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5 steps · MA
Delivery / Gig Driver
Drive your own car for DoorDash, Uber Eats, Amazon Flex, or a local courier — start this week.
Pay range
$15–$25/hr in MA after gas and tips on the apps. Local W-2 courier work pays $19–$24/hr with mileage reimbursement and is more stable than gig work.
What this job is
The honest version
This is the lowest-bar way to earn money behind the wheel in Massachusetts. With a regular MA driver's license, an insured car, and a smartphone, you can sign up for DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Grubhub, or Amazon Flex and be running deliveries the same week. Local courier companies in Boston, Worcester, and Springfield (medical couriers, parts runners, florists, pharmacies) hire drivers with their own cars at higher base pay than the apps. The point of this rung isn't the long-term money — it's to see if you actually like driving for a living before committing to a CDL program.
Is this you?
You'll fit if…
- You like being on the road and on your own schedule
- You're a calm driver in city traffic, snow, and the Big Dig tunnels
- You can manage your own gas, maintenance, and tax setup
- You'd rather move around all day than sit at a desk
What you'll do
Core skills
- Defensive driving in heavy MA traffic and weather
- Efficient route planning across multiple stops
- Customer service at the door — politeness gets tips
- Tracking your own mileage for the IRS Schedule C deduction (~$0.67/mi in 2025)
- Basic vehicle maintenance — oil, tires, brakes, wipers
What you'll need
Required certifications
No certifications required at this rung.
Stand out
Things that give you a leg up
- A fuel-efficient car (Prius, Civic, Corolla) — gas is your biggest cost
- An insulated delivery bag (~$20) — required by most food apps
- Stacking apps (DoorDash + Uber Eats simultaneously) to keep your hourly up
- Speaking Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole — opens up community courier work
- A side hustle mentality — track your real $/hr after gas, insurance, and tax
Take a step
Learn more
- Sign up for DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Amazon Flex this week — all 3 take 3–5 days to activate
- Apply at 3 local W-2 courier companies (medical, parts, pharmacy) — they pay better and offer benefits
- Call your auto insurance and add a delivery/rideshare endorsement before your first shift
- Download Stride or Everlance to track miles for taxes from day one
Heads up
Real talk before you commit
- Gig pay shrinks fast after gas, insurance, and self-employment tax (~15% on top of income tax). Track real $/hr, not gross.
- You're a 1099 contractor — no workers' comp if you crash on the job. A regular auto policy WILL deny a delivery claim.
- Most apps deactivate drivers for low ratings, late deliveries, or one bad accident. Treat it like a real job.
- Boston and Cambridge have strict parking enforcement. A single tow can wipe out a week of earnings.