Colorado gig drivers make an average of just $5.49 an hour, study finds

Although the report focuses on drivers in Denver, gig worker drivers across the US face similar issues, experts say

Drivers for platforms like Lyft, Uber and DoorDash in Denver, Colorado, on average make significantly less than minimum wage when accounting for expenses and time spent on the app, a new study found, the latest research to highlight the struggles of such workers across the US.

Research from workers' rights group Colorado Jobs with Justice, in partnership with Gig Workers Rising, surveyed hundreds of gig workers in the Denver area regarding their work between 1 November 2021 and 31 January 2022, and found drivers on average took home $5.49 (4.75) an hour after expenses. That average is roughly 35% below Denver's 2022 minimum wage of $15.87, and falls significantly below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.