How Much Do Uber Drivers Make? 10 Driving Tips in 2025

In today’s age of the Great Resignation, people everywhere are looking for jobs that cater to their preferred schedule and personal goals. Uber is a great gig not only because you make your own hours, but also because you have the potential to make a decent living.

You may be wondering how much you can make driving for Uber. We’ve researched the earnings potential at Uber and have compiled a list of tips to maximize your earnings, including access to our Uber driver referral code.

How Much Money Can You Make Driving for Uber?

There are many factors that impact how much money you can make on Uber, like what time of day you drive, where you drive, if you deliver via Uber Eats, if you participate in Uber’s promotions, and utilization of the Uber driver referral code. We’ll dive into these factors a little more as we explore how to maximize your earnings.

Most drivers report earning an average of $19 per hour, but rates can range from $15-$22 per hour. Of course, drivers need to factor in the cost of gas, vehicle maintenance, car depreciation, and Uber’s service fee.

We’ve scoured the internet and come up with ten ways to maximize your Uber earnings in 2024, so you can drive smarter, not harder. Here are 10 ways you can maximize your earning with Uber:

1. Uber Driver Referral Code

Each Uber user receives a personal Uber driver referral code which you can send to friends, inviting them to sign up for the app. You’ll receive rewards when a user enters your Uber driver referral code before requesting their first ride or when a user signs up as a new driver.

Uber Driver Referral Code for New Users

Sign up with Uber driver referral code: 36ukucdc7m1e and earn $2,200 guaranteed when you complete 200 trips in 90 days. You can earn $200 when you refer a new driver to Uber and if they complete 200 trips within 90 days.

Uber Driver Referral Code for Existing Users

Existing Uber drivers can earn $200 when they share their Uber referral code with some existing users. To qualify for this referral promotion, you must share your Uber driver referral code with existing users who haven’t driven with Uber since September 29, 2021. Use Uber driver referral code: dap4kv4tbcpt to see how much promotion you qualify for when you drive for Uber again.

2. Location

Location, location, location! You are more likely to maximize your earnings if you drive in a populated, metropolitan area. There is a higher demand for rides in these areas because there are more people, but you will also likely have shorter drive times and less mileage to cover between rides. If you live in a city with an airport, this could be an area with a large number of people requesting rides.

If you are driving in the middle of a weekday, you may have fewer rides as opposed to driving in the early mornings or during the evenings when you can catch more commuters. Weekend nights have high potential earnings as people may be requesting Ubers rather than driving themselves to bars and restaurants. Also, pay attention to big events happening in the area where you drive like concerts and sporting events. While there may be traffic and large crowds to deal with, you’ll likely earn more for driving during a surge and will find a high demand for rides.

4. UberEats Delivery

The perk to Uber Eats deliveries is that you can complete multiple deliveries in one trip. You’ll earn flat amounts for pickup, drop off, and the mileage you travel. When combining orders, you can maximize the amount you’ll earn from drop offs within the same trip.

You can change the settings of your Uber app so that you’ll receive Uber Eats delivery requests in addition to ride requests or you can opt to only receive Uber Eats requests.

5. Driving During Surges

During busy times and in busy locations, a heat map will appear on your Uber app showing you where driver demand is high. During a surge you have the potential to earn more on top of your standard fee. Before setting out for your day, glance over the heat map on the app and drive to areas where surges are happening. Remember to check in on the heat map while you drive to keep track of surge changes.

6. Engaging in Promotions

The Uber app will show you ongoing promotions to engage in, which will earn you more money. Promotions will usually be based on the number of trips you complete during a certain time period or within a certain location. An example of a promotion could be “earn an extra $30 for completing 20 trips this week.” Think of promotions as little bonuses that you have the potential to earn every week.

7. Customer Service & Tips

Your customers have the option to leave tips for each trip. Therefore, offering excellent customer service to your riders could increase your potential to earn tips. A few ways to increase customer satisfaction could be offering snacks and water, being kind and respectful, keeping a clean and orderly vehicle, driving safely, and offering the option to play your riders’ preferred music genre.

8. Tax Deductions for Mileage

Uber drivers have the potential to save money through tax deductions and tax write-offs. Mileage tracking is an excellent tool for maximizing savings and increasing the amount of money you’ll be able to earn driving. Check out Uber’s tax page to see how you can benefit from tax deductions and write-offs.

9. Understanding the App

The more you understand about the app, the more likely you’ll be able to maximize earnings. Participating in surges and promotions and keeping track of trends related to the time of day and area you drive in will increase your pay. The more comfortable you become with the app, the more likely you are to earn more.

10. Frequency of Days you Drive

Frequency matters. How often throughout the week are you willing to drive? Are you willing to drive over the weekends and holidays when drivers might be in higher demand? Consistency in your driving schedule might also help you to maximize earnings by driving during peak periods. Remember to track your earnings to see if altering the time of day and area in which you drive could help to maximize your earnings.

Uber Driver Referral Code

Taking advantage of referral programs is always an easy way to increase your earnings, no matter the app. Uber happens to offer an appealing and easy-to-use referral program.

To find your unique Uber driver referral code, tap on “invite friends now” in the earnings tab of your app. Your Uber driver referral code should be at the bottom of the page. You’ll also be able to see a list of everyone who has used your Uber driver referral code, their invite status, and the reward you’ll receive once they take their first ride or complete their required number of trips as a driver.

Once a referral is successfully completed you’ll receive notification in the app and you can see your reward under “miscellaneous or other payments.”

If you or a friend are considering driving for Uber for the first time, use our new Uber driver referral code for extra rewards. If you or a friend have driven for Uber in the past and are considering driving again, you can use our returning Uber driver referral code for extra rewards.

If you want to earn more with referrals, use our Cash App referral code and check out our Cash App referral article.

Uber Success Stories

While most Uber drivers report earning an average of $19 per hour, some drivers have found great monetary success.

In 2015, Forbes published an article about Uber driver Gavin Escolar who reported earning $252,000 in one year. However, Escolar didn’t make his money solely from driving. He decided to use his car as a showroom for his jewelry business as he fulfilled rides for Uber. He managed to build a larger customer base than he would have otherwise.

The Uber platform offers economic opportunities for a variety of drivers. At the time, Uber spokeswoman Kristen Carvell said that Uber actually encourages their drivers to promote their side businesses while fulfilling their rides. If you have a side hustle in addition to driving for Uber, you might be able to build your clientele in a similar way by promoting your business as you earn a base salary through Uber.

Other drivers like Al Castello of New York City reported earning $6,000 per month driving not only for Uber but also for Lyft and Juno. Castillo says that he drives six days a week for 9-11 hours per day.

Final Thoughts

Driving for Uber is a great way to earn money as a main hustle, side hustle, or in between careers. However, keep in mind that driving more won’t necessarily make you the most money. You want to drive smarter, not harder.

Be thoughtful about the time of day you drive and the area in which you’re driving. Remember to factor in gas mileage, vehicle depreciation and maintenance, and Uber’s service fee when calculating your earnings. If you use the 10 tips we listed to maximize your earnings, you’re certain to build a successful driving career.

You might also consider signing up for multiple driving apps like Al Castello or building a business that you can promote while driving, like jeweler Gavin Escolar.

Are you ready to sign up as an Uber driver? Click here to sign up as a new driver or here to sign up as a returning driver.