Are Doordash drivers paid hourly?

If you are a Doordash driver, you certainly know the answer to this question. If you are a Doordash customer, someone considering becoming a Doordash driver or just someone that is curious, you may be surprised to know that Doordash drivers are not paid an hourly wage.

In fact, Doordash drivers are not even employed by Doordash. They are not Doordash employees. They are independent contractors that work for themselves. That's right, they are small business owners that contract with Doordash to make deliveries for them.

Most customer think dashers are Doordash employees

Why wouldn't they? Most people are accustomed to the 9 to 5 employee that works for an hourly wage. Why would they think that Doordash drivers are any different? Many customers also see dashers as just deliver drivers. This is not what they picture when they think of a business owner.

 

 

 

In most people's minds, those that deliver food most likely have a job and a boss that supervises them. Unknown to them is that dashers work for themselves. They work when they want, and they contract with any delivery that they want. As independent contractors, they can also deny any offer they choose to. If they were employees, they would have to accept every delivery offer that they received.

If dashers are not pay hourly, how are they paid?

Dashers are paid on a per call basis. This means that when they are offered a delivery, there is a set payment amount that they see. As an independent contractor, they are free to accept or decline the offer. All calls pay a different amount with payments ranging from $2 and up. Some calls will pay $20 plus, but the majority of calls pay between $6 and $8.

 

 

This is why tips are very important to dashers

When a dasher is not on a call, they are not making any money. This is why many dashers will complain about cheap tippers; or worst yet, the no tippers. The overall pay for a call is made up of base pay and the customers tip. When there is a low tip, or no tip at all, the overall pay for the delivery will be very small, and many dashers will pass up on the offer.

 

 

A note about Dashers in California

Gig companies in the state of California have to abide with Prop 22. The law went into effect a few years ago and entitles California gig workers a guaranteed minimum pay of 120% of minimum wage. Even though dashers in California are paid just like other dashers across the United States, if they do not earn 120% of minimum wage for their active time (not including tips,) the gig company is obligated to make up the difference.