Your Door to
Reliable Paydays
Learn more about how Dasher pay works, along with tools to help you track and increase your earnings to meet your goals.
How does Dasher
pay work?
We know that Dashers have a lot of choices when it comes to gig work. This is why DoorDash has created a pay model designed to make delivery driver earnings fair and transparent. Dasher pay has three components:
Base pay is DoorDash's base contribution for each offer. When Dashers choose to earn per offer, base pay is based on the estimated time, distance, and desirability of the offer. When earning by time, base pay is based on the minimum guaranteed active hourly rate for the time spent actively on a delivery. Base pay will not change based on the customer tip amount.
Ways to earn as a
Doordash driver
When you dash, you can choose between two different earning modes: Earn per Offer and Earn by Time.
Earn per Offer
With Earn per Offer, you earn for each offer completed while dashing. The amount per offer will change depending on the offer's time, distance, and desirability. You'll always see the guaranteed minimum pay for the offer before you accept .
Earn by Time
With Earn by Time, you earn a minimum guaranteed active hourly rate while on a delivery. The hourly rate is based on your active time, which is the time you are engaged in completing an order, starting from the moment an offer is accepted until it is completed. Tips and applicable promotions are added on top.
Delivery Driver
Promotions
Promotions and incentives are additional pay for offers that meet certain conditions, allowing Dashers to earn even more.
They can vary between Dashers based on factors like location and time of day.
Peak Pay
How Dashers get paid
WEEKLY
You automatically get paid weekly by direct deposit to your bank account. Payments are transferred directly and usually take 2–3 days to show up.
DAILY
Dashers can select Fast Pay to get earnings once per day for a small fee of $1.99.* Fast Pay is subject to eligibility and approval. You must have a debit card (not a prepaid card) to use the Fast Pay service.
INSTANTLY
With DoorDash Crimson, get instant deposits.**
*Fast Pay is subject to eligibility, approval, and a $1.99 fee per transaction.
**Earnings deposits typically occur within seconds. There may be times when deposits are delayed or not completed.
Track Your
Weekly Progress
Every Dasher has a number they're working toward. Now the app helps you get there.
The weekly Earnings Goal Tracker lets you:
Set a personalized weekly earnings target
Track your progress in real time as you dash
Celebrate milestones along the way
Your goal is based on your actual dashing history: your market, your typical hours, what you've earned before. You're always in control. Adjust your goal up or down or skip it entirely. Whatever fits your week.
How the earnings
goal tracker works
SET YOUR GOAL
Head to the Earnings tab in the Dasher app. You'll see a goal setup flow with suggested weekly targets — Light, Recommended, and Ambitious — each showing how many hours it typically takes to get there. Use the slider to pick what fits. Not sure? Start with Recommended. You can change it anytime.
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS WHILE YOU DASH
Once your goal is set, you'll see a progress bar right in the Earnings tab and on your dash screen. No more guessing. No more manually adding up your earnings throughout the week. The app shows you exactly where you stand.
CELEBRATE THE WIN
Hit your goal? You'll see it. The Dasher app acknowledges the milestone. Didn't quite make it this week? You'll get a prompt to adjust for next week. Goals reset automatically every Monday morning.
— Dasher feedback from the weekly goal tracker pilot"I like seeing my progress — it's motivating. It helps me stay out just a bit longer to hit my goal."
Currently rolling out to Platinum Dashers.
Open the Dasher app → Earnings tab → Set your goal.
GET PAID THE MOMENT
YOU FINISH A DASH
DoorDash Crimson** is a personal banking account where Dashers can receive their earnings instantly, enjoy cash back and perks, and manage their money easily and securely, all within the Dasher app. No credit check required. No monthly fees.
Here's what you get:
Instant Pay after every dash: Earnings deposited automatically, no fee.
Early direct deposit: Set up direct deposit from any employer and get paid up to two days early.
Your own account and routing number to manage all your income in one place.
Access to 40,000+ MoneyPass ATMs nationwide.
No monthly fee. No credit check. Apply in the Earnings tab of your Dasher app.
With Savings jar, you can automatically set earnings aside for bills, unexpected repairs, or future goals.
**The DoorDash Crimson Deposit Account is established by Starion Bank, Member FDIC. The DoorDash Crimson Visa Debit Card is issued by Starion Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Certain fees, terms, and conditions are associated with the approval, maintenance, and use of the Deposit Account and Card.
Tips to maximize
your earnings
Track your expenses
As an independent contractor in the gig economy, you may be eligible for tax deductions on mileage, phone use, and vehicle maintenance. Keep records throughout the year. Your Earnings History in the app is a useful reference at tax time.
Keep your Dasher rating high
Platinum Dashers get priority access to high-paying orders. On-time delivery and order accuracy are some of the biggest factors in your ratings.
Set a weekly goal
Need some personal accountability or help keeping track of how you’re doing? Dashers who use the Earnings Goal Tracker report feeling more motivated and are more intentional about where and when they dash. Set yours in the Earnings tab.
Dash during peak hours
Lunch and dinner tend to be the busiest times of day. Check the Promos tab before you start a dash to see if Peak Pay is active in your zone.
Use Hotspots
Open your map and look for the red zones — those are Hotspots, areas with higher order demand. Positioning yourself near a Hotspot reduces idle time between offers.
Try Earn by Time during busy periods
When orders are quiet, Earn by Time can give you a more predictable earnings floor — so slow stretches don't feel like a wash. You still keep 100% of tips and applicable promotions. Check your app for the current rate before starting your dash.
Ready to start dashing?
DoorDash is one of the most flexible ways to earn in the gig economy. Sign up at dasher.doordash.com. You'll need to be 18 or older*, have a valid driver's license, pass a background check, and have access to a vehicle. The sign-up process takes just a
few minutes.
* Minimum age to dash varies by state and may be higher than 18. Check the Requirements page for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Dasher pay works
Pay varies based on the platform, location, and how you work. As a Dasher, your earnings include base pay per offer, 100% of customer tips, and any active promotions. Most Dashers choose their own hours, so weekly earnings depend on how much and when you dash.
Dasher pay consists of three key components: base pay, customer tips, and promotions. Base pay is included in both earning modes. In addition to base pay, Dashers receive 100% of customer tips. Dashers also receive 100% of earnings from applicable promotions, which provide extra pay for completing offers that meet specific criteria.
Each offer is different. In Earn per Offer mode, base pay ranges from $2–10+ depending on the estimated time, distance, and desirability of the offer. You'll see the full pay breakdown — including any active promotions — before you accept. The customer's tip is added on top once the delivery is complete.
In Earn by Time mode, you receive a minimum guaranteed active hourly rate that can vary by time of day and location. Check your app before starting a dash for the current rate in your zone. Be sure to toggle on Earn by Time mode but clicking the hourglass icon before you start a dash. In Earn per Offer mode, your effective hourly rate depends on the volume and type of orders you complete. Promotions and tips are added on top in both modes.
Yes. Dashers always receive 100% of the customer tips received by DoorDash, on top of your base pay and any active promotions.
How much you can earn
It depends on your market, your schedule, and how you select offers. Dashers who dash during peak hours, use Hotspots, and take advantage of promotions tend to earn more. The Earnings Goal Tracker in the app can help you set a realistic weekly target based on your own history.
Weekly earnings depend on how many hours you dash, when and where you dash, and how you select offers. The Earnings Goal Tracker can help you set a realistic weekly target based on your own history and market and track your progress throughout the week.
Maximizing your earnings
As a Dasher, you'll often see certain promotions in your Dasher app. You can find them by tapping Promos in the Dasher app. Peak Pay and Boosts are applied automatically when they are in effect.
To improve the opportunity of receiving offers near you, look for Hotspots in your Dasher app. They'll be the zones on your map that are marked red.
Getting paid
Yes. Dashers can select Fast Pay to get earnings once per day for a small fee of $1.99. With DoorDash Crimson, you can get instant no-fee deposits automatically after every dash. Apply directly in the Earnings tab of the Dasher app.
The DoorDash Crimson Card may offer cash-back opportunities on select purchases. Check the Crimson Hub in your app for current rewards and eligibility details.
Earnings Goal Tracker
No. The Earnings Goal Tracker is a visibility and tracking tool just for you. It has no effect on how offers are sent to you, your acceptance rate, or your Dasher tier status.