How to Earn Money Delivering Food as a DoorDash Dasher

DoorDash is one of the most popular food delivery apps in the United States, and the people who make those deliveries — called Dashers — are independent contractors who set their own hours and work as much or as little as they choose. Becoming a Dasher is straightforward and doesn't require any special experience or training.

To become a Dasher, you need to be at least 18 years old, have a valid US driver's license (or a bicycle in some cities), pass a basic background check, and have access to a vehicle or bicycle for deliveries. There's no interview and no boss. You sign up through the DoorDash website, complete the background check (which takes two to five business days), and once approved, you can start dashing.

The actual work is simple: you open the Dasher app and tap "Dash Now" to start accepting deliveries in your area. The app shows you available orders with the pickup restaurant, the delivery address, and an estimated total earnings for the trip including base pay plus any customer tip. You can accept or decline any order. If you accept, the app gives you turn-by-turn navigation to the restaurant, then to the delivery address.

Pay varies by market and by how busy the area is. DoorDash uses a base pay structure plus 100% of tips go to the Dasher. During peak hours — lunch (11am–2pm) and dinner (5pm–9pm) on weekdays, and most of the weekend — delivery demand is higher and pay per hour tends to be better. During slow periods, it's common to wait longer between orders.

Dashers are paid weekly via direct deposit, though a "Fast Pay" option allows you to cash out your current earnings to a debit card for a small fee. As an independent contractor, taxes are not withheld from your earnings — you're responsible for setting aside money for quarterly estimated taxes, usually around 25 to 30% of your net earnings.

The Dasher app is available for iPhone and Android and uses your phone's GPS for navigation. A phone mount for your car dashboard is a practical investment if you plan to dash regularly.