Key Takeaways
- Delivery driver jobs offer flexible hours, allowing you to work part-time or full-time based on your availability. With the ability to choose your own schedule, you can maximize your earnings by working during peak hours or high-demand periods.
- Whether you prefer delivering food or packages, there are numerous job options available. Food delivery drivers often receive tips in addition to base pay, while package delivery can offer more consistent routes and pay structures.
- Most delivery driver jobs require minimal qualifications, typically just a valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle. Many companies offer quick onboarding processes, meaning you can start earning in a few days with little upfront investment.
Best Delivery Driver Apps
Delivery Job Top Pick
DollarBreak’s test earnings – $115.50 over 5 active hours
Decide when, where, and how much you work
No experience or training required
Best for Personal Shoppers
DollarBreak’s test earnings – $60.63 over 5 hours before expenses
Earn at least $4 for every order
Get $10 for each friend you refer
Great for Snacks Deliveries
DollarBreak’s test earnings – $77.49 over 5 hours including tips
Available in 1000+ US cities
Schedule shifts in advance
Best for Delivering Packages
Shipt claims that no offer will be less than $16 per hour
Drive every now and then or 7 days a week
Easy sign-up process (around 10 min)
10 Delivery Driver Apps
DoorDash
DoorDash Summary
- Flexible working hours
- DollarBreak’s test earnings – $115.50 over 5 active hours
- No experience or training required
- Daily payments available
- Special perks and rewards for drivers
- 10% cash back on gas surcharges
Our Experience and Earnings with DoorDash
How DoorDash Works
DoorDash is a platform that provides customers with food delivery services from various local restaurants. Becoming a Dasher and making money delivering food with DoorDash can be among the highest-paying food delivery driver jobs.
The steps to becoming a Dasher include:
- Sign up to become a Dasher on the company’s website
- Schedule your Dasher orientation meeting at DoorDash office where you’ll do the following:
- Listen to a quick presentation of how the app works
- Sign a tax form
- Pick up DoorDash branded shirt, a prepaid shopping card and insulated bags to deliver hot products.
- Complete sign up by passing the basic background check.
- Get the Dasher app (Android or iOS) and earn money as a delivery driver.
DoorDash allows you to fulfill deliveries using a car, bike, scooter or motorcycle.
GoPuff
GoPuff Summary
- Potential to earn up to $21 per hour
- Additional ways to earn extra cash
- Good side hustle even with a full-time job
- Work as much or as little as you want
GoPuff is a platform that provides delivery services for essential goods like cleaning supplies, groceries, snacks and others on demand. Plus, you can get paid to deliver alcohol.
If you want to become a delivery driver for GoPuff, you need to:
- Sign up and fill out your contact information on the company’s website
- Next, provide detailed information about yourself and pass a basic background check. You should also upload photos of your car and required documents, such as car insurance
- Once the GoPuff recruiters approve your application, they’ll invite you for an onboarding meeting. During this meeting, you’ll listen to a presentation about the company and best practices to increase your earnings. You will also sign the agreement and fill out the tax form
- Download the GoPuff app on your iPhone or Android smartphone, and you can start delivering orders on the platform
As a delivery driver with GoPuff, you can earn up to $21 plus tips per hour.
Grubhub
Grubhub allows its customers to order food from their favorite restaurants and have it delivered to their doorsteps. You can also sign up to become a delivery driver with GrubHub to earn some extra cash.
To sign up for food delivery driver jobs with GrubHub, simply:
- Apply online on Grubhub website or using an app (for Android or iOS)
- Pass a criminal background check
- Access onboarding meeting covering the app functionality, scheduling, deliveries, etc.
- Sign the agreement and tax form
- Get car decals, warming bags and more from Grubhub
Delivering with Grubhub you can earn on average $15 per hour.
Instacart
Instacart Summary
- 2 different types of work available
- Earn up to $10 per full-service order
- Get $10 for each friend you refer
- Work as much or as little as you want
- Choose which batches to accept
- Cash out your earnings in 2 hours
Instacart is an on-demand grocery delivery platform that offers one of the best delivery driver jobs on the market. As an Instacart delivery driver, your job involves visiting grocery stores to help customers purchase their orders and then delivering them to customers’ addresses.
Here’s how to get a job as a delivery driver for Instacart:
- Sign up as an Instacart full-service shopper on the company’s website
- Download the Shopper app for Android or iOS to complete your sign up and start your background check process
- Pass a background check and get approved
- Fill out the paperwork. You need to sign an independent contractor agreement and W-9 tax form
You can earn on average $1,500 per week as a full-service delivery driver. In addition, you can also keep 100% of all tips you receive. Thus, you can boost your earnings on the platform by providing superb customer service.
Shipt
Shipt Summary
- High earnings potential in some areas
- Get a paycheck on a weekly basis
- Start shopping within 5 days of approval
- Easy to apply to become a shopper
Shipt is a US-based on-demand delivery service provider for groceries and household essentials.
To become a delivery driver with Shipt, you will need to:
- Sign up as a Shipt shopper on the company’s website and answer simple questions that will show your communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Submit video responses showing your communication skills and familiarity with Shipt mobile app
- Sign the Shipt Shopper agreement
- Once you get approved, download the Shipt app (for Android and iOS) to start delivering orders
With Shipt, you can earn $22 per hour and keep 100% of customer tips. However, you must be at least 18 and own a 1997 or newer vehicle to become a delivery driver with Shipt. You must also be able to lift at least 40 pounds since some larger orders may require heavy lifting.
Uber Eats
Uber Eats is a food delivery service provided by Uber. You can join the platform as a delivery driver to earn some extra cash. The platform allows almost anyone to join and start delivering food. In general, most delivery drivers on the platform deliver by car, although you can delivery on foot or on bike in some cities.
Becoming a delivery driver for Uber Eats is relatively simple:
- Sign up as a driver on the company’s website
- Pass a screening process and upload required documents along with your photo
- Get approved and start accepting orders to deliver.
As a delivery driver with Uber Eats, you can earn between $8 to $12 per hour, plus tips.
Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex allows you to earn money by delivering Amazon orders to customers’ doorsteps.
Becoming an Amazon Flex delivery driver is simple:
- Sign up for Amazon Flex driver
- Choose the service area where you’ll pick up and deliver Amazon packages
- Provide tax and payment details
- Download the Amazon Flex app (for Android and iOS) to find the orders
- Get approved and start delivering
As an Amazon Flex delivery driver, you can earn on average $18-25 per hour, meaning that you could earn more than $1,000 weekly.
Roadie
Roadie is an on-demand delivery driver app that connects delivery drivers with people who need to transport a package from one location to another. The platform is designed to help drivers earn extra cash on trips they are already making.
According to the company, you can earn up to $12 for local trips. To maximize your earnings, you can also take on 2 to 3 deliveries per trip heading in the same direction.
Favor Delivery
Favor Delivery is one of the top food delivery platforms based in the US. You can sign up for delivery driver jobs on the platform. Delivery drivers with Favor Delivery are known as Runners.
To become a Runner, simply follow these steps:
- Fill out a Runner application indicating basic information, such as your name and contact info
- Pass a quick background check
- Schedule an orientation meeting, which takes about 45 minutes to an hour. During this orientation, you’ll learn tips and tricks from top-earning runners to start your delivery career on the right path. Don’t forget to bring your driver’s license and direct deposit information with you because you’ll also need to do the paperwork.
- Download the Runner app on your iPhone or Android and start accepting orders.
Favor Delivery pays between $10 to $18 per hour.
GoShare
GoShare connects truck drivers on-demand to people who need help to deliver large items like furniture and home appliances or need help moving. The amount you can earn will vary based on the type of vehicle that you use to carry out deliveries.
| Type of the vehicle | Average earnings per hour |
|---|---|
| Cars, SUVs, Minivans | $45 |
| Standard Pickup Truck | $70 |
| Labor Only | $60 |
| Full-Sized Cargo Van | $105 |
| Box Truck | $168 |
To become a GoShare driver, simply follow the steps below:
- Download the GoShare app on your iPhone or Android phone
- Submit the online application
- Watch the orientation video provided after you sign up
- Pass vehicle inspection
- Pass background check
How Much Do Delivery Drivers Make a Day?
On average, delivery drivers make $82 – $114 per day. However, this amount may vary depending on the delivery company you partner with.
You can refer to the average pay rates featured in this article to determine how much you can earn by working as a delivery driver.
How to Become a Delivery Driver?
The exact requirements to become a delivery driver will vary based on the specific platform you choose to work with. Nonetheless, some general provisions apply to most delivery driver jobs.
Some of these general requirements include:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Own a vehicle that is insured
- Provide a clear criminal record
- Have an up-to-date iPhone or Android smartphone
Be sure to check with the particular platform for information on their requirements for becoming a delivery driver, as they may vary.
Is It Dangerous to be a Delivery Driver?
The most prominent danger delivery drivers face is road accidents. Especially people who deliver on bikes or mopeds are at risk of getting severe injuries caused by accidents. However, accidents are covered by your insurance.
On occasion, there are more extreme dangers that delivery drivers may experience, like robbery. Nonetheless, it would be best if you were not too concerned about these since they generally don’t occur very frequently.
How to Become The World’s Best Delivery Driver?
Here are some tips to become better at your job as a delivery driver:
- Be friendly and communicate with your customers when necessary. For example, notify them you’ll be late when stuck in traffic.
- Be a safe driver and try to lower your stress while you’re stuck in traffic, not letting road rage take over. Most employers only recruit delivery drivers with clean driving records, so keep them clean.
- Plan your routes efficiently to fulfill as many daily orders as possible.
- Be patient. You will have to wait for restaurants to prepare orders or for your customers to come to the door. Either way, keep calm.
- Be attentive and make sure nothing smooshes, breaks, spills or leaks during transportation.
Which Delivery Jobs Pay The Most?
There are many platforms offering delivery driver jobs. However, regarding which delivery company pays the most to drivers, Peach is a clear winner. Peach offers the highest hourly payout of $30 to $55 per hour. If you work consistently and average 40 hours per week, you can earn between $4,800 to $8,800 monthly.
Nonetheless, Peach may not be available in all US cities. Thus, you may also consider joining a platform like Instacart or DoorDash, which are available in most US cities.
Note that you’re an independent contractor when working with delivery companies. Thus, your total earnings depend on you and might vary based on how many orders you fulfill daily.
What is The Best Food Delivery Service to Work for?
If you are wondering what is the best food delivery service to work for, some of the top options include:
- DoorDash
- Uber Eats
- GrubHub
- Favor Delivery
- GoPuff
Here are the platforms ranked based on the amount you can earn as a delivery driver with them.
| Best Food Delivery Service to Work For | Earning Potential |
|---|---|
| DoorDash | DollarBreak’s test earnings – $115.50 over 5 active hours |
| Uber Eats | Up to $12 per order |
| GrubHub | Up to $15 per hour |
| Favor Delivery | Up to $18 per hour |
| GoPuff | Up to $15 per hour |
How to Become a Food Delivery Driver?
While some food delivery platforms allow you to complete deliveries by bike, most platforms will require access to an insured vehicle and a valid driver’s license. Although most companies will require you to pass a background check, this is often a formality for most people.
Most platforms will also require you to have a smartphone to manage and track your deliveries.
In fact, if you’re super organized, you can even work for multiple platforms, increasing your earning potential. Just be sure not to mix up your orders so that your customer satisfaction ratings don’t decrease.
