Uber's take rate surpasses 50% in some cities, study finds

A new analysis finds Uber now keeps more than half of the fare in some cities this year, leaving a smaller share for drivers. Len Sherman, an executive in residence and adjunct professor at Columbia Business School, examined nine years of ride-hailing data for three Uber drivers in Dallas, Miami, and Tampa, covering about 50,000 trips.

About a decade ago, Sherman found, Uber took roughly 15% to 20% of each fare. The link between rider fares and driver payouts began to break in 2019 when Uber cut driver payouts, with the split growing especially pronounced in 2022 after the company adopted upfront pricing.

All drivers in the study used the earnings analysis app GigU; one driver took nearly two years off after the pandemic. Uber has pushed back on Sherman’s estimates.

United States, Dallas, Miami, Tampa

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