How Much Can You Actually Make Driving Uber?
I love uber driving. I love the flexible hours, absence of a boss, and freedom to choose when and where I work.
But how profitable has it been after five years behind the wheel? I want to share an extensive breakdown of my earnings, expenses, and insights I’ve gained from more than 13,000 trips.
My Earnings Breakdown
Over five years, I’ve earned more than $176,579 driving my Uber. Here’s how my earnings have broken down:
Fares: $125,592
Promotions: $24,999
Tips: $23,778
Miscellaneous (like sick leave): $2,208
After deducting expenses, my net earnings are roughly $125,022.
The Real Costs of Driving
To earn that income, I’ve driven approximately 177,956 miles. These include commuting to busy areas, chasing demand, and positioning myself strategically near airports or college campuses. In my Tesla Model Y, my driving expenses are around 30 cents per mile, comprising:
Fuel (Charging Costs): $0.04/mile
Maintenance: $0.04/mile (including future battery replacements)
Depreciation: $0.15/mile
Taxes: $0.07/mile
I also have monthly fixed expenses total about $280, covering Tesla’s Full Self-Driving subscription, car wash subscriptions, Panera’s unlimited drink subscription, and a Planet Fitness membership.
Evolving Income Patterns
My income streams have shifted significantly over the years:
Early Days: My earnings initally relied heavily on short trips when I was commuting to and from work.
Peak Period: Then I started maxing my surges and promotions driving late at night on college campuses.
Current Strategy: Airport and reservation rides have become my main income drivers, reducing my reliance on promotions but increasing my tips significantly.
Enhancing Profitability and Efficiency
I’m averaging around $1,661 per week (before expenses), translating to approximately $25 per hour after all costs. By prioritizing longer, high-value rides, my per-trip earnings have increased to an average of $17, compared to $7-$8 when I first started.
My Key Strategies for Maximizing My Earnings
Choose long, valuable trips: Minimize my downtime and increase earnings on every single trip.
Prioritize tipping: Tipping has become an extremely valuable part of my earnings.
Strategically plan driving: I still try to get surges and promotions, but I make sure to to focus on reservations.
Essential Lessons from My 5-Year Experience
Uber works best part-time: It’s great for extra income or covering small expenses but can be challenging to maintain as a full-time career.
Strategic planning is essential: If you want to make the most money you need to plan when and where you're going to drive.
Discipline matters: Regular tracking of income and disciplined scheduling are key to sustaining profitability.
Live economically: Keeping personal expenses low ensures greater financial stability as a rideshare driver.
My Final Thoughts
Like I said, I love Uber driving. But it's hard and you won't make much money. Or at least, I don't make that much money.
