Uber Eats & Deliveroo Pay Rates 2026: Are You an Employee or Contractor?

Uber Eats and Deliveroo classify their delivery riders as independent contractors, not employees. That means you don't get a guaranteed hourly rate — you get paid per delivery based on the platform's algorithm.

Typical per-delivery pay:

• Uber Eats: $5–$12 per delivery, depending on distance, time, and demand (surge pricing)
• Deliveroo: $6–$14 per delivery, with a similar variable model

In practice, riders report earning anywhere from $15–$30/hr before expenses. After you account for petrol or charging costs, phone data, bike maintenance, and insurance, the actual hourly rate drops significantly.

There is no guaranteed minimum hourly rate under the current contractor model. That's the core problem.

This is the big question. Just because Uber Eats or Deliveroo calls you a contractor doesn't mean you are one legally. Australian law looks at the real nature of the working relationship, not just the label.

Signs you might actually be an employee:

• The platform controls when and how you work (e.g., penalising you for rejecting deliveries)
• You can't negotiate your pay — the platform sets it
• You wear branded gear or use platform-provided equipment
• You can't subcontract the work to someone else
• You don't have your own independent business — you're just working for one platform

If you're wrongly classified as a contractor, you're missing out on minimum wage, super, leave, and workers compensation. Read our full guide on being wrongly classified as a contractor.

The Australian Government has been moving to establish minimum standards for gig workers. Key developments:

• Closing Loopholes Act (2024): Gave the Fair Work Commission power to set minimum standards for "employee-like" gig workers
• Minimum pay orders: The FWC can now set minimum pay rates for gig economy workers, even if they're classified as contractors
• Unfair deactivation protections: Gig workers now have access to remedies if they're unfairly deactivated from a platform

The FWC is still in the process of setting specific minimum rates for food delivery platforms. When these are finalised, platforms will have to guarantee a minimum per-hour or per-delivery rate.

This is a space that's changing fast. Check the Fair Work Ombudsman contractor page for the latest.

If you're genuinely a contractor, platforms don't have to pay you super. But here's the catch — if you're actually an employee (wrongly classified as a contractor), your platform owes you 12% super on every dollar you've earned.

Even for genuine contractors, the government extended super obligations in 2024 to contractors who are paid wholly or principally for their labour. This may apply to food delivery riders who don't have significant capital investment in equipment.

If you've been riding for Uber Eats or Deliveroo for years without receiving super, you may have a claim. The ATO can investigate and enforce superannuation payments.

If food delivery riders were classified as employees under a relevant award (like the Road Transport Award), they'd be entitled to:

• Minimum hourly rate: approximately $25–$27/hr
• Casual loading: 25% on top ($31–$34/hr)
• Super: 12% on top of that
• Penalty rates: 150% on Saturdays, 200% on Sundays, 250% on public holidays
• Workers compensation: insurance coverage if you're injured on the job

Compared to the $15–$30/hr (before expenses) that riders currently earn with no super, no leave, and no workers comp — the gap is significant.

If you believe you've been wrongly classified as a contractor:

• Document everything: Save communications from the platform about how you must work, any penalties for rejecting orders, and evidence of control over your work
• Check your ABN: Having an ABN doesn't automatically make you a contractor. The ATO looks at the actual relationship
• Contact the ATO: They can make a ruling on whether you're an employee for super purposes
• Contact Fair Work: Call 13 13 94 for advice on whether your arrangement looks more like employment
• Get legal advice: Many employment lawyers offer free initial consultations for sham contracting claims

Read our detailed guide: Are you wrongly classified as a contractor?