Top Ridesharing Jobs that Pay Well and Where to Find Them

With the growth of the ridesharing industry over the past several years, ridesharing jobs have become a common source of income for people all over the world. The market has become competitive as companies race to make transportation safer, more reliable, and more convenient.

Whether you’re hoping to be a full-time driver, or work a side gig to earn passive income, a ridesharing job could be just what you need. Keep reading to learn more about ridesharing jobs that pay well and how to successfully become a gig driver with a decent hourly wage.

How Much Does a Ridesharing Job Pay?

According to Glassdoor, a rideshare driver in the US earns an average salary of $52,522 per year, well over minimum wage. Rideshare companies connect would-be passengers with waiting drivers through an algorithm embedded in the company’s website or application. The company uses the customer’s GPS location to match them with the closest driver.

At the end of a trip, payment can be made using cash, a mobile transfer, a payment order system, or it can be automatically deducted from the passenger’s account through the rideshare app. How much a rideshare driver earns depends on the following factors.

• The length of hours worked: As most rideshare services use mileage tracking to calculate pay, the longer you work, the more you will earn.  
• Location: Rideshare drivers in urban areas earn more than the average driver in a rural area because they have more customers.
• Surge period: Drivers will earn more during holidays, Friday nights, and weekends, as more people use ridesharing services at these busiest times.
• Tips: If you provide excellent service, your passenger might be satisfied enough to give you a tip.

What to Consider Before Pursuing a Ridesharing Job

There are many perks that active rideshare drivers enjoy that you wouldn’t experience with a traditional employer. However, you should carefully consider all aspects of the job before deciding whether to pursue it part-time or full-time. 

Timeliness

The first thing you need to consider is your timeliness, as ridesharing is all about timing. Most of the passengers you’ll be driving have important things to attend to, so they need someone who can get them to their destination. If you are prone to arriving late, it is advisable that you improve your time-management skills before taking up a ridesharing job.

Work Schedule

Whether you plan to work as a part-time or a full-time rideshare driver, you need to consider your work schedule to avoid burnout or potential clashes with your other jobs. Don’t bite more than you can chew, no matter how enticing the ride rates are. Learn to work within your capacity while still taking advantage of surge pricing periods.

Insurance

Most insurance companies do not cover vehicles that are used for ridesharing as part of an individual’s personal insurance. Before you start a ridesharing job, you should meet with your auto insurance company to find out exactly what your current personal auto policy covers. 

Durability of Your Car

Take into account the durability of your car before considering a ridesharing job. Think about the condition your car is in, and how many miles you can drive before you’ll need to carry out routine maintenance or replace parts. It’s not advisable to use a car that’s in poor condition for a ride-sharing job. Companies like Lyft and Uber have vehicle requirements you will have to meet. 

Skills Required to Land Your First Ridesharing Job

As with every job, you need to have certain skills before you can start working as a driver. If you’re interested in a ridesharing job to make a little cash on the side, check out the driver requirements listed below.

Excellent Driving 

First on the list of skills for a ridesharing driver is that you must have a clean driving record. Ridesharing is all about transporting people safely and efficiently, so you must be an expert driver. The goal of every trip is to make sure your passenger is satisfied. This will also ensure that you receive tips in addition to your hourly rate.

Knowledge to Navigate Unfamiliar Routes

A passenger’s destination can be confusing to find, so being able to navigate unfamiliar routes will be an advantage. You should master Google maps and other navigation apps so that you can transport passengers to their destinations quickly.

Excellent Communication 

No one enjoys a long, boring trip. Some passengers enjoy relaxing music, but it’s also good to engage in a little bit of communication. Talk about the weather, or ask if he or she is enjoying their trip, but don’t talk so much that you bore your customer. You should also have the interpersonal skills to tell when your customer would prefer to be left alone. 

Punctuality

As a driver, you must have time management skills and should arrive at your pickup location punctually. This is important because your passenger is expecting to arrive at their destination on time. People appreciate rides that are comfortable, safe, and timely.

What Ridesharing Companies Pay the Most? Highest-Paying Ridesharing Jobs You Should Consider

Uber

• Average Salary: $39,989 per year
• Availability: Operates in over 600 cities in 65 countries
• Mobile apps: Android/iOS

Uber is by far the biggest and most well-known ridesharing app that drivers can use to earn money with their personal vehicles. Uber requires its drivers to have newer cars, pass a background test, and maintain a high rating. The higher the rating, the more jobs the driver will get.

With headquarters in San Francisco, Uber has locations in many major cities. If you want to become a driver, you will need to download the Uber Driver app on your Android or Apple device. According to Statista, Uber held 69 percent of the rideshare market in the US as of July 2021, a slight decline from previous years. 

Lyft

• Average Salary: $35,823 per year
• Availability: Operates in 644 cities in the US and 12 cities in Canada
• Mobile apps: Android/iOS

Lyft is a top competitor with Uber but does not operate in as many countries. Lyft has cornered 31 percent of the US market share as of July 2021, according to Statista. The company offers the same benefits to drivers as Uber, plus Lyft drivers in some states also enjoy a subsidy for health insurance. Drivers are required to have a reliable vehicle and vehicle insurance. 

Wingz

• Average Salary: $53,110 per year
• Availability: Operates in 30 major US cities
• Mobile apps: Android/iOS

Wingz specializes in providing rides to and from airports. It is a vehicle-for-hire company that provides private, scheduled, and fixed-price rides via its mobile app. A major feature of Wingz is that passengers get to choose their driver. So, if the customer enjoys their ride, they can choose to ride with that driver again, allowing successful drivers to make more money.

Gett

• Average Salary: $15,337 per year
• Availability: Operates in the US, Russia, Israel, and the UK
• Mobile apps: Android/iOS

Gett focuses on corporate fleets, cab rides, and limos. The app is different from Lyft or Uber because it caters only to business customers. One of Gett’s main features is that a user can organize simultaneous trips from just one rideshare app. It also offers cheaper rides than Uber, especially during peak hours.

Bolt

• Average Salary: $43,778 per year
• Availability: Operates in 45 countries across Europe and Africa 
• Mobile apps: Android/iOS

Bolt was created with the intention to make urban mobility more affordable and sustainable. It also focuses on ridesharing and other related forms of transportation. As a Bolt driver, you will get paternity or maternity leave and paid vacations, benefits that are also enjoyed by Uber drivers.

Documents Required to Land a Rideshare Job

You need to have the following documents in order to qualify for a ridesharing job:

• A valid driver’s license
• Proof of residency
• Proof of auto insurance and car registration
• A valid profile photo, which must be in passport format and should be different from your driver’s license photo
• Proof that you are at least 21 years old

Where to Find a Rideshare Driver Job

A ridesharing job can’t be done without the participation of a third party like the companies mentioned above. Prospective passengers won’t enter a random vehicle parked at the side of the road even if the driver says they will take him or her to their destination. You’ll need to land a ridesharing job with a top company. 

Agency App or Website

Many companies have an app or a website where you can sign on as a rideshare driver. The application and registration process can easily be done online, and you can start earning money on your first ride.

Hotels and airports

You can also try to get a rideshare driver job at a hotel or airport. Inform the company of your interest and describe your skillset. Experience as a bus driver, a delivery driver, or certifications that show you can drive a larger vehicle might help. After they verify your information, they can register you as a certified rideshare driver and issue you a tag for credibility and easy identification.

How to Get a High-Paying Ridesharing Job

As mentioned above, the most important step to landing a job as a rideshare driver is to apply via the app or website of the company you want to work for. But first, you have to get prepared by following the steps below.

Step 1: Get the Relevant Driving Certification

Just as you have to be a strong swimmer to become a lifeguard, you should be a good driver if you want to become a rideshare driver. This means you must have the relevant documents proving that you’re certified to drive the vehicle that you plan on taking to pick up customers. Getting certified by a government agency is step one.

Step 2: Do a Personal Assessment

The next step to starting work as a rideshare driver is to make sure it’s a job that you have the stomach for. Are you interested in dealing with customers frequently? Can you drive in all weather situations? Are you a fluent English speaker? How would you rate your communication skills, timeliness, and driving ability?

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Step 3: Buy or Lease a Car

Once you’re sure that you’re interested in driving either part-time or full-time, you’ll need to either buy or lease a vehicle if you don’t already have one. However, some rideshare businesses will have company vehicles that their drivers must use. Find out whether this is relevant to the company you want to work for before you apply.

Step 4: Get All Required Documents Ready

All ridesharing companies will require that you have a valid driver’s license and will also ask for an official birth certificate to confirm that you’re at least 21 years old. You must also be able to prove residency in the state or province that you want to work in. Check if the company you want to work for requires any additional documents, or if they need to carry out a background check.

Step 5: Start Your Application

There are several websites you can check out if you want to become a rideshare driver. Pick the company that best suits your interests, then start the application process to sign up as a driver. Once you are approved, you can immediately begin working. You can even sign up to drive for more than one platform so that you can compare rates and choose the app that will bring you the most cash.

The Perks of Working as a Rideshare Driver

Have you ever wondered why so many people are turning to driving as a part-time or full-time career? It’s because there is a growing demand for drivers as the gig economy gains traction. By venturing into working as a rideshare driver, you will enjoy a number of perks, a few of which are listed below.

Flexibility

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, flexible jobs such as working as a rideshare driver are popular because they fit in with people’s already busy schedules. Working whenever you want to is one of the major benefits of a rideshare driver job. 

You can set your own schedule and have as much time to yourself as you need. You may choose to work nights one week, then work during the day the next week. You can even alter your schedule day-to-day. Just remember that the more hours you spend on the road, the more you will earn.

High Earnings

As a rideshare driver, you can control your earnings by choosing to work in areas where the pay rate is higher or a location where there are more customers. Usually, urban areas have a higher concentration of passengers. In rural areas, you are likely to earn less since there are fewer popular destinations in the area and people prefer to drive their own vehicles.

Once you’re signed up as a rideshare driver, you can even choose to work in a different city if you find that the demand for rideshares is higher there. Accepting passengers who need to be transported greater distances is another way to earn more money.

Freedom

Working as a rideshare driver allows you freedom. You can choose where and when you’ll work, plus you can accept trip requests as you see fit. You can work more when you need the income, then work less when you don’t have the time. This level of freedom is a privilege that isn’t afforded in many jobs. 

Rideshare Driver Jobs that Pay Well FAQ