Free tool · Updated November 2026

Gig pay calculator

See what a week of delivery or rideshare work really pays after gas, wear on your car, and taxes. Uses the IRS mileage rate (76¢ a mile since July 1, 2026) and the 15.3% self-employment tax.

Example numbers are filled in. Replace them with one of your own weeks.

How this works

  • Gas only counts just the fuel: miles ÷ mpg × gas price.
  • Full car cost uses the IRS business rate of 76¢ a mile, which covers gas, oil, tires, repairs, insurance and depreciation. It's the fairest single number for what driving really costs, and it's also what many contractors deduct.
  • Taxes: self-employment tax is 15.3% of 92.35% of your profit (earnings minus the mileage deduction). Income tax uses the bracket you pick, after the standard half-of-SE-tax adjustment. It doesn't include the standard deduction, so it leans high, which is safer for setting money aside.
  • W-2 jobs (like Amazon warehouse, UPS seasonal or PeopleReady) withhold taxes for you, so only the car-cost numbers apply.

Compare apps' published pay on our comparison pages, or see what workers report earning.

Questions

How do I work out my real hourly pay as a delivery or rideshare driver?
Take what you earned, subtract what the car cost you, and divide by every hour you were logged in, including waiting time. For car costs, the simplest honest number is the IRS business mileage rate, 76 cents a mile for the second half of 2026, which covers gas, maintenance, insurance and the car losing value. Gas alone is usually less than half of that.
How much should I set aside for taxes from gig work?
Apps that treat you as an independent contractor don't withhold taxes. You owe self-employment tax of 15.3% on 92.35% of your net earnings (once you net $400 or more in a year), plus federal and any state income tax. Many people set aside 20% to 30% of what they earn after car costs. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more for the year, the IRS expects quarterly estimated payments.
Can I deduct mileage for DoorDash, Uber or Instacart?
If you're an independent contractor, you can usually deduct business miles at the IRS standard rate, or your actual car expenses instead. Keep a mileage log as you go; most apps don't count the miles you drive to your first pickup or between orders. This calculator is an estimate, not tax advice.

Sources

  1. IRS: Standard mileage rates (76 cents a mile from July 1, 2026)
  2. IRS: Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes)
  3. IRS: Estimated taxes
  4. IRS: Gig economy tax center

Last checked November 2026. An estimate for planning, not tax advice.