How Much Do Lyft Drivers Make?
Lyft's rideshare service connects drivers with passengers requesting rides, with drivers earning a fare plus tips per trip.
Average hourly earnings
$19.48/hr
median gross hourly pay (reported as running about $1.70/hr below Uber's median in the same report), before vehicle expenses, gas, and taxes.
Source: Gridwise Annual Gig Mobility Report (2025), 2025.
How Lyft compares
Lyft ranks #3 of 5 platforms tracked here by gross hourly earnings. That's $5.20/hour below the highest (Uber Eats at $24.68/hour), and $7.27/hour above the lowest (Instacart). Among rideshare platforms specifically, the category averages $20.33/hour.
| Platform | Category | Gross $/hr |
|---|---|---|
| Uber Eats | delivery | $24.68 |
| Uber (Rideshare) | rideshare | $21.18 |
| Lyft | rideshare | $19.48 |
| DoorDash | delivery | $18.93 |
| Instacart | delivery | $12.21 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Lyft drivers actually make per hour?
$19.48/hour, median gross hourly pay (reported as running about $1.70/hr below Uber's median in the same report), before vehicle expenses, gas, and taxes. Source: Gridwise Annual Gig Mobility Report (2025), 2025.
Does that include gas, vehicle wear, and taxes?
No -- this is gross pay before expenses. Drivers are independent contractors, responsible for their own gas, vehicle maintenance, insurance, and self-employment tax. Real take-home pay after those costs runs meaningfully lower than the gross hourly figure.
What would that be part-time or full-time?
At 20 hours/week (a common part-time gig schedule), that's roughly $20,259/year gross. At 40 hours/week, it's roughly $40,518/year gross -- scale for your actual hours. Gig hourly pay also varies a lot by time of day, city, and how many orders or rides are available when you're online.
Why do different reports show different numbers for the same platform?
Gig earnings estimates vary by methodology -- gross vs. after-expenses, whether tips are included, the time period measured, and which drivers/cities are in the sample. Always check what basis a number is reported on before comparing two platforms.
How does Lyft compare to the other platforms tracked here?
Lyft ranks #3 of 5 platforms tracked here by hourly earnings, $5.20/hour below the highest (Uber Eats at $24.68/hour). Within rideshare specifically, the category averages $20.33/hour, so Lyft runs below that average.
Compare other platforms
Same category (rideshare):
Other platforms: