$15–$30
Gross per active hour
Before any expenses are subtracted
Driver Earnings · Deep Dive
What Uber drivers really keep per hour
A deep dive on the one number that matters most — hourly net after gas, depreciation, and self-employment tax, broken down by vehicle type.
Our full earnings breakdown covers weekly, yearly, and by-city numbers. This one zooms all the way in on a single question: what's your actual hourly rate, once every real cost is subtracted — and how much does the vehicle you drive change that number?
The honest answer depends more on your car than most drivers assume.
The TL;DR
Gross, net, and the gap between themThe three numbers
$9.21
EPI net floor
2024 study, after expenses + self-employment tax
15–30¢
Cost per mile
Fuel/charging + maintenance + depreciation combined
By Vehicle Type
The car you drive changes your real hourly rateGas vs hybrid vs EV, per-mile cost
| Vehicle type | Fuel/charge cost | Maintenance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas sedan/compact | $0.12–$0.18/mi | $0.06–$0.10/mi | Most common baseline — moderate on both lines |
| Gas SUV/larger vehicle | $0.16–$0.24/mi | $0.07–$0.12/mi | Higher fuel cost, needed for UberXL/comfort tiers |
| Hybrid | $0.06–$0.10/mi | $0.05–$0.09/mi | Meaningful fuel savings, similar maintenance to gas |
| Electric (home charging) | $0.03–$0.06/mi | $0.03–$0.06/mi | Lowest running cost — charging time is the trade-off |
| Electric (public fast charging) | $0.08–$0.14/mi | $0.03–$0.06/mi | Narrows the EV cost advantage significantly |
Depreciation isn't in this table because it doesn't vary as cleanly by fuel type — it's driven more by the vehicle's purchase price and mileage accumulation. It's typically the single largest per-mile cost regardless of what's in the tank, which is exactly why it's easy to underestimate.
Do The Math
Four steps to your real numberHow to calculate your own hourly net
- 01
Start with a full week's gross.
Use the actual number the app reports for a representative week, not a single good shift — one great night skews the average badly.
- 02
Subtract real fuel or charging cost, plus an estimated maintenance + depreciation figure.
Use the per-mile ranges in the table above for your vehicle type. If you don't track mileage precisely yet, the IRS standard mileage rate (70¢/mile in 2025) is a reasonable single stand-in for maintenance + depreciation + fuel combined.
- 03
Subtract 15.3% self-employment tax on what's left.
This is Social Security + Medicare — there's no employer to split it with as a 1099 contractor, so it comes entirely out of your net.
- 04
Divide by hours the app was actually on — not just hours with a passenger.
Utilization typically runs 60–75%. Dividing by clocked app-on time instead of active-trip time is the single most common mistake that makes drivers overestimate their real hourly rate.
★ Skip the manual math
The driver earnings calculator does all four steps automatically.
Enter your city, weekly hours, and driving mix (rides, Eats, or both) and it returns your estimated net hourly, weekly, monthly, and yearly income after the typical expense and tax take. Try the calculator →
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FAQ
Frequently askedHourly pay after expenses questions
How much do Uber drivers make per hour after expenses?
Gross runs $15–$30+/hour depending on city and time of day. After gas or charging, maintenance, depreciation, and self-employment tax, the 2024 Economic Policy Institute analysis put the W-2-equivalent net at roughly $9.21/hour — though drivers who track mileage deductions and drive peak hours routinely land closer to $20–$25/hour net.
Do electric vehicles make Uber driving more profitable per hour?
Usually, yes, on the cost side — EV per-mile energy costs typically run well below gas, and maintenance is lower (no oil changes, fewer moving parts). The trade-off is charging time, which isn't paid driving time, and higher upfront vehicle cost or lease payment. For high-mileage full-time drivers, the fuel savings usually outweigh the charging-time cost over a full week.
What's the single biggest expense that eats into hourly pay?
Depreciation, not gas. It's the least visible cost because no receipt shows up for it, but it's typically the largest per-mile expense category — which is exactly why the IRS standard mileage deduction (which bundles depreciation into one number) matters so much at tax time.
How do I calculate my own real hourly rate?
Take a full week's gross earnings, subtract actual fuel/charging cost and an estimated per-mile maintenance + depreciation figure (roughly 15–30¢/mile combined), subtract 15.3% self-employment tax on the remainder, then divide by hours the app was actually on (not just hours with a passenger). Our driver earnings calculator does this math automatically.
Does driving more hours per week increase or decrease net hourly pay?
Neither automatically — it depends which hours you add. Adding peak-window hours (commute, nightlife, airport runs) raises your average. Adding off-peak hours (weekday midday, early Sunday morning) lowers it, because gross per-hour is much thinner in those windows while your per-mile costs stay constant.
About this guide
Editorial · Hourly Pay Deep Dive 2026
Written and reviewed by the URC editorial desk — an independent Uber driver who built this site to replace the noise of expired-code blog posts and outdated Reddit threads with a single, honest reference. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Uber Technologies, Inc.
Methodology. Per-mile cost bands by vehicle type are drawn from typical fuel/electricity pricing, manufacturer maintenance schedules, and standard depreciation curves rather than a single fixed figure, since actual cost varies by specific make/model and local fuel prices. The EPI net-hourly floor and self-employment tax rate are as cited in our full driver earnings analysis.
Sources
- Economic Policy Institute (2024). The Pay of Uber and Lyft Drivers Continues to Be Much Lower Than the U.S. Average.
- IRS (2025). Standard Mileage Rates — Notice 2024-91 (70¢ per business mile).
- U.S. Department of Energy — Alternative Fuels Data Center, EV and hybrid cost-per-mile estimates.
- Gridwise Driver Earnings & Insights Reports (quarterly, 2024–2026).
Last reviewed: August 27, 2026