# Make Big Money in Your Spare Time: Earn $3.37/Hour Driving for Uber or Lyft!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 2, 2018, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924 "2018-03-02T20:34:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/1 "2018-03-02T20:34:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Uber and Lyft drivers in the US make a median profit of $3.37 per hour before taxes, according to a new report that suggests a majority of ride-share workers make below minimum wage and that many actually lose money. > > Researchers did an analysis of vehicle cost data and a survey of more than 1,100 drivers for the ride-hailing companies for the paper published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research. The report – which factored in insurance, maintenance, repairs, fuel and other costs – found that 30% of drivers are losing money on the job and that 74% earn less than the minimum wage in their states. > **[Uber drivers often make below minimum wage, report finds](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/01/uber-lyft-driver-wages-median-report)** > > Some drivers end up losing money after insurance, maintenance and other costs, according to study raising concerns over labor standards ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/2 "2018-03-02T20:36:25Z")
Right now, I’m averaging $20+ an hour driving part time for Uber. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/3 "2018-03-02T21:04:35Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Right now, I’m averaging $20+ an hour driving part time for Uber. The article suggests you should factor in fuel, depreciation and maintenance. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/4 "2018-03-02T21:04:50Z")
I have a cousin that does Uber for a little extra money on Friday and Saturday nights, tends to make around $100 a night. She’s pleased with it and considers it to be easy money. I think that the drivers know if it is worth it to them or not. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/5 "2018-03-02T21:17:15Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I think that the drivers know if it is worth it to them or not. Because so many people are just good at weighing varying factors and then acting in their own best interest, right? Like Trump voters, right? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/6 "2018-03-02T21:29:11Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Because so many people are just good at weighing varying factors and then acting in their own best interest, right? Like Trump voters, right? Person wants money. Person tries driving. Person decides either that the money is enough and they keep doing it or the money isn’t enough and they don’t. What’s the alternative, _you_ get to tell them whether they do it or not? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/7 "2018-03-02T22:02:00Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Right now, I’m averaging $20+ an hour driving part time for Uber. Yeah, if you click on that, you’ll see links to a couple other studies. One shows an average of $21/hr. The other one shows $16/hr. Now, granted, people don’t take into account expenses very well in terms of fuel and the wear and tear it takes on your car, but there’s no way I believe it works out to $3-$4/hr. For most people, I think it works out just fine as a side gig. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/8 "2018-03-02T22:14:05Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Person wants money. Person tries driving. Person decides either that the money is enough and they keep doing it or the money isn’t enough and they don’t. > > What’s the alternative, _you_ get to tell them whether they do it or not? I’m saying that your argument that “they know if it’s worth it to them” is utterly unsupported by a crapload of evidence. Trump voters, tobacco smokers, football players, opiod abusers, people in dysfunctional relationships… there’s a long list of things that people do that are not in their best interest, yet they do them anyway. FWIW, this isn’t the first time someone has looked at Uber’s wages and found them lacking. > **[How much Uber drivers actually make per hour](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/06/27/how-much-uber-drivers-actually-make-per-hour/?utm_term=.b10a4c5384b3)** > > Factoring in expenses and taxes, drivers don't make a whole lot. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/9 "2018-03-02T22:28:35Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > FWIW, this isn’t the first time someone has looked at Uber’s wages and found them lacking. Fine. Feel free to feel self-superior, paternalistic and smug about deciding for other people what is worth their time and what isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/10 "2018-03-02T22:45:28Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Right now, I’m averaging $20+ an hour driving part time for Uber. What kind of car are you driving? Do you get surge time? Part of me wonders if I got an uber XL compatible car, and only drove during major sporting events if I could get surge pricing that I could make decent money on weekends. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/11 "2018-03-02T22:48:11Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/06/27/how-much-uber-drivers-actually-make-per-hour/?utm\_term=.b10a4c5384b3](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/06/27/how-much-uber-drivers-actually-make-per-hour/?utm_term=.b10a4c5384b3) That page is behind a paywall. Got a better link? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/12 "2018-03-02T22:52:41Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > That page is behind a paywall. Got a better link? Right-click\>“open in private window”(Firefox) I think Chrome has something similar. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/13 "2018-03-02T22:59:20Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Part of me wonders if I got an uber XL compatible car, and only drove during major sporting events if I could get surge pricing that I could make decent money on weekends. You could hope for passengers like [this](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/03/drunk-man-accidentally-takes-1600-uber-from-west-virginia-to-new-jersey/). ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/14 "2018-03-02T23:03:20Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > You could hope for passengers like [this](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/03/drunk-man-accidentally-takes-1600-uber-from-west-virginia-to-new-jersey/). That was probably a bad deal for the driver, since he now has to drive back to WV without a fare. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/15 "2018-03-02T23:11:53Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > That page is behind a paywall. Got a better link? WaPo will let you read 5 articles per month free, so if it comes up a paywall, you can just delete the cookie from your browser and you’ll reset the count. But, the story was largely sourced from [How Much Uber Drivers Actually Make Per Hour](https://www.buzzfeed.com/carolineodonovan/internal-uber-driver-pay-numbers?utm_term=.ddjxL67Gz#.nxKEnMXaV) > [@](#): > > Based on these calculations, it’s possible to estimate that Uber drivers in late 2015 earned approximately $13.17 per hour after expenses in the Denver market (which includes all of Colorado), $10.75 per hour after expenses in the Houston area, and $8.77 per hour after expenses in the Detroit market, less than any earnings figure previously released by the company. Yes; they list their methodology. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/16 "2018-03-02T23:51:57Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I have a cousin that does Uber for a little extra money on Friday and Saturday nights, tends to make around $100 a night. She’s pleased with it and considers it to be easy money. > > I think that the drivers know if it is worth it to them or not. Preach it. Everyone should have the freedom to decide whether taking on a certain job is in their best interests, rather than having an authority figure decide what’s in their best interests. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/17 "2018-03-02T23:55:19Z")
Probably not a surprise to many. This is according to a study from MIT, story [here](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/02/590168381/uber-lyft-drivers-earning-a-median-profit-of-3-37-per-hour-study-says) from NPR. Study based on a survey of 1100 drivers. In summary, the average raw profit for the driver, taking into account average cost of operating a vehicle, is about $0.29/mile. Add in the difference between that cost ($0.30/mile) and the federal deduction ($0.54/mile) could bring that up to $0.53/mile. Now if you are driving steadily at an average rate of 30 miles/hour, that would be $8.70 hour raw profit plus a possible decrease on your taxable income of another 7.20 per hour. So call it $15.90 per hour if you are driving steadily at 30 miles/hour. But no driver actually functions that way. In my city, for example, it can easily take 30 minutes to go 7 miles, which would be $7.42 per hour (total, including both factors) if you could get 2 rides like that back to back. Work like that for 4 hours and you’ve made yourself $30, around $16.50 now and the other $13.50 at tax time. You might be able to do better; the study says that as many as 30% of drivers actually lose money on the front end (although they might gain some of it back on the tax end). So, any Uber/Lyft drivers (or shareholders) here want to comment? Big surprise, Uber disagrees with the findings. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/18 "2018-03-02T23:56:14Z")
Already a thread on this - [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=850405](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=850405) ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2018, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/19 "2018-03-03T00:01:38Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Fine. Feel free to feel self-superior, paternalistic and smug about deciding for other people what is worth their time and what isn’t. > [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Preach it. Everyone should have the freedom to decide whether taking on a certain job is in their best interests, rather than having an authority figure decide what’s in their best interests. Which would be relevant if anyone had actually done so. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2018, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924/20 "2018-03-03T00:09:17Z")
Similar thread from IMHO merged into the existing MPSIMS thread. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-big-money-in-your-spare-time-earn-3-37-hour-driving-for-uber-or-lyft/809924.md?page=2)