Gig Work Real Hourly
Operating cost = miles × $0.67 (2024 IRS). Real hourly = (gross − op cost) ÷ hours.
IRS mileage rate ($0.67 in 2024) captures gas + maintenance + depreciation. Gross pay alone hides that.
Gig apps show gross pay — what the customer paid plus tips. They don't show what your car lost in that shift. The IRS mileage rate is the closest thing to a true per-mile cost, and applying it exposes the gap.
Part of: Saving & Spending Calculators
Quick answer
IRS mileage rate ($0.67 in 2024) captures gas + maintenance + depreciation. Gross pay alone hides that.
Key points
- ▸ IRS standard mileage rate: $0.67/mi (2024). Captures gas + maintenance + depreciation — not just gas.
- ▸ Real hourly = (gross pay − miles × $0.67) ÷ hours worked.
- ▸ If real hourly is below federal minimum ($7.25) or local minimum (often $15+), you are subsidizing the app with car equity.
- ▸ Depreciation is the hidden cost — a $25k car losing 15%/yr = $3,750/yr just from age, accelerated by miles.
- ▸ Tips count toward gross. So do waiting-time bonuses.
Examples
- Decent shift$140 gross / 95 miles / 6 hours. Op cost $63.65. Real profit $76.35 → $12.73/hr. Below $15 local min — marginal.
- Good shift$180 / 80 mi / 5 hrs. Op cost $53.60. Real profit $126.40 → $25.28/hr. Above most local minimums.
- Losing money$90 / 120 mi / 5 hrs. Op cost $80.40. Real profit $9.60 → $1.92/hr. You are paying the app to drive your car.
When to use which tool
- Gig Net FloorMain tool — dial shows real hourly vs minimum wage threshold.What DoorDash or Uber actually pays after IRS mileage depreciation — real hourly vs the minimum wage floor.
- Minimum Viable RateFor framing gig work as a rate vs a "flexible job" salary equivalent.The absolute minimum hourly rate to match a corporate salary after self-employment tax, benefits, and non-billable time.
- Bill TriageWhen gig income is patching a cash crisis.When you can't pay everything, which bill first? Weighted ranking by service-cutoff risk and late-fee pain.
Related
- Gig Net FloorWhat DoorDash or Uber actually pays after IRS mileage depreciation — real hourly vs the minimum wage floor.
- Minimum Viable RateThe absolute minimum hourly rate to match a corporate salary after self-employment tax, benefits, and non-billable time.
- Bill TriageWhen you can't pay everything, which bill first? Weighted ranking by service-cutoff risk and late-fee pain.
- Calorie-per-DollarMost calories per dollar spent — survival math for when the food budget is hard-capped.
Frequently asked questions
› Is $0.67 too high? Trust & accuracy
It's the IRS rate, conservative for high-mileage vehicles. For an older paid-off car with cheap parts it may be $0.40; for a newer leased car closer to $0.85.
› Does it include insurance?
Partially. Rideshare/delivery often require commercial-grade insurance — add a line for that gap if your policy requires it.
› How should I use this guide with a Kefiw tool? How-to
Use the guide as the plan and the linked Kefiw tool as the check. Read the steps first, try the move manually, then use the tool to compare outputs, catch edge cases, and decide whether the result actually fits your task.
› What mistake do tool guides help avoid? Troubleshooting
Tool guides help avoid using a utility mechanically without understanding what you are trying to accomplish. Most word, writing, and text utilities are fast, but speed can hide context mistakes. Know whether you are solving a puzzle, cleaning copy, drafting a line, or checking a rule.
› Can a tool guide help me learn the skill? How-to
A tool guide can help you learn if you pause before accepting the output and ask why it worked. Compare your first guess with the tool result, look for the rule or pattern, and repeat that review. Passive copying solves one task; active review builds the skill.