The gig economy has been a controversial topic for many years now, with pay being the main sticking point. There’s a very good chance you’ve made use of it, either through apps like Deliveroo and Getir or through particular parcel couriers, but our convenience often comes at the expense of worker stress.
Gig economy workers are usually paid for each job they complete rather than getting an hourly wage. Some factors, like traffic, difficult building entry, and vehicle choice can all have a big bearing on a gig economy worker’s earning potential, and some struggle to make ends meet.
The same is true in the US, and back in 2023 one TikToker took to social media to reveal how much she gets paid per order.
Karyna Diaz, who lived in Las Vegas at the time of the recording, detailed how much she got in base pay and tips for each order, as well as how far she had to travel to complete each one.
Karyna, who was driving a car to complete her jobs, also has to deduct fuel costs from her overall pay as there’s no fuel relief provided by Uber Eats.
Jobs pop up on the Uber Eats app, with basic information such as base pay, distance, upfront tips, and the outlet to pick up from, and drivers then select which ones they want to take on.
"I already picked up my first order,” she says at the beginning of the TikTok clip. “This one's from Chick-fil-A. This one's $7 for only three miles…Just got my second order. This one's from The Bar. It's $8 for two miles away."
She continues: "Just got another order. This one is from Egg Works. This is paying $10 for three miles… Just got an order from Einstein Bros. This one is $7 for two miles away.”
The mileage continues to rack up: "Just picked up a Taco Bell order. This one is $8 for two miles… 7/11 order. This one was $5 for just one mile."
By the end of the video, Diaz revealed she had made $172 over a seven-hour shift. She deliberately worked in what she called a “rich area” to increase the likelihood of good tips.
Her fuel costs for the shift amounted to $25, leaving her with $147 before tax. That amounts to $21 an hour, which might be enough to scrape by.
In 2025, the estimated living wage in Nevada is $23.85. Pay rates may have increased slightly since Karyna’s 2023 video, and at the time Karyna seemed quite pleased with her takings.
That said, for Diaz Uber Eats is a side hustle. At the time of the video, she was a stay-at-home mum (SAHM) but would jump in the car for the occasional shift when she was in need of some extra cash.
Many commenters couldn’t believe how much she had made in that time, and also noted that pay rates would often be lower depending on location.
"It’s most deff not a good side hustle,” said one.
"SAHM, I work about 5-8hrs and barely reach $40 in my area,” said one commenter who clearly operates in a less well-paid area. “Mind you, my gas is $50."
A third wrote: "The orders I get be like '$9 dollars, 12 miles'."
The setup does seem to work for some people, though: "Such a good side hustle! I do this on my days off of work."
Pay rates do vary between locations, and whether it’s worth someone’s time may well be dependent on how efficiently they can get from order to order.
There’s a very good reason why London’s roads are full of modified e-bikes: it’s a cheap and efficient way for delivery drivers to zip about and maximise their earnings.
Featured Image Credit: Mike Kemp via Getty ImagesTopics: Uber Eats , TikTok, Social Media
Rachael Davis