A week of driving, told honestly
This is what DriverStack's weekly report looks like with real numbers in it — five sample California shifts, costed at the full IRS 73¢/mile rate. Every figure below is explained, so you can see exactly how gross pay becomes real pay.
Last updated June 2026 · Methodology: sample data, costed at the IRS 2026 rate of 73¢/mile; real hourly = (gross − cost) ÷ online hours, vs the $16.90 CA floor.
Shift by shift
Cost is miles × 73¢. Real hourly is net profit ÷ online hours. Anything under $16.90 is below California minimum wage.
| Platform | Gross | Cost | Real /hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instacart 110 mi · 8.00h | $210.00 | −$79.75 | $16.28/hr |
| DoorDash 98 mi · 7.50h | $156.00 | −$71.05 | $11.33/hr |
| Uber 143 mi · 8.67h | $182.00 | −$103.68 | $9.03/hr |
| Lyft 128 mi · 7.25h | $142.00 | −$92.80 | $6.79/hr |
| Uber Eats 87 mi · 6.50h | $98.00 | −$63.07 | $5.37/hr |
What this week is really saying
The apps made this week look like $20.78/hr. After the real cost of 566 miles, it was $9.96/hr — under California's $16.90 minimum wage. That difference is the depreciation, maintenance, insurance, and tires the IRS 73¢ rate accounts for and the apps never mention. Your own week will differ — this is sample data — so run your real shifts.
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