Recently, Uber Eats delivery drivers began getting unusually low payouts for orders—as low as $1.44. Base payouts are typically around $3, so drivers wonder why pay is dipping to absurd new lows.
UPDATE: The low payouts were most likely caused by a glitch. Trip supplements and tip info was left out of upfront payments. After completing the order, the actual payouts were much higher than the low upfront estimates.
Is base pay less than $3 now? Shared by WREAK_HAVOC925 on Reddit
If you accepted all of those orders and completed them in the estimated time, your pay would be around $6 per hour!
Is there a glitch with the Uber Eats order system? Is Uber testing a new pay model? Or are economic factors driving prices down lower than ever before?
Read on to see more examples of low pay on Uber Eats, why it’s happening, and what factors can lead to low delivery pay even when Uber isn’t actively lowering pay for drivers.
More examples of super low pay on Uber Eats
Below are Uber Eats drivers who experienced unusually low minimum payouts.
This driver in San Diego got an order offer for only $1.98.
Would you take this? Shared by shimmerchick on Reddit
Only $1.44?? That’s the lowest we’ve ever seen, and it isn’t even an order add-on.
A new low. Shared by SnooDogs559 on Reddit
Are these low payouts a glitch?
Order minimums are typically around $3, so some drivers think that these low payouts may be a glitch.
One driver said, “Yes, it was a glitch. The trip supplements and upfront tip estimates were not being included in the total shown to drivers. I cleaned up that day on orders that had been kicking around and still showed up as $2-3, but in reality were $15-20.”
Uber may be testing new order minimums
If these low payouts aren’t a glitch, it likely means that Uber is testing new order minimums. The lowest base pay for most orders was around $3, but now it looks like it maybe closer to $2.
Uber is closing in on profitability, so it’s not a surprise that they are experimenting with lower driver pay to improve their bottom line.
What is the lowest base pay on Uber Eats?
Uber doesn’t say what the lowest base pay is, but in most cities, the lowest payout from Uber is typically around $3.
To quickly refresh you on how payouts work for Uber Eats, the payout formula is: Base fare + trip supplement + promotions + tips
How delivery pay works. Notice no specific numbers for base fare
Uber says that base fare includes your pay for pickup, drop-off, time, and distance. But it isn’t a permanent, set figure and the minimum is subject to change.
Without any trip supplement, promotions (like Quest and Boost), or tips, drivers are paid only the base fare.
In the past, delivery pay was calculated using a formula that had specific rates for pickups, drop-offs, time, and distance. The current model doesn’t specify rates for pickups and drop-offs. What you see upfront is what you get.
What is average pay on Uber Eats?
According to our study of the top driver data sources, the average Uber Eats pay is around $15—$20 per hour.
But earnings can climb way higher or dive way lower than the average. Earnings are also highly market dependent: A driver in a busy city like San Francisco has higher earnings potential than a driver in a much smaller market.
The time of day, day of week, and time of year are also important factors that can affect earnings.
- Real data shows how much Uber Eats drivers really make
- The best days and times to drive for delivery apps
What can you do about low pay?
You might not be able to change Uber’s delivery payout system, but there are things you can do to boost your earnings.
Cherry pick orders: Skip the bad ones! You are free to decline any order, so feel free to skip orders that don’t meet your earnings criteria.
“No tip no trip” is a good rule of thumb. If it’s obvious that an order is base pay without a tip, skip it.
Remember that your acceptance rate doesn’t really matter—declining orders will not lead to deactivation.
But one potential consequence is that you may lose some upfront info if your acceptance rate drops too low.
What are you supposed to do when order after order is only $3 or less? You can only decline so many orders before it feels like you’re wasting your time.
Drive for other apps: The best strategy is to sign up for as many delivery & gig apps as you can and follow the money. You are rarely rewarded for loyalty in the gig economy.
If you get 10 terrible Uber Eats orders in a row, hop onto DoorDash or Instacart and see if you can do better.
Is this a sign of the economic times? Is Uber Eats still viable?
Delivery drivers are used to the occasionally low-paying order, but Uber Eats might not stay viable as a gig if this surge of low paying orders continues.
Low base pay from Uber is one issue, and an increase in non-tipping customers is another.
Tips from customers are included in the up front pay estimate, so if a delivery is only paying $2–$3, you know that the customer didn’t tip.
The occasionally non-tipping customer isn’t unusual, but back-to-back orders with low base pay and no tips is bad news for delivery drivers.
Base pay less than $3 is still a new phenomenon, so we will have to see if delivery drivers accept the new lower pay, or flee to other gig apps & jobs.
Alfonzo says
Uber eats is two days late paying out my prop 22 guarantee and mileage reimbursement in LA. Weird that I’m subsidizing a multi-million dollar company by fronting them some operating costs, just to be paid late.
Joy says
I’ve noticed the super low ball orders also. My lowest was $2.42!!! Of course that got X’ed out real quick!! The Walmart orders also don’t make any sense whatsoever to me. I’ve taken a few, but when it shows up it’s never what’s the total drop offs until you accept it. Also the other issue is, I know I’m not going to get any tips with these type of orders. So they want me to make 5 or 6 stops, that takes up to 2 hours for $20?!? That’s only $10 an hour when minimum wage is $15. The low deliveries are 1 thing bc I can get tips, and sometimes if I really hustle I can deliver 3 orders an hour. But I don’t kno how the Walmart thing is even allowed with that type of low pay! I’m hoping something changes especially since the owner did that undercover boss thing and saw firsthand how we’re treated, plus low pay plus we’re putting wear and tear on our vehicles.
Donna Waddell says
And safety issues! That 2.12 Chick-fil-A sandwich order is not worth risking my life on the road or walking up to the door! I would rather take it up to their non-tipping door and stomp it in the ground!
YAP says
This is absolutely unacceptable business practice! I will be moving on. I drove today like 30 minutes away from the hotspot I was in and then customer tipped nothing at all! All for $2 “base pay” from Uber Eats! I spent more on gas! I’m a foster parent would never dare open nor touch someone else’s food! No wonder they reported a 49percent increase in their company earnings. Giving a delivery driver a measly $2 base pay and no tip is beyond me. Door dash and Instacart here I come. I know my worth and it definitely is more than a measly $2 for a 30 minute trip! Despicable!!!!
Olivia Cain says
I had a 2x boost last night on fare and 3.74, which means it was 1.87 base… for a 10+ minute drive, I am considering never driving again.
Greg Weis says
Yeah this is saying that that’s a glitch that is not a glitch those are actual offers that happen all the time every day I get an offer for a dollar or two every day these are not glitches Uber eats does not pay enough per trip
Jessica says
Haha nibble on your food?? I’ve respectfully drop off untouched door to every person but low paying customers I won’t mind if their food gets cold. If your that lazy to get up and get your own food. Or just tip based on distance and time. It’s like going to a restaurant with and sitting and you don’t tip.. except the driver has to drive their own vehicle to you..lazyyy
Debbra says
I have noticed where UberEats is really getting over on the delivery driver when a second delivery is added. Most orders they are making more then the driver, example I had a Walmart batch order 5 drops totaling 35 miles I was payed $19.05 but UberEats was paid $35.00! Why is that. I have been seeing this a lot on second deliveries where they still make more then the driver even with a tip. Each order should still be considered as 1 for the drivers sake, my goodness we put our vehicles through some stuff to be treated like we do not mean anything at all.
Greg Weis says
It is ridiculous Uber eats makes more than every delivery driver on every delivery and we pay for gas insurance tires tickets weather traffic etc
Sheila says
I drive/delivery for Uber Eats and my lowest base pay was 77cent, I kid you not. I called Uber Support because I was piss. I took a screen shot of it.
Judy Trac says
You guys nibble on my deliveries. What do u expect? High tips to deliver eaten food?
Nibbler69 says
Well what you expect they gotta eat somehow with the stingy tips and Uber middle Manning half their profits. See the circular reasoning