How I Made $27 an Hour Driving Uber

Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

I make over $27 an hour on a consistent basis driving Uber as a side hustle. I drive Uber in the Tampa Bay area, if you are in a different area this may not fully apply to you, but I suspect these tips may assist you.

To maximize income on Uber, focus on these productivity boosters:

1. Drive During Peak Times

One of the best ways to maximize earnings with Uber is to drive during peak times — those hours when you have the highest number of requests and the highest surge pricing. In my area, peak times include:

• Weekend Nights: Saturday night is the busiest, followed by Friday night. This is when the people who have partied and clubbed all night will want to take an Uber back home, which means demand increases and the rides will be more frequent.
• Weekday Rush Hours: From 5–8 in the AM and from 3–6 in the PM, this is peak time as people commute to and from work.
• Late Night: Between 10 PM and 1 AM is also very lucrative, especially near nightlife areas.

I am able to earn more by making trips more frequently and at higher incomes through these peak hours.

2. Optimize Airport Rides