Instacart Driver Pay : How Much Does Instacart Pay Shoppers in 2024

Instacart Driver Pay in 2024

Instacart Driver Pay: In 2021, Instacart brought in more than $1.8 billion. In the grocery business, the company has created more than 186,000 jobs in the past five years (2013-2019).

As the largest grocery delivery service in the United States, Instacart has become a great way for freelancers and delivery drivers to make money.

Compared to other delivery businesses, the minimum wage for delivery drivers is pretty high, and the business gives the drivers a lot of freedom.

Many people are confused about how much an Instacart driver gets paid and want to know more.

We’ve put together all the information you need to know about how much Instacart pays its drivers.

What is Instacart?

Instacart is a grocery delivery service that gives customers great deals and gives them their food right away. With a wide range of functions on the service end, the company gives delivery drivers more choices than other delivery service companies.

In general, there are two types of jobs for Instacart drivers: In-Store Shoppers and Full-Service Shoppers.

Full-Service Shoppers

The full-service shoppers help the company with the full-service process. Full-service shoppers do it all, from getting the order to picking it up from the grocery store to delivering the items to the customer. They do this by following the company’s rules and by doing everything they are told to do.

They can work based on different orders, accept or turn down jobs as they please, and do other great things as delivery drivers.

In-Store Shoppers

The in-store shoppers make things easier for drivers or customers who want to get their order at the curb. Many customers don’t want the delivery people to come to their homes. Instead, they want to pick up their orders at the store.

The in-store shoppers make it possible for drivers and customers to pick up orders, which speeds up the delivery process for customers.

In-store shoppers work at the grocery store, and they are scheduled differently than full-service shoppers. They don’t get paid by the order, and their shifts at the Instacart stores in different cities last an hour.

The hiring process is also different for in-house shoppers, who work for the company only part-time. They get different benefits as employees, such as 401(k) plans.

Instacart Driver Compensation

Instacart driver compensation refers to the pay and benefits that drivers receive for delivering groceries through the Instacart platform. Compensation for Instacart drivers typically includes a base pay rate, as well as bonuses and incentives for completing a certain number of deliveries or meeting other performance metrics.

Drivers may also be eligible for tips from customers, which can add to their overall compensation. However, it’s important to note that the pay and benefits for Instacart drivers can vary depending on the market they’re working in and their individual performance.

Some drivers may earn more or less than others based on factors such as their level of experience, the number of hours they work, and the types of deliveries they complete.

Instacart Driver Pay Per Pelivery

Instacart driver pay per delivery refers to the amount of money that drivers earn for each delivery they complete through the Instacart platform.

The pay per delivery can vary depending on a number of factors such as the distance of the delivery, the number of items in the order, and the time of day the delivery is made.

According to some reports, Instacart drivers can earn anywhere from $1 to $4 per delivery, with an average of around $2 per delivery.

However, it’s important to note that this pay can vary widely depending on the location and market conditions. Some drivers may earn more or less per delivery depending on factors such as the level of competition in their area and the demand for deliveries at a given time. Additionally, drivers also earn tips from customers, which can increase their overall pay per delivery.

Instacart Driver Hourly Pay

Instacart driver hourly pay refers to the amount of money that drivers earn on an hourly basis for delivering groceries through the Instacart platform.

Unlike traditional employees, Instacart drivers are considered independent contractors, and their pay is not based on a set hourly rate.

Instead, they are paid per delivery, with a base rate plus bonuses and incentives for completing a certain number of deliveries or meeting other performance metrics. Additionally, they also earn tips from customers.

According to some reports, Instacart drivers can earn anywhere from $8 to $20 per hour, with an average of around $12 per hour.

However, this pay can vary widely depending on a number of factors such as the location and market conditions, the number of deliveries the driver completes in a given hour, and the driver’s level of experience.

It’s important to note that some drivers may earn more or less per hour depending on the factors mentioned above. Additionally, the amount of hours that a driver works also has an impact on their hourly pay.

How Much Does Instacart Pay Drivers?

Both full-service and in-store shoppers get paid every week by direct deposit to a savings or checking account.

Full-service shoppers can also use Instant Cashout, which is an instant transfer of earnings to the driver’s debit card. This makes it easier and faster for the driver to get his or her money.

After the driver has finished the first five batches, he or she can choose to get paid right away. Instacart lets delivery drivers cash out as often as five times a day, as long as they have at least $5. The most you can cash out per day is $3,000.

As an independent contractor for Instacart, you need to make sure your taxes are taken care of, since the company doesn’t take taxes out of full-time shoppers’ paychecks.

How Much Does Instacart Pay Drivers And Shoppers In 2024?

As part-time employees of Instacart, in-store shoppers don’t have to worry about tax filings.

Also, full-service shoppers can get extra tips from happy customers, which can add to what the independent contractors make overall. Your tips can be paid out through the Instant Cashout portal, so you don’t have to wait for your money.

In the constantly changing world of grocery delivery services, Instacart has become a favorite of drivers all over the country.

In a world full of job opportunities, it takes a lot to stand out, but this company has done just that.

With Instacart, you can make extra money while working flexible hours and getting tips.

How much does Instacart pay, though? And what should you know about the costs?

In this guide, we’ll explain in detail how much money Instacart Shoppers make and how much they can expect to spend on work-related expenses.

Become an Instacart Shopper Now

Applying to be an Instacart Shopper is a legit way to make extra money and set your own hours.

• There are two types of Shopper options: shop only or shop and deliver.
• You can set your own hours and work whenever is best for you.
• By buying fresh groceries, you can learn new skills and become a master of the grocery store.

Concepts to Understand About Instacart Shopper Pay

Before we talk about how much Instacart Shoppers and drivers make, it’s important to cover a few quick points that are important for understanding Instacart Shopper pay.

1. Pay Depends on the Kind of Shopper

First, it’s important to tell the difference between the two roles that this title covers.

At Instacart, there are two kinds of shoppers:

1. Full-Service Instacart Shoppers
2. In-Store Instacart Shoppers

These personal shoppers are self-employed people who shop for and deliver orders from customers.

A person who can do both of these jobs is called a “Full-Service Shopper.”

Full-Service Shoppers complete all aspects of Instacart orders.

After taking an order, which is also called a “batch,” these Instacart Shoppers go to their local grocery store and buy the items that customers have asked for. They then bring the items straight to the customers.

This usually happens in markets where there isn’t much demand and not many orders.

But as time goes on and the company’s number of orders and customers grows quickly, these two roles are becoming more and more different.

In-Store Shoppers, on the other hand, are only responsible for packing up orders.

In this job, shoppers are sent to partner stores where they bag all of the items on a customer’s shopping list and have them ready for pick-up.

Even though In-Store Shoppers can set their own hours, they must choose to work by the hour instead of by the order.

Jobs with Instacart also give you a lot of freedom.

If a customer in the store doesn’t have orders that are being delivered by a driver, they can also expect to shop for and prepare orders for curbside pickup.

Customers like this job because they don’t have to wait for the driver to come all the way to their house. Instead, they can just stop by the store quickly without having to go inside.

Having each person do two different jobs makes it easy and quick to get things from the store to the customer.

As you may already know, the term “Instacart drivers” always refers to Full-Service Shoppers, since they are the only ones who travel around the city to fulfill orders.

Because of this, the job of an Instacart driver is usually more demanding. But this job also gives you the chance to make more money and take advantage of tips.

2. Pay Varies by City & Region

The pay for both jobs varies by city and region, but at least minimum wage is earned.

Tips make it possible for full-service shoppers to make more money.

Some even get paid twice as much.

To do well in this job, you need to be a go-getter, but some workers prefer a more laid-back work environment.

A steady pay rate and less money spent on gas are two benefits of shopping in stores.

Working in the same store gives them the chance to learn how things are set up and become more efficient.

Should You Tip Instacart Drivers? (yes, here’s how much)

Instacart works like a ride-share, but instead of delivering people, it delivers groceries. It’s like ordering a pizza, where you usually have to leave a tip. If this is your first time using Instacart, you may be a little confused about whether or not you should tip the drivers.

Here’s what I found out:

You should tip your Instacart driver. Instacart suggests a 5% tip, but you should always give more for great service. Like a lot of people who work in service, a big part of their pay comes from tips.

And it’s good to know that the driver who shops for you keeps the whole tip.

But there’s more to know about Instacart, tipping drivers, how much to tip, and if there’s a delivery fee on top of that tip. So let’s keep going!

If you haven’t heard of Instacart, it’s a pretty easy process that can make your life a lot easier. In the first part, we’ll explain how you’re supposed to use this at-home shopping experience.

Instacart Pay Structure for Delivery Drivers 

It’s hard to figure out how different delivery platforms pay hourly wages and how pay is structured. The total amount a driver can make depends on how many hours they work, where the grocery store is, and when it is open and closed.

Companies that do deliveries try not to say how much an independent contractor can make through their platform. A few years ago, Instacart advertised that shoppers could make close to $25 per hour, but it didn’t work.

Several shoppers complained about the store on social media and the web. The big picture of how Instacart works is made up of many moving parts. Different things go into how much Instacart pays its drivers. Because of this, the payment changes.

The Highest Paying Cities 

In the United States, the average hourly wage for an Instacart driver is $13.88. This can range from $7.25 to $25.59, depending on the area and city where the driver works. This means that if you work an 8-hour shift for Instacart, you can expect to make at least $111 per day.

Some cities that pay Instacart delivery drivers the most are

New York, NY.	$25.59 per hour
Queens, NY.	$23.12 per hour
Brooklyn, NY.	$23.07 per hour

Aside from the US, Canada is another country where Instacart shoppers can make a good amount of money. The average hourly wage for full-service Instacart shoppers is CAD $15.75. The income may be different in different places.

Let’s look at the things that affect how much shoppers get paid by Instacart.

Which Factors Influence Instacart Driver Pay?

In general, there are two main things that affect how much Instacart’s independent contractors make per hour.

1. Service Region

Different parts of the country have different needs, which can change how much Instacart pays out. The payout gets bigger the more people to want the deliveries.

2. Location

How much you can make from a delivery also depends on where you live. The more miles it takes to deliver something, the more likely it is that you will get paid more. Sometimes the nearest grocery store is far from where the driver is, which can help you earn more money because you have to work harder.

How Does Instacart Calculate Pay?

There are big differences in how much Instacart drivers make in different parts of the country, so it can be helpful to look at the company’s pay structure and make a plan based on that.

There are a number of ways that Instacart shoppers and drivers are paid.

These things are:

• How many items are in each order they fill?
• How far away the store is from the customer’s address for delivery?
• At the time of delivery, there are incentives.
• Customers who were kind enough to tip them

The algorithm changes all the time, and no one really knows how it figures out how much to pay.

How to Become an Instacart Driver?

It is easy to become a driver for Instacart. You have to download the Instacart Shopper app and give the company some basic information about yourself and agree to different background checks.

You have to choose whether you want to sign up as a full-service or in-store shopper. You also have to fill out the right paperwork for the position you want.

As an in-store shopper, you’ll be a part-time worker for the company and need to fill out a W-4 form for taxes. Instacart will also send you an offer letter.

A full-service shopper works as an independent contractor and needs to fill out a W-9 form and a contract agreement in order to move forward.

For both jobs, you have to sign up for an in-person onboarding process, which is different from becoming an in-store shopper.

But you must first meet the requirements below to become an Instacart driver.

• You must own a car or have regular access to a car.
• You should meet the minimum age requirement of 18.
• A smartphone that can run the Instacart app (either an iPhone iOS 6s or newer or an Android 5.0).
• You should lift at least 50 pounds without help.
• A valid driver’s license.

You can sign up for Instacart through their website and skip the physical onboarding process to become a full-service shopper.

You have to put in basic information like your name, address, and cell phone number, and then you have to wait for the background check to finish.

Once the check is done, you can order your first item from Instacart. But before you start delivering, you need to know a few important tips.

Some Useful Tips for Instacart Drivers

1. Be Deliberate 

If you’re an Instacart driver, you can pick the delivery batch you want and turn down the delivery process that doesn’t work for you.

As an independent contractor, choosing batches with care can help you improve your efficiency and give the best grocery delivery service.

If a delivery order is too far away from where you are or has too many items for you to deliver easily, you can easily reject it and look for other Instacart jobs.

Orders from Instacart that require more work take longer and don’t bring in a lot of money through Instacart. So you shouldn’t take Instacart orders that will make you work harder for less pay.

2. Understand Tax Benefits

Full-service Instacart shoppers should know about the tax breaks and write-offs they can get. As a self-employed person, you have to pay self-employment taxes, but you can also get tax breaks and write-offs.

It can help you protect your profits and earnings and make sure you can grow your Instacart delivery business.

Reporting your taxes every three months can eat up a lot of your earnings. If you are a self-employed contractor, you can use tax deductions to help you avoid paying taxes.

Use GPS tracking software or a professional delivery route planner to keep track of your miles, gas purchases, and other car maintenance costs.

3. Identify Hotspots

Finding hot spots can lead to more batch requests, which can increase your earnings and help you make more money in less time and with less work.

To increase your Instacart shopper pay, you should work in cities with peak pay or check the Instacart Shopper app to see where you have the best chance of getting more orders.

If you are an independent contractor, don’t work in areas where you won’t make much money. You should look for areas with a lot of delivery requests and good pay.

4. Increase Your Ratings

When Instacart workers improve their ratings, it can help them get more work. You should work on making customer service better and making sure that your ratings go up.

You can give customers a great delivery experience and ask them to rate your service, which will raise your overall ratings on the platforms.

The best way to improve your rating and get more orders from the platform is to provide fast, friendly service. When you get more orders, you have a better chance of getting more tips and cash for delivering them.

These tips can help you make deliveries faster and get paid more than the average Instacart shopper.

5. Switch to a Professional Delivery Software

You can track the delivery process with the in-app maps, but you may run into problems and lack of features during the delivery process.

As a freelancer, you have access to powerful route planning software that can help you keep track of your overall delivery operations and figure out how much you spent so you can file your taxes easily.

The software can also help you handle multiple deliveries and find the shortest delivery routes based on real-time traffic, weather, and ETA updates.

You can add different third-party apps to the software to improve how your Instacart delivery drivers work and reach your business goals.

There are so many online options for route planning software that it can be hard to choose one. The best route planner for your independent contractor delivery operations at Instacart has been chosen by our team.

FAQs About Instacart Driver Pay

How do drivers for Instacart get paid?

Shoppers get paid for each batch of items they buy. Instacart tells you how much you could make on each order and how much you could make for the whole week.

How much you make per batch of orders depends on the number of items, the types of items, how far you have to drive, and how hard you have to work to shop and deliver.

How much do Instacart shoppers get paid per delivery?

The way Instacart pays its shoppers is complicated, but in general, each full-service batch delivery will earn at least $10. This can vary a lot, but we’ve found that the average Instacart pay per delivery batch is between $15 and $20.

How much does Instacart pay?

Full-service shoppers can make a lot of money with Instacart since the average hourly wage in the United States is about $13.88. The pay is based on where the service is and how many hours the delivery driver worked.

Do Instacart drivers get paid for gas?

Does Instacart pay for gas for shoppers? Instacart doesn’t give shoppers gas money or a credit card to pay for gas. As a shopper for Instacart, you are an “independent contractor,” the company says. So, you use your own car to make deliveries and pay for its maintenance and fuel.”

How much do you get paid on Instacart?

Depending on where you look, the average hourly pay is anywhere from $10 to $17. Ridester.com, one of the biggest rideshare websites in the world, says that full-service Instacart shoppers make an average of $10 per hour.

What is Instacart tip baiting?

Instacart promises its personal shoppers a tip of up to $10, even if the customer doesn’t leave a tip. This is called “tip baiting,” and Instacart does it well to get more shoppers to use their service.

Is driving for Instacart worth it?

Yes. Driving for Instacart can be great for self-employed people if they can find the hotspots to make more money and make the most of the platform’s opportunities.

Can you make $1000 a week with Instacart?

You can make anywhere from $200 to $1,000 per week as an Instacart shopper. How much you make will depend on a number of things. This includes how many orders you finish and how big the orders are. Shoppers usually make more money when they complete more orders.

Conclusion

In the US and Canada, Instacart is helping the gig economy grow. If you are willing to work as a freelancer for Instacart, you can go very far because the platform gives you so many chances.