This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Matthew Guerrero, a 41-year-old Uber driver in Southern California. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I worked as a firefighter for about four years before I got injured on the job.
I’ve been seeking a workers’ comp settlement that should be settled soon. In the meantime, my lawyer said that I could start working again. I needed a job really quickly, especially with three kids, so I started driving with Uber.
I’ve been driving with Uber for about five weeks. So far, it hasn’t been very successful. For example, one week, I made $600 working 30 hours. To make that, I spent about $300 in gas driving my SUV.
Then, I have to put between 20% and 30% of what’s left aside for taxes. That comes out to about $210 for 30 hours of work. That doesn’t even include wear and tear on my car. I don’t understand how anybody can do this long-term. It’s not sustainable.
The pay is better if you drive in Los Angeles or San Diego. But I’m in Riverside County, and the pay seems to be lower here.
To get better-paying rides, you have to be strategic. Sometimes, I try to get a ride with a passenger who’s headed to an airport in one of the big cities. Then, I stay there all day and take rides. That’s not always feasible, though.
When I started with Uber, I realized that there were a lot of rides that involved taking people to morning doctor’s appointments. Most of those people didn’t tip well, though, and tips are key to making money.
Instead, I like to work Friday and Saturday nights around bars in Temecula. I usually log on around 4 pm and head home around 3 am. The pay is good, and the tips are a lot better than other rides in my area. Sometimes you have to deal with drunk people throwing up, but it’s worth it.
I’ve given some rides to veteran Uber drivers — people who were working on the app back in 2015 and 2016. They said that they used to make better money than I do, and that they quit after they saw pay fall.
That was eye-opening for me. I don’t understand how a company like Uber can pay as little as they do.
An Uber spokesperson said drivers in Riverside County, California make “at least $20.28 per engaged hour, plus $0.37 per engaged mile for vehicle expenses, with tips on top of that.”
“While this guarantee doesn’t cover time spent waiting for trips, it’s important context when discussing driver compensation,” the spokesperson said. Driver earnings can vary based on when drivers decide to work, where they drive, and rider demand.
“One driver’s experience isn’t representative of the broader platform,” the spokesperson said.
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