Should Uber and Lyft drivers be tipped? How much?
Tipping drivers in ride-shares is not required, but it can be a way to say thank you if the service was excellent. Tips must be over and above fair pay.
Ride-shares made available through platforms such as Uber and Lyft, have experienced an increase in popularity in recent years. These allow consumers who need a trip to request it instantly through their smartphone.
These companies generate billions of dollars each year, but how profitable is it for drivers? Is it necessary to tip them?
How much money do Uber and Lyft drivers make?
There is no exact figure for what drivers earn, since the money they make depends on their location, the hours they are available to drive, and rate increases due to demand.
According to the website Salary.com, with data through January 26, Uber drivers in the US earn an average salary of $38,802 per year, but it usually ranges between $32,202 and $47,302. According to the ZipRecruiter site, the average hourly wage for an Uber driver in the country is $19, though it ranges from $9 to $30.
Also according to ZipRecruiter, the average Lyft driver salary is $16 per hour. According to Salary.com, the salary per year for the company is around $38,303, but ranges between $32,203 and $47,303.
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Should Uber and Lyft drivers be tipped?
Neither platform makes tipping mandatory, so it is not necessary to do so. Unfortunately, however, like other service industry workers, drivers rely on tips to supplement their wages.
Tipping can be a way to support them or thank them for excellent service, whether it’s having a clean car, sharing a good conversation, helping with luggage, having a phone charger available, offering water or snacks or playing good music.
After completing a ride, the platform suggests you tip the driver and asks you to provide a preset dollar amount, or enter a custom amount, which can be equivalent to a 10, 15, or 20 percent, similar to other sectors within the service industry.
Tipping however should be over and above fair pay, something the drivers are fighting for. Some of them recently went on strike, saying that ride-share platforms have been steadily cutting down on driver earnings despite billions of dollars in company profits.