How Much Do Uber Eats Drivers Earn

With Uber Eats Australia growing in popularity, many people are wondering whether this is a career path they should consider.

INFO: Uber Eats is currently not accepting new drivers.

Before jumping into becoming an Uber Eats driver, it’s essential to know how much you’ll get paid and understand all the financial aspects that come with the job.

So, on this note, here is a breakdown of how much Uber Eats drivers earn in Australia.

How Much Do Uber Eats Drivers Make in Australia?

According to multiple sources, an Uber Eats driver pay is up to $45 an hour. This is above the national average ($37.20 an hour) and above the minimum wage of $21.38 an hour.
You can decide for yourself if this is a good salary or not.

In Western Australia, drivers are able to earn up to $40 an hour.

Now, it should be noted that this number was tallied with the information presented by just 18 delivery partners. Due to this, it is difficult to know how accurate and widespread such earnings are.

The OSA, however, calculated that you could potentially make between $6 and $12 per delivery. The average delivery should take about 15 to 30 minutes to complete.

Highest paying cities in Australia for Uber Eats Drivers

City	Hourly Wage
Sydney	$33-$45
Melbourne	$30-$36
Brisbane	$30-$33
Perth	$30-$36

Costs Involved

Starting a career as an Uber Eats driver in Australia involves a few upfront costs that drivers must keep in mind. The expenses of becoming an Uber Eats driver vary based on a few factors, including the mode of transportation you plan to use. Here are the costs you need to consider before signing up as an Uber Eats driver in Australia:

Vehicle: Depending on your preferred mode of transportation, you will need to invest a specific amount of money in getting started. These costs may include:

• $100 – $300 for a bicycle
• $1000-$2000 for electric bicycle
• $1,000 – $5,000 for a motorbike
• $3,000 or more for a car
• $15000 for an electric car (might be a good investment if you are driving all day)

ABN Application: An Australian Business Number (ABN) is necessary to work with Uber Eats. $0 if you are doing it yourself.

Background Check and Right to Work Check: As an Uber Eats driver, you must undergo a background check and Right to Work check. The cost for these checks is approximately $35.

Insulated Bag: Keeping food at the right temperature is essential. An insulated bag will be required for this purpose, and Uber Eats DOES NOT provide one. Costs $50-$60.

Smartphone: A good quality smartphone is essential for Uber Eats drivers, as you need to receive orders and communicate with customers through the app. You probably have one already. If not, expect to pay $300-$1000.

Accessories: Depending on your personal preferences and requirements, you may need to invest in accessories such as phone mounts, chargers, or reflective clothing. The amount varies here.

Before starting as an Uber Eats driver in Australia, it’s vital to keep these costs in mind. By doing so, you can plan your finances accordingly and ensure you have everything you need to hit the road and start earning.

How To Become an Uber Eats Driver?

We have a separate article on how to become an Uber Eats driver in Australia. Or if you want to try out Uber as a rider then sign up here.

To get started with Uber Eats, you will need to download the app that is meant for drivers or riders. This can be done by heading to the Uber Eats website on your mobile device. You will then be provided with a download link.

Steps You Need to Follow

First, you need to sign up with Uber Eats. For this you simply have to provide:

• Email address
• Full Name
• Phone Number
• City
• Password

You will have to be at least 18 years old to be a delivery rider for Uber Eats.

Once this is done, you will have to decide whether you want to deliver via bicycle or motorized vehicle. The future process will depend on your mode of transportation. For bicycles, you will require the following:

• Apply for a background check and right-to-work check
• Complete the bicycle safety test. The exact will depend on the region you are in.
• Complete your profile.
• Complete food safety education modules.

For motorized vehicles, you will need to prove that you meet the minimum age requirements for a driver’s license for the region that you are in.

Uber Eats Driver Requirements

In addition to this, you will need to take the following steps:

• Apply for a background check
• Complete your profile
• Check delivery basics
• Complete food safety modules

It is important to understand that the actual steps and stages for becoming a delivery rider or driver can change on occasion. Due to this, you should always visit the Uber Eats website to find out what the current guidelines are.

How Does Uber Eats Earnings Work?

It is important to understand your earning potential with Uber Eats as well as how your fares are calculated. This gives you a better idea of how much you can earn overall.

First, there is the base fare. This is what you see when you are considering accepting a delivery. It will show you the delivery time, the distance you need to cover, and if the trip has more than one pick-up or drop-off point.

Uber Eats will provide you with a trip supplement under certain circumstances. This includes when there is more traffic than anticipated when you have to wait at a pickup point for longer, as well as when they are fewer delivery riders or drivers available.

In addition to the base fare, Uber Eats also gives riders and drivers an opportunity to earn more money with promotions, including boost zones and surge rates. Boost zones are announced on the app, showing you areas where the trips have increased rates. This can be up to 2.5x your base fare.

Surge zones, on the other hand, are where there are is a higher demand for deliveries, but fewer riders or drivers available. As such, your fee is automatically increased. Not to mention, there is a greater chance of you actually getting a delivery.

If you have to legitimately pass a toll area on your delivery and there is no other option, then you will be reimbursed for this. However, these charges will only be reimbursed for motorised vehicles.

Last, but not least, there are the tips. With Uber Eats, you get to keep 100% of all tips that are provided to you.

How Can You Boost Your Earnings with Uber Eats?

As you can see from the earnings structure, there is a lot of potential to boost your earnings with Uber Eats. If this is something that you are interested in learning how to do, then consider the following guidelines:

The first thing that you need to do is to calculate whether you should be focusing on short-distance deliveries or long-distance ones. This decision depends entirely on where you are located.

Now, if you are in a more metropolitan setting, it will serve you well to focus on short-distance deliveries. These cost less in terms of gas and take up less time. As such, you get to make more money during your shift.

However, if you do work in more remote areas, then long-distance deliveries may be more prosperous. For one thing, these may be the only kind of deliveries that are available. For another, longer deliveries net you more money per delivery.

Another thing to focus on is surge times. More often than not, lunchtime and dinner time is when there is an increase in the number of orders. You may also find that people are more likely to order on some days of the weeks over others.

Once you have figured out what these days and times are, you should position yourself better. Look for clusters of popular restaurants and set yourself up close by. This way, you will have more delivery options to choose from.

Now, this may take a little bit of time and research on your part, but it will be certainly worth the results.

Another thing to pay attention to is the Boost announcements. The company will update you on the app or via email. If there are specific events, for instance, the company will pinpoint areas that are most likely going to require deliveries.

Make sure to stay on top of these announcements so that you can position yourself accordingly.

Since you get to keep all of your tips, it is important to make an extra effort whenever possible. The good news is that this is quite easy to do. It can be as simple as remembering the customer’s name and greeting them enthusiastically. Telling them to enjoy their day or meal can also go a long way.

While this tactic may not always pan out in terms of tips, you are sure to find an increase if you keep up the positive attitude.

What Can Impact Your Earnings?

There are several things that can impact your earnings.

This all begins with the kind of vehicle that you are using.

In Australia, you can rely on a bicycle, scooter, or car to make your deliveries. While cars allow you to travel farther and faster, they also require more maintenance costs. This includes fuel, insurance, service, etc.

So, if you live in an area where you can make lots of short-distance deliveries, a bicycle or scooter may be the more prudent option.

Speaking of which, the area or region that you are delivering can have a huge impact on your earnings. This is because the app tends to be more popular in some areas than others. Not to mention, some regions will order food to be delivered more than others.

As previously mentioned, the overall number of Uber Eats drivers or riders in the same area as you can have a significant effect on your earnings.

If you work in an area with many other drivers, then the competition is high. Due to this, you aren’t going to get as many orders. In turn, you won’t be able to make as much money.

In regions where this isn’t such a popular concept, though, earning potential is higher. Not only do you have access to more orders, but there is a great chance of accepting surge rates.

Now, a lot of people use Uber Eats as a way to supplement their main income. You’ll only have a limited number of hours each day to deliver food.

If these hours don’t coincide with popular mealtimes or order times, then you will automatically make less than the maximum possible amount. On the other hand, if you can choose your own hours, then you will be able to make surge hour work in your favour.

The Impact of the Pandemic on Earnings

One of the reasons that you may be considering signing up with Uber Eats Australia is due to the increase in food deliveries across the country. This has naturally led to more openings for delivery riders or drivers.

Despite the rise in food deliveries, the pandemic has actually had a negative impact on earnings for drivers and riders. This is because there is now an increase in the number of delivery individuals, there isn’t enough work to go around.

Before the pandemic, an Uber Eats delivery rider could expect to earn $200 a day. During, however, this number has dropped to as little as $50. On some days, riders and drivers have spent entire shifts without earning any money at all.

One report mentions that the riders are making just $10 an hour, meaning that employees are making almost 50% less than the national average minimum average.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the more frequently asked questions about becoming an Uber Eats driver in Australia:

How Much Can Uber Eats Drivers Make?

It is estimated that the average rider or driver can make between $6 and $12 with every delivery. The actual rates, however, can depend on delivery time and distance, regular or surge rates, and other factors. Also, the actual rates can differ according to location and time of day.

Can You Make a $1000 a Week with Uber Eats?

Since there are so many factors to consider including how much time you can spend as an Uber Eats driver, it is difficult to know if every driver can make this amount. Not to mention, in the current situation, Uber Eats drivers are earning less than before. In some cases, though, it may be possible to earn up to $1000 a week.

Is It Worth It to Become an Uber Eats Driver?

It isn’t always financially viable to become an Uber Eats driver. However, if you live in an area where Uber Eats is relatively popular (for example Sydney and Melbourne) and where you can expect more deliveries, then it can be a good idea. This is also true if there are a limited number of delivery riders or drivers, allowing you to get more orders than before.

Conclusion

Here is all that you need to know about how much Uber Eats drivers earn in Australia. What do you think about the pay rate? Is it high enough?

Anyway, you can sign up as an Uber Eats driver here.

As you can see, it is quite difficult to pinpoint an amount or even a range. This is because there are so many different factors to consider.

Under normal circumstances, though, becoming an Uber Eats driver or rider may be quite profitable. This is especially true for those who undertake this job to supplement their primary income. Here, you may be able to make a tidy profit, particularly when you make an appropriate plan to boost your potential fee.