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A detailed examination of how delivery drivers are compensated reveals significant discrepancies depending on the app. For instance, in 2019, DoorDash drivers reportedly earned about 49.4% of their income from base pay, 12.3% from bonuses, and 38.4% from customer tips. In contrast, Uber Eats drivers relied heavily on base pay, receiving approximately 71.7% from it, with tips contributing only 20.9%.
These findings highlight a precarious dependence on customer tips for drivers' income. As delivery apps strive to reduce labor costs, they have turned to customers to compensate their workers. This approach is problematic, especially as economic pressures build on consumers who are already feeling burdened by the rising costs of deliveries.