Echoing a similar study by the JPMorgan Chase Institute, a new study finds the median hourly pay with tip for Uber drivers in the U.S. is $14.73, which includes tips and excludes expenses like insurance, gas and car depreciation incurred while working. The study was conducted by Ridester, a publication that focuses on the ride-hail industry. Recode reports: Using Ridester’s low-end estimate of $5 per hour in vehicle costs, drivers would bring in $9.73 per hour and potentially much less. That implies a driver working 40 hours per week would make an annual salary of almost $31,000 before vehicle expenses, and about $20,000 after expenses (but still before taxes). That’s below the poverty threshold for a family of three. It’s also a far cry from the $70,000 to $90,000 Uber once claimed its drivers made in major markets.

The study, which was conducted this summer, asked drivers for a screenshot of their Uber app’s earnings page from their last full day driving. The 719 valid screenshots they used show how many hours the drivers worked and how much they were paid after Uber’s cut. It doesn’t factor in other costs like taxes or healthcare. And — worth noting — the study only represents drivers who were motivated enough to send in their data and isn’t necessarily representative of the geographical distribution of Uber drivers.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot – Half of US Uber Drivers Make Less Than An Hour After Vehicle Expenses, Study Says