DoorDash is a flexible kind of job where the person has to pick up food from the restaurant and deliver it to the consumers. If a person is looking for a side hustle then DoorDash is a perfect option. The pay of the drivers varies as they are independent contractors and not employees. DoorDash provides the drivers $2 per delivery job. Here is the article- Does DoorDash Pay Hourly?
A new pay model in 2019 has changed the payroll of the drivers. The company has adjusted its way of paying the drivers. Now the drivers earn an average of $18.54 per active hour. This has changed in 2020 and according to the news reports the driver is paid an average of $22+ per hour on their job. Let’s dive into the details.
How Does DoorDash pay?
A DoorDash driver earns $20-25 per hour. The pay of the driver is calculated by base pay which ranges from $2-10. This is dependent on factors like distance, time, and desirability. If delivery is less popular the base pay will be high and could also offer promotion. The pay depends on the delivery. If you pick the right delivery then your chances of getting a higher pay increase. The average the driver makes is $11 per hour and this includes 100% tips provided by the customer. As a dasher the earnings in DoorDash is based on the following factors:
- Base Pay: DoorDash has a fixed pay of $2 to $10 for every completed order. The amount of the payment depends on the time spent by the dasher along with the distance traveled. When one dasher rejects a specific order and the other accepts it the less desirable order will be paid higher. This will benefit the latter.
- Promotions: A driver can earn high signup bonuses when they sign up. A dasher can also earn extra during the peak pay that occurs when the demand by the customers is high usually during lunch and dinner time. There are Challenge bonuses which means when the driver completes a set of deliveries within the given time.
- Tips: This is the traditional way of earning. When the order is delivered the customer provides a tip to the driver. The drivers receive 100% of the customer’s tips. DoorDash has offered $2, $3, and $4 tips when the customer checks out from his screen.
What is DoorDash?
DoorDash is a platform where food is ordered online and delivered. It is based in San Francisco and is the largest food delivery company in the United States. It is a mobile app that connects customers to various restaurants and helps them order and delivers food. The drivers at DoorDash are referred to as Dashers. They receive a request for the order and it is up to them to accept that request. The Dashers usually look for profitable orders and once they accept them they follow the instructions then they pick up the food and deliver it to the customer.
How to Earn More as a Dasher?
There are various ways to increase your earnings as a DoorDash driver. Here are the details of how to earn more:
- Work during busy hours: Just waiting in your vehicle and accepting orders all day long makes it easy to earn more by working during busy hours. Working for an entire day would be hectic and also would provide you the same earning. But if you work in time slots especially during busy hours when the demand is more like the time of lunch or dinner then there is a chance to earn more per hour.
- Look for bigger orders: While just accepting small and normal orders daily and sticking to that routine it’s time to look for bigger orders. Bigger orders tend to provide a higher amount of tip and that will lead you to earn more. So when you get the notification of a bigger order don’t think twice just press the accept button.
- Accept orders during events: When there’s a huge football match or final episode of a famous series people tend to order food from outside and the order is huge. Some watch with friends and family. This is the hour when the orders are in bulk and look for this opportunity as DoorDash increases its delivery fee during the event time. This is the perfect time to earn more as a dasher.
- Avoid long-distance delivery: Be it a bulk order with a high amount of tip or be it an event time order to avoid long-distance delivery. These orders are time-consuming. Whether the pay is high but going way along the city and leaving the center place where orders are high would leave you at a loss. It’s better to take small orders than going far away from the city for a huge order.
- Know your way: While delivering your order or picking it up from the restaurant, know your way. If you get lost then it’s a waste of time and you even lose your orders. The payment of the dasher is based on the deliveries of the order so if you want to earn high you need to complete your order on time for that you must know all the correct ways to reach the restaurant as well as the customer’s house. Google maps are very helpful in such situations. You must trust Google maps to avoid getting lost and also to drive traffic friendly.
- Tips for delivery: The dasher gets 100% of the tip provided by the customer. Tips are based on services so to receive a higher amount of tip a dasher must improve his service skills. The dasher is paid hourly including tips given by customers per order.
What are the Expenses of Dasher?
The drivers working in DoorDash are independent contractors so their expenses are not incurred by the company. They have to pay for their expenses. Here are some of the expenses that the dasher faces:
- Vehicle Maintenance: A dasher puts lots of wear and tear on the vehicle so maintaining it in proper shape is necessary. But it needs more attention since riding for DoorDash is different than that for personal use.
- Auto Insurance: A driver delivering through a car or bike must have an updated insurance policy. The company provides insurance to the dasher but it is limited. It is only applicable when you cause damage to another party or there is an accident when the food is with you. All other expenses go directly from your personal insurance policy.
- Health Insurance: Since the pandemic, DoorDash provides discounts on urgent care visits along with therapy health services. All the personal health expenses are incurred by the dasher on his own; the company doesn’t provide any health insurance to their drivers.
Conclusion
The payment of the dasher depends on various factors. But DoorDash provides hourly pay to its drivers. They earn through the deliveries they make and the tips they receive from the customers. The drivers also earn high during peak hours or event times, the orders are huge. The hourly payment depends on the number of orders delivered, time, and services. A dasher earns $11 per hour including 100% tips from the customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can a dasher deliver for DoorDash full-time?
Answer: It is possible to work as a full-time dasher for DoorDash as the drivers are independent contractors. A dasher usually works for 40hours per week or more as they desire. But the amount requested is not guaranteed so many dashers like to work as part-time couriers.
- Is it possible for customers to leave zero tips?
Answer: It is possible that a dasher might not receive any tip from the customer. DoorDash does not mandate tipping; it is completely up to the customer to give a tip to the dasher. Customer tips are solely based on the service provided by the dasher, so improving your nature, communication skills, and being friendly can help you get a tip from the customer.
- Can a dasher decline a DoorDash order?
Answer: A dasher is an independent contractor of the company, they have the choice of orders. They can decline a particular order if they don’t wish to deliver that. Accepting and declining orders is in the hands of the dasher. They have the freedom to choose their order. When they accept and order they have to complete that. Completion Rate is the percentage of deliveries completed by the dasher.
- What is the best time for the dasher to drive for DoorDash?
Answer: Peak time is the best time for a dasher to receive an order. Lunch and dinner are the times when the orders are high and that would be the busiest time to dash. Event days are also great for drivers to dash since people sit at home to watch their match or show they tend to order food from outside. Also, weather plays a part, if it’s raining or snowing people sit at home and order food so this could be the rush hours when orders are more and a better time to drive for DoorDash.