What: Waitr, which operates primarily in the South, hires full-and part-time drivers to deliver food and check on their equipment in restaurants
Expected pay: $5 to $15 per hour
Husl$core: $$
Where: 17 states, including Hawaii, the Dakotas, Carolinas, Florida, Texas and Georgia
Requirements:
- 18 or older
- Valid driver’s license and insurance
- reliable car
- clean driving record
- valid insurance
- Android or iPhone
- Insulated bag
Review:
Waitr, which operates primarily in the South as well as a few other select states, enlists drivers to deliver food. When the site launched, drivers were Waitr employees, which gave it an edge over gig apps that considered everyone a freelancer.
When we reviewed the site in early 2021, we discovered that those days are long gone. Now the site uses a contractor called Delivery Logistics to process applications from new drivers. All drivers are now independent contractors. Not only do they need to use their own cars, insurance and gas, they even need to buy an insulated bag.
Pay is rotten, unless you receive good tips and tips are in no way guaranteed.
We’ve revised our review and downgraded Waitr to a substandard option.
Recommendations
You can find better paying driving and delivery jobs with Amazon Flex (deliver packages), Wingz (drive people to the airport) and Ride Zum (drive kids to soccer/school).
What their drivers say (from Indeed):
“At first it was great; W2; $5 base pay. Tips were usually good. They kept you in a small zone as to not waste your gas/money. Then things began to change. Now you’re a contractor, the base pay and tips mean nothing because you have to put money back (if you’re smart) for taxes and most nights you start in your zone and end up driving all over town, wasting gas and time.”
“It makes you some quick money, but it’s just not worth it. My overall pay is like $8-9/hour, or $5-7/order before tax and gas. Today, I got three orders, drove almost 30 miles for each order, and I only got $5 for each. It is not worth your time.”
“Worked for Waitr for over 2 years. Destroyed my car and the money tends to be feast or famine. I was almost constantly stressed about my finances and had to pay $3 a day to get access to a percentage of my tips in order to be able to put gas in my car so that I could work.”
“Horrible pay, you average about $8.00 an hour and that’s not including Wear and tear on your car and gas. So if you count the average .58 cents per mile of extra expenses your basically working for free and then you have to pay taxes on top of that.”
*Updated 3/31/2021
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I feel like that 5per hour varies per area. In my area the guarantee is based off acceptance rate and deliveries taken per week. As long as i have at least 60% and take 75-99 orders its 10ea and if i get 100+ its 1100. The past 2 weeks i did over 75orders working 40hrs. Like last week i made $770 for 77 orders. I haven’t heard anything about an hourly pay but also really don’t need it. Last sunday i worked 5 hours from 5pm to 10pm and made $221 thats $44.2 an hour.
Where do you live maybe that’s why you make so much because I’ve never heard of anyone making that much period.
This is my second day working for waitr, today I did 12 hours and made 133.00 that’s 11 an hour that’s great for me if I would have not had to come home to cook dinner I could have made more I love my job with waitr
That’s not good at all honestly. With uber eats, grub hub, and even door dash 11 dollars an hour is pitiful. You should be doing at least 25 dollars an hour gross. With grubhub alone I’ve pulled that much ($130.00) in like 4 to 5 hrs. You gotta think about fuel and wear and tear not to mention taxes too.
I may agree. But that is still better then $60 for 8hrs for a pizza place. However, depends where you live it’s good or not. I still prefer doing this, bite squad, uber eats, etc because the less wear and tear on your vehicle because you get to choose to work. If working for Domino’s for example you have to work if schedule during the snow/ice and damage your vehicle and have to get that fix. Speaking from experience. This is still better. Work when you want regardless.
Just started. I have done 1 order a day in 5 days. Couldn’t afford to stay on more that and-hour and a half. I thought I’d give it a try but not like this. Also is there a specific way the work your scheduled hours. Is it different than just signing on. I’m gonna keep trying for a couple weeks but after that , I’m done if it doesn’t get better. Also they gave me a bag and 2 free shirts.
I live in a small city in louisiana the trips to store and customer are calculated thru the app and i average around 2$/mi i make 250$ a day i work from 11am-6pm and i usually get a off session around 1:45-2:30 due to no orders.. and to worry about to gas and taxes keep your receipts for gas and track mileage from before you start till when finish as this can be used in taxes too. In conclusion, i dont think this will pay well in big cities i tried in new orleans but it can pay well in small cites.
I enjoy it. I enjoy driving on my own time and not having to go back to a business/store to work. I can go home and get things done, go for a walk, etc. The pay is alright where I live. Lawton/Fort Sill, OK. Sometimes there is hardly any orders coming through. However when they are really popping you can make some good money. Top was around $75 one day. Not good for some but for me it is. Honestly with gas prices as they are may not be worth it. However, if you need some quick buck the next day then it may be worth it. Just don’t except loads of money. Maybe around $20-$30 depends when you get on. Of course, this is where I live. Not speaking for anywhere else. Bigger your town/city is more money of course. Smaller less money. You can transfer your money through Zelle, PayPal or you Bank. Overall I say it’s good. I have no issue at all. You get money regardless if the customer tips or not. Current my lowest paid for an order is $6.00. However don’t knock that $6.00 off though. You may get more orders and even dollar counts. Bad thing is and sometimes I complain is how far I have to drive sometimes. However, it’s money and it adds up. Just need to have a good vehicle that is good on gas. Not a truck, Lol.