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How Much Do Doordash Drivers Make in San Francisco? Real World Data

The advent of food delivery platforms has created new ways for people to earn money. One of these platforms is Doordash, a popular service that connects freelance drivers with people in need of a meal delivered to their door.

Here we delve into an often-asked question: How much do Doordash drivers make in San Francisco?

My Personal Experience in 2019

In 2019, I decided to become a Doordash driver in the San Francisco Bay Area as an experiment. This was a time when gig economy jobs were gaining momentum, and I wanted to understand the potential earnings and challenges.

According to my records, I made an average of around $21 per hour before expenses during that time. However, it’s important to note that this figure was calculated for the entire Bay Area and not solely for San Francisco.

An example of my earnings. In this case I made $19.23 per hour equivilent

Current Earnings Data from Indeed

Fast-forwarding to the present, data from Indeed, a well-known job search website, provides a more up-to-date picture of the earnings of Doordash drivers in San Francisco. According to their records, Doordash drivers currently make an average of $17.97 per hour.

This figure is approximately 7% higher than the national average for Doordash drivers. This discrepancy likely results from the higher cost of living and demand for food delivery services in San Francisco compared to other parts of the country.

Information from Zip Recruiter

Data from Zip Recruiter, another credible employment marketplace, presents a slightly different perspective. According to their statistics, the average earnings for Doordash drivers in San Francisco hover around $20 per hour.

This figure aligns closely with my personal earnings from 2019, indicating that the earning potential for Doordash drivers in this city has remained relatively stable over the past few years.

Estimated Earnings for Doordash Drivers in San Francisco

Taking into account my personal data from 2019 and current data from Indeed and Zip Recruiter, we can estimate that a Doordash driver in San Francisco makes around $19.66 per hour before expenses.

SourceEstimated Earnings (Per Hour)
My Personal Experience (2019)$21
Indeed (2023)$17.97
Zip Recruiter (2023)$20
Average$19.66

However, it is essential to bear in mind that these are gross earnings. Drivers must also account for the expenses they incur while driving, such as gas, vehicle maintenance, depreciation, and taxes.

In conclusion, while driving for Doordash can certainly be a viable way to earn extra income in San Francisco, it’s important for potential drivers to fully understand the costs associated with this type of gig work.

It’s also worth noting that the hourly earnings can fluctuate depending on factors like the time of day, the number of orders, and the particular area of the city where you choose to work.

Thomas Smith

Thomas Smith is a food and travel photographer and writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His photographic work routinely appears in publications including Food and Wine, Conde Nast Traveler, and the New York Times and his writing appears in IEEE Spectrum, SFGate, the Bold Italic and more. Smith holds a degree in Cognitive Science (Neuroscience) and Anthropology from the Johns Hopkins University.

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