New York City Uber drivers gross between $30.70 and $41.17 per hour prior to expenses, with an average of $37.01 per hour. When expenses are factored in, net pay generally brings home around $20–$24 per hour.
A March 2025 report by NorthOne, using Uber’s own figures, puts gross hourly pay for NYC Uber drivers at $30.70 to $41.17 depending on hour of day, city neighborhood, and spikes in demand. Uber’s own internal reports from June 23 through July 21, 2025, quote a median gross hourly rate of $37.01.
Annualized earnings comparison
Keeping in mind annual revenues for part-time drivers, those driving around 32 hours a week for 50 weeks can earn around $52,900 gross annually. The initial salary of an EMT in its first year is $39,386 in New York. For the drivers with a 35-hour workweek, as hired by NorthOne’s data, annual gross revenue could be as high as $72,839 before deducting expenditures.
Uber driving comes with high expenses such as fuel, car maintenance, insurance, TLC fees, and depreciation. NorthOne puts these at $19,966 per annum. After deducting these expenses, net pay is usually reduced to $36,500 to $40,000 per annum, which is approximately $21 to $23 per hour for someone working 35 hours a week. This estimate takes into consideration after-net pay, including vehicle costs and estimated taxes.
Factors affecting earnings
There are factors that affect the amount of money an Uber driver can make in NYC:
- Time of day: Busy times like morning and evening rush hour and Friday and Saturday evenings will experience surge pricing and also per-mile or minute fees higher compared to slower times.
- Location strategy: Drivers heading to busy locations like Manhattan and other congested boroughs tend to have more pickups than those in outer boroughs.
- Driver strategy: Taking rides selectively, waiting in areas close to airports such as EWR, JFK, or LGA, and utilizing driver incentives will generate more revenue.
- Tips and bonuses: Picking up very quickly, even in rain, and delivering great service will bring more tips, sometimes as much as 10–15% of gross income.
Achieving higher weekly income
To make over $1,000 in a week, Uber drivers typically must maintain an average gross hourly rate between $30 and $33 on 35 to 40 hours of work per week. This typically means driving surge hours and airport rides with priority. Even at net take-home pay rates of $21 to $24 an hour, strict expense management and accurate mileage recording for tax deductibility are key to maximizing take-home pay.
The regulatory climate of New York City permits Uber drivers’ high gross hourly revenues of $30.70 to $41.17, averaged at $37.01. But expenses swallow most of these profits. After accounting for expenses and taxes, most of the drivers make hourly revenues between $20 and $24. To operate peak revenues in NYC’s saturated ridesharing environment, drivers have to work strategically during surges, select high-revenue areas, and tightly control expenses.
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