Gross pay, per published data: DoorDash itself publishes no average hourly earnings figure — its Dasher pay page describes the model (base pay + 100% of tips + 100% of promotions) and states that actual earnings depend on offers accepted, time of day, location, "and any related costs." The largest published third-party dataset is Gridwise's analysis of 115,771 Dashers during 2025: median $11.63/hour gross counting base pay, tips and promotions; top 25% at $13.97/hour; top 10% at $16.33/hour. These are gross figures before vehicle costs, and the sample is drawn from drivers who use a mileage-tracking app rather than a random sample of all Dashers.
Active time vs logged-in time: every published hourly figure measures active time — time engaged in completing an offer. Waiting for offers, waiting on a slow restaurant, and driving home don't count. A Dasher logged in six hours but active four has a real-world hourly about a quarter below the headline.
What comes out of gross: fuel, maintenance/tires/depreciation, phone and data (business-use share), equipment (insulated bags, mounts), and self-employment tax of 15.3% assessed on 92.35% of net profit — roughly 14.1% of profit in practice, owed once net earnings reach $400 whether or not a 1099-NEC arrives.
The mileage deduction is not the same as what driving costs you. This is the most commonly confused point. The IRS standard rate (76¢/mile from July 1, 2026 per Announcement 2026-11; 72.5¢ for Jan 1 – Jun 30 per Notice 2026-10) is a flat allowance approximating the full cost of operating a vehicle — fuel, maintenance, insurance, depreciation — averaged across all cars. It is a deduction you subtract on a tax form, not a bill you pay. A paid-off, fuel-efficient car often costs well below the IRS rate per mile, so the deduction shelters more income than delivering genuinely costs. A financed or fuel-hungry car can cost more than the rate. The deduction lowers taxable profit either way; only actual spending moves your bank balance.
A consequence worth knowing: because deductible miles (including deadhead miles between orders) are often large relative to gross pay, a Dasher's taxable profit can be near zero or negative for a period in which they still banked real cash. That's legitimate — but if the mileage deduction routinely exceeds gross pay, it's a signal of driving too far for the money, since unseen depreciation is still real.
Set aside from net, not gross: 25–30% of profit after the mileage deduction is the common rule of thumb. Setting aside a share of gross usually overshoots substantially. If you expect to owe $1,000+ for the year, the IRS wants quarterly estimated payments via Form 1040-ES.
Does DoorDash pay for gas? No. There is no fuel reimbursement. Distance influences the base-pay calculation for an offer, but fuel cost is recognised through the tax system — either the standard mileage rate per business mile, or actual vehicle expenses apportioned to business use. You cannot claim both for the same vehicle in the same year.
Full walkthrough with a worked gross-to-net example: https://www.expensebot.ai/blog/how-much-do-doordash-drivers-make — filing mechanics: https://www.expensebot.ai/blog/doordash-taxes-schedule-c — automation: https://www.expensebot.ai/doordash-driver-tax-tracker
Educational information, not tax advice.