Best Cities for Uber Drivers

A Cities' Guide for Uber Drivers

The average resident of Washington D.C. or Boston doesn’t immediately consider ridesharing as quickly as the average resident of Los Angeles, but since the use is growing, those who get in early will experience the most customer traffic. And the longer someone drives for Uber, the more opportunity there is to rack up experience and reviews. The top city for Uber drivers is Washington, D.C., according to a study done by Moving Authority. The combination of multi-tiered users, from students to government employees, combined with a high demand for public transport and frequent terrible weather make D.C. a prime location for Uber drivers. Boston, San Francisco, Seattle and Atlanta round out the top five. With a high percentage of the adult population earning more than 65K, the robust middle class creates a prime condition for a rideshare driver, as well as weather that isn’t sunny more than a third of the year.

The top city for Uber drivers is Washington, D.C., according to a study done by Moving Authority. The combination of multi-tiered users, from students to government employees, combined with a high demand for public transport and frequently terrible weather make D.C. a prime location for Uber drivers. Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, and Atlanta round out the top five. With a high percentage of the adult population earning more than 65K, the robust middle class creates a prime condition for a rideshare driver, as well as weather that isn’t sunny more than a third of the year.

Places like Austin and Denver, where the population is booming and millennials are calling for more public transport that will likely take years to complete, are prime locations for a burgeoning Uber driver. Many residents in these cities opt to bike or walk to work, committed to sustainable living. When bad weather or a long commute threaten preferred modes of travel, these environmentally conscious adults will often choose to Uber to work. One surprising trend is that big cities like Los Angeles and Phoenix are less attractive for Uber drivers than smaller, lower cost cities like Colorado Springs or Plano, Texas. In cities where gas prices are high, it is less cost-effective to Uber as a major source of income.

It’s been said that the go-to job for people in transition is no longer working as a waiter or a barista – it’s driving for Uber. It’s possible to be so successful driving for ride-sharing companies that a second job isn’t needed. But some cities are better than others, and there are a lot of factors to consider when comparing metropolitan areas. The first is population. The best cities aren’t just cities where people regularly use public transport, but cities with enough people who have disposable income to spend on a spur of the moment decision to call an Uber. A robust middle class is helpful, as well as cities with a large population of students who will use Uber on evenings and weekends. An unexpected factor is the weather. When weather conditions are bad, Uber conditions go up.

People often opt to take a more immediate, personal transport rather than brave rain or snow, especially when people who would otherwise be walking choose to use the subway or bus system. Another influential aspect is the cost of driving and vehicle upkeep for the Uber driver. Places where gas prices are low and roads are well maintained make the choice to drive for ridesharing companies more lucrative. It’s also good to drive in a city where insurance costs are lower. There is a fascinating trend in ridesharing use: it’s best to be where Uber is beginning to be used.