In the evolving landscape of the gig economy, October 2024 brought notable shifts and insights into rideshare and food delivery earnings across the United States. For gig workers relying on platforms like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub, understanding how earnings vary month-over-month, across states, and even by day of the week can be key to maximizing income.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into the trends and fluctuations in gig work earnings, highlighting which regions and days offer the highest payouts. With data on rideshare and food delivery trends, this analysis provides valuable guidance for gig workers aiming to optimize their earnings in the competitive gig economy.
The Solo Market Pulse Report aims to bridge the gap between drivers and the information they need to make informed decisions about their gig work businesses.
Check out the numbers for October in Solo’s sixth monthly Market Pulse to see how gig economy earnings for rideshare and food delivery have changed month-over-month!
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Rideshare Trends and Earnings in the Gig Economy in October 2024
Ridesharing platforms like Uber and Lyft have significantly altered urban transportation, providing convenient alternatives to traditional taxis. However, earnings in the rideshare sector of the gig economy can fluctuate significantly based on various factors such as location, time of day, and demand.
Seasonal trends play a significant role, with peak hours during rush periods and weekends often yielding higher earnings due to increased demand. For gig workers focusing on rideshare, understanding these trends can be essential for maximizing income.
Washington ($30.63/hour), Vermont ($24.25/hour), and Alaska ($24.17) were the states with the highest earnings per hour for rideshare drivers.
In October, several states exhibited relatively stable month-over-month (MoM) changes of less than 1% in rideshare earnings, suggesting a steadier demand and minimal fluctuation compared to September. Read more about which states saw increases and decreases in their average earnings per hour in the sections below.
Take a look at the chart below to see comparisons between states for October hourly earnings:
We also took a look at how rideshare earnings are changing month-to-month in each state. Overall, earnings month-over-month remained stable in many states, but a few states saw significant changes. Such insights are crucial for those engaged in the gig economy who depend on rideshare as their primary source of income.
Don’t forget to download the Solo app to get more local insights for both rideshare and food delivery gigs!
Month-Over-Month Increases in Rideshare Earnings
- Vermont saw the largest increase in rideshare earnings, with a +11.03% jump, moving from $21.84 in September to $24.25 per hour in October.
- West Virginia and Louisiana also had strong gains of +10.22% and +9.93%, respectively. Nevada (+9.43%) and Florida (+6.36%) showed notable increases, as well.
- California saw a slight increase of 0.79%, while Indiana’s rideshare earnings remained almost unchanged with a modest rise of 0.06%. Massachusetts also showed stability with a 0.69% increase, and Missouri’s earnings rose by 0.92%.
Month-Over-Month Decreases in Rideshare Earnings
- Rhode Island experienced the largest drop, with a -13.30% decrease in earnings, going from $20.83 to $18.06 per hour.
- Nebraska also faced a significant decline at -12.88%, bringing the average earnings for rideshare drivers in the state to $17.25 per hour. Montana and New Hampshire both saw decreases of over 8%, as well.
Other states with minor changes included New York (-0.13%) and Oregon (-0.22%). These states highlight regions where rideshare earnings remained relatively consistent with relatively low decreases, potentially reflecting stable demand or pricing structures.
Take a look at the graph below to see the top states based on earnings per hour in the month of October.
October 2024 - Rideshare Earnings Insights
For earnings per hour on both Uber and Lyft rideshare platforms across the United States in October, drivers experienced fluctuating earnings per hour based on the specific day of the week.
Both rideshare and food delivery showed the same pattern regarding overall peak earnings days and low earnings days. This means that, on average, certain days proved to be more lucrative for drivers than others.
Whether you’re a rideshare driver or food delivery driver, having access to these insights can help you make an informed decision about whether to drive during certain days of the week.
- Sundays proved to be the most lucrative day of the week for both rideshare drivers and food delivery drivers, with the average hourly earnings for rideshare drivers at $21.29 and the average hourly earnings for food delivery drivers at $15.62.
- Tuesdays saw the lowest earnings per hour for both rideshare drivers and food delivery drivers, with the average hourly earnings for rideshare drivers at $18.93 and the average hourly earnings for food delivery drivers at $14.05.
Food Delivery Trends and Earnings in the Gig Economy in October 2024
Food delivery services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub have experienced a surge in popularity, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, as more people opt for the convenience of having meals delivered to their doorstep. This trend has led to a significant increase in people participating in the gig economy, with many drivers taking on food delivery as a flexible, full-time option. However, geographically, the earnings results vary across the gig economy landscape.
Alaska ($23.21), Rhode Island ($16.81), and Montana ($16.76) were the states with the highest earnings per hour in food delivery. Mississippi had the lowest earnings per hour, at $11.38 per hour.
Together with rideshare earnings insights, these findings indicate that in certain states, both rideshare and food delivery markets maintained stable earnings with less than 1% change from the previous month.
Certain states like New York, California, and Minnesota displayed minimal fluctuation in food delivery earnings, which could reflect consistent demand for delivery services or balanced competition among drivers.
Below is a comprehensive earnings trend map of the United States. These maps highlight the earnings per hour in each U.S. state, allowing gig workers to be informed about the changes in earnings over time in their area.
Month-Over-Month Increases in Food Delivery Earnings
- Alaska saw the most significant increase, with food delivery earnings rising by +20.70%. The average earnings per hour for food delivery drivers in Alaska in October was $23.21, while in September it was below the $20 mark at $19.23/hour.
- Rhode Island also had a noticeable increase in food delivery earnings per hour of +3.07%, despite a drop in average rideshare earnings.
- Florida saw a small increase of 1.50%, and Idaho’s earnings rose by 0.82%. Minnesota (+0.37%) and Missouri (+0.40%) showed slight growth, while New York saw only a 0.13% increase, remaining relatively stable month-over-month. Oklahoma’s earnings rose by 0.90%, also indicating mostly stable earnings per hour for food delivery drivers in the state.
Month-Over-Month Decreases in Food Delivery Earnings
- Mississippi witnessed the largest decrease in food delivery earnings, with a -7.03% drop – bringing overall average earnings per hour to $11.38 for the month of October.
- Montana, New Mexico, and North Dakota also all saw decreases between 3% and 4% in their average earnings per hour in October.
- California experienced a slight change of -0.97%. This decrease was comparatively small (less than 1% change month-over-month), indicating consistent food delivery earnings for California drivers.
- Oregon experienced a slightly more significant change of -2.78%.
October 2024 - Food Delivery Earnings Insights
Just like rideshare, food delivery earnings in the gig economy can vary based on factors such as day, location, and time.
Based on aggregate data for top food delivery platforms during the month of October, the average earnings per hour peaked during the 4pm and 5pm hours, and the 2pm and 3pm hours. The 4pm and 5pm hours saw a 14.8% lift compared to average hourly earnings for other hours of the day. The 2pm and 3pm hours saw a 13.7% lift compared to average hourly earnings for other hours of the day.
This indicates that, on average, drivers earned the most during the early dinner window and late lunch window.
We also analyzed the average tip amounts per hour for food delivery. Across UberEats, DoorDash, and GrubHub we saw an average tip amount of $4.17 per order.
Tips on the GrubHub platform appeared to be the highest during the month of October with an average tip per order of $4.85.
Sometimes, drivers receive higher tips depending on certain factors like order size, order value, and other conditions.
The average highest tip per order we saw in October was roughly $106 on UberEats. While this is not the norm, it’s interesting to note that receiving high tips can boost your gig work income significantly.
Regional Earnings Differences
Keep in mind that regional variations and other factors can contribute to overall earnings and tip amounts, as well. Understanding these variations is essential for gig economy workers to optimize their income.
For example, in the city of Chicago gig work earnings were roughly $18.22 per hour on average (rideshare and food delivery combined). However, suburban areas outside of Chicago such as Cicero, Naperville, and Evanston saw an average earnings per hour of $14.80. This indicates that by driving in the metropolitan area, a driver could potentially earn 23% more on average.
In New York, gig work earnings were roughly $18.48 per hour on average (rideshare and food delivery combined). However, suburban areas outside of New York such as Newark, Jersey City, and White Plains saw an average earnings per hour of $16.96. This indicates that by driving in the metropolitan area of New York City, a driver could potentially earn 9% more on average.
Finally, in a booming city like Los Angeles metropolitan vs. suburban earnings showed a less significant disparity. Drivers in the LA-metro area earned 3.8% more per hour on average compared to nearby suburbs.
Final Thoughts - October Gig Economy Market Pulse
As the gig economy continues to grow, staying informed on trends and earnings in both rideshare and food delivery is essential for gig workers looking to boost their income.
October showed that certain states and times of day can significantly impact potential earnings, with notable increases in states like Vermont for rideshare and Alaska for food delivery.
Understanding these regional and temporal variations enables gig workers to make strategic decisions about when and where to drive in an increasingly dynamic industry.
Whether you're new to gig work or an experienced driver, the Solo Market Pulse offers crucial insights into how earnings are shifting month by month, giving you the tools needed to succeed in the gig economy!
How Solo’s Market Pulse Report Helps Gig Workers
With this blog series, Solo aims to empower drivers to thrive in the gig economy by providing access to the most current and accurate information.
By staying informed about seasonal fluctuations and leveraging resources like Solo's earnings trend map, gig workers can maximize their income and achieve financial stability.
Check back next month for another release of Solo’s Monthly Market Pulse! In the meantime, you can read other blog posts here and check out some of our past market insights posts here.
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