If you’ve ever wondered how delivery drivers are faring on the other side of the pond, TikTok user Tiana has lifted the lid on what she makes in an hour as a DoorDash driver.
DoorDash is a US delivery service with a similar model to the likes of Deliveroo, Just Eat and UberEats here in the UK.
The San Francisco-based firm has operations across the US, Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, and New Zealand.
Its drivers’ earnings are made of three factors: base pay, which is calculated by time, distance and desirability; promotions such as peak-time pay and driver challenges; and tips.
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Driver are also able to pocket 100% of their tips.
In a clip posted to TikTok (way back in 2022) under the moniker @tiana.com, Tiana takes viewers with her as she does an hour’s work for DoorDash, starting at 6:30pm.
"Hey it's currently 6:30,” says Tiana. “I'm gonna DoorDash right now and let's see how much money we make.”
It’s not long before she’s picked up her first order: "First, order $8.75 picking up from some random restaurant that I don't know."
Following some confusion over the pickup location, Tiana then makes it to the right restaurant.
“This s**t smells amazing," she says upon pickup.
Once the delivery is made, Tiana says she got a $7 tip from the “rich people” she dropped to, and she’s then straight onto the next order.
"Next one is $9.25, it's from this place called Koi - sounds fancy so let's do it," she says.
"Definitely fancy,” she continues. “Also this feels, like, so light like it's probably just like one roll of sushi, but you know who orders that? Rich people."
It’s not long before she realises she’s almost out of fuel, and her hour is up.
By the end, she says she made $21 over the hour but, after refuelling for $25, it equated to “ minus $4”. Ouch.
"I DoorDash too, and it takes me all day just to make a $100, there's no money in it," said one commenter on Tiana’s video.
Another said: "As a delivery driver myself, one hour with DoorDash minus gas sounds about right."
Someone else said: "I’ve learned the first hour is just your gas money and I always dash for at least three or more hours."
For some added context, the living wage in the US averages to somewhere between $15 and $20 an hour depending on the state.
If you can get through a lot of orders quickly and you get some generous tippers, you could potentially make enough to live on via DoorDash, although it seems a tall order.
Also it's worth noting that obviously Tiana posted her video back in 2022, so prices and tips may differ now.
We have contacted DoorDash for comment.
Topics: DoorDash, US Food, Restaurants and bars
Kerri-Ann Roper