating your vehicle for business — gas, oil, depreciation, tires, and insurance. You enter miles driven and your fuel cost input is optional. The IRS rate is the most conservative, accurate, and tax-aligned estimate for most gig drivers.

Can I use this to decide which platform to prioritize?

Yes — that's the main use case. Enter the same time period (e.g., last week) for each platform and compare net hourly rates. Platforms with higher gross-per-order but more miles and wait time often yield lower net rates than shorter-distance, high-volume apps in dense areas. Let the data drive your platform prioritization.

Know exactly what you're earning — automatically

UnifyOne connects to your gig platforms and calculates your true hourly rate in real time — across DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, and more. Free to start.

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