2026 Gig Economy Statistics & Data
By Brenden Warn, Founder & Gig Economy Analyst
The most comprehensive collection of gig economy data for 2026. Market size, platform earnings, driver demographics, tax data, and trends — all sourced and updated monthly.
If you cite this data, please link back to this page. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
72.9M
US independent workers (2025)
$12.43
DoorDash avg gross $/active hour (2025)
67%
DoorDash share of meal-delivery sales (Mar 2024)
$0.76
IRS mileage rate/mile from July 1, 2026 ($0.725 for Jan–Jun)
How Many Americans Work Independently?
| Metric | 2025 | For comparison |
|---|---|---|
| US independent workers | 72.9M | 72.7M in 2024 |
| Full-time independents | 27.6M | 27.7M in 2024 |
| Part-time independents | 7.9M | 11.1M in 2022 |
| Occasional independents | 37.4M | Earn money irregularly, at least monthly |
Source: MBO Partners, 2025 State of Independence report. “Independent workers” is MBO’s broader count. It includes freelancers and consultants as well as gig drivers and couriers.
What Is Each Platform's Market Share?
| Platform | Share of observed sales | Category | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DoorDash (with Caviar) | 67% | Food Delivery | Bloomberg Second Measure |
| Uber Eats | 23% | Food Delivery | Bloomberg Second Measure |
| Grubhub | 8% | Food Delivery | Bloomberg Second Measure |
| Uber (rideshare) | 76% | Rideshare | Bloomberg Second Measure |
| Lyft | 24% | Rideshare | Bloomberg Second Measure |
Share of observed US consumer spending in March 2024, the latest month in these Bloomberg Second Measure reports. Uber Eats is shown without Postmates, which added 2 points. Share of sales, not share of drivers.
How Much Do Gig Workers Earn Per Hour in 2026?
| Platform | Avg gross $/active hour (2025) |
|---|---|
| Walmart Spark (Spark Driver) | $26.35 |
| Uber (rideshare) | $23.88 |
| Amazon Flex | $22.60 |
| Lyft | $22.45 |
| Shipt | $21.95 |
| Grubhub | $18.67 |
| Uber Eats | $18.06 |
| Gopuff | $16.44 |
| Instacart | $15.06 |
| DoorDash | $12.43 |
Source: Gridwise, 2025 Annual Gig Mobility Report averages. These are gross earnings per active hour, before gas, maintenance, insurance, depreciation and taxes, so take-home pay per hour is lower. Use our 1099 Tax Calculator to see after-tax pay.
What Are the Key Tax Numbers for Gig Workers in 2026?
| Tax Metric | 2026 Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| IRS standard mileage rate | $0.76/mile from July 1, 2026 ($0.725 for Jan–Jun) | IRS.gov |
| Self-employment tax rate | 15.3% | IRS (12.4% SS + 2.9% Medicare) |
| Standard deduction (Single, tax year 2026) | $16,100 | IRS |
| Quarterly tax payment deadlines | Apr 15, Jun 15, Sep 15, 2026; Jan 15, 2027 | IRS Form 1040-ES |
Full mileage deduction breakdown: 2026 IRS Mileage Rate Guide. Calculate your personal tax liability: Free 1099 Tax Calculator.
When Do Gig Workers Earn the Most?
| Window | Where it shows up |
|---|---|
| Friday/Saturday 5pm-9pm | DoorDash + Uber Eats |
| Weekday 10am-2pm | Walmart Spark |
| Saturday 11am-3pm | Instacart + Spark |
| Fri/Sat 10pm-1am | DoorDash late-night |
| Bad weather | All platforms |
| Monday dinner | Often the slowest window |
These are common busy windows, not guarantees. Pay by hour varies a lot by market, so check your own $/hr by day and time. Full breakdown: Best Times to DoorDash | Best Times for Walmart Spark.
Does Multi-Apping Actually Increase Earnings?
It can, mostly by cutting the wait between orders. Running a second app doesn't raise what any single order pays. It shortens the idle time before the next one, and idle time is what drags an hourly rate down.
One simple rule keeps it from backfiring: only accept a second order if its pickup is close to the first (within about half a mile), so neither customer waits on the other.
Who Works Independently in 2026?
Generation
Share of the US independent workforce in 2025. Source: MBO Partners, 2025 State of Independence report
Track Your Own Gig Economy Data
ShiftTracker logs shifts, mileage, and earnings across all platforms. See your real numbers — not averages.
Want the full tax checklist for gig workers?
Download our free 10-page Tax Survival Kit with deduction checklists for 11 platforms.
Get Free PDFFrequently Asked Questions
How many Americans work independently?
MBO Partners counted 72.9 million independent workers in the US in 2025, including 27.6 million full-time and 37.4 million occasional independents. That count is broader than gig driving, because it also includes freelancers and consultants.
How much do gig workers make in 2026?
Gridwise's 2025 averages are gross earnings per active hour: about $12.43 for DoorDash, $18.06 for Uber Eats, $15.06 for Instacart, $26.35 for Spark Driver and $23.88 for Uber rideshare. Those figures are before gas, maintenance, depreciation and taxes, so take-home pay per hour is lower.
What is the IRS mileage rate for 2026?
The IRS standard mileage rate for business use is $0.76 per mile from July 1, 2026 (it was $0.725 for January 1 through June 30). As an example, 20,000 business miles split evenly across the year comes to (10,000 × $0.725) + (10,000 × $0.76) = $14,850 in deductions, which at a 22% federal bracket would cut federal income tax by about $3,267. Your own savings depend on your income and filing status.
Which gig app has the most market share?
In March 2024, Bloomberg Second Measure saw DoorDash (with Caviar) take 67% of observed US consumer meal-delivery sales, Uber Eats 23% and Grubhub 8%. In rideshare, Uber accounted for 76% of observed US spending that month.
Cite this page
Warn, B. (2026). 2026 Gig Economy Statistics & Data. ShiftTracker. https://shifttrackerapp.com/research/gig-economy-statistics-2026
Last updated: April 2026. This page is updated monthly with the latest available data. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 — you may share and adapt with attribution.
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