Uber driver pay is falling as the company’s take rate rises, new research finds
# Plain English Summary Uber drivers are making less money per ride even though passengers are paying similar fares, because Uber has quietly increased the percentage it takes from each ride to above 50%—nearly double what it took a decade ago. This shift happened gradually after the company went public in 2019, but accelerated when Uber switched to showing upfront prices and focused on becoming profitable in 2023. The research is based on detailed trip data from experienced drivers with thousands of rides, showing a clear pattern where driver earnings stopped keeping pace with passenger fares around the pandemic.
Uber’s mobile apps present a pleasing simplicity of costs: You know the fare upfront, and the only math left is how much to tip. But the factors governing your driver’s profit on any one ride, and over their ongoing business, are far from simple. A recent report by Columbia Business School profes
More from Make Money with AI
Get new guides every week
Real AI income strategies, tool reviews, and plain-English news — free in your inbox.