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How The Solo App Can Help You Earn More
How The Solo App Can Help You Earn More
— By Sergio Avedian —
Some cities naturally offer higher earnings potential due to higher demand, surge pricing, and cost of living, while others may see slower ride/delivery volumes. If you’re a driver looking to maximize your income, knowing where the opportunities lie and how to track them is key.
That’s where tools like the Solo app can make a real difference.
Why Tracking Your City Matters
Not all drivers in a high-earning city make top dollars. Understanding local trends, surge patterns, and rider/consumer behavior can dramatically affect income.
For example, two drivers in the same city may earn very different hourly rates simply because one knows the best zones to hit during peak hours or large events. This is where the Solo app becomes an invaluable tool.
The following data was provided to the Rideshare Guy by Solo from 15 cities with the most RSG followers! They are broken down into 3 categories: Rideshare, Delivery, and Rideshare/Delivery combined!
In the screenshot above, Seattle leads the way in hourly earnings by a wide margin for Rideshare only in 2025, followed by Boston, San Francisco, and Denver. Most of the remaining metro areas are averaging around $20–$21 per hour.
However, the Year-Over-Year (YoY) change in the third column tells a different story. Of the 15 cities listed, only five saw an annual increase in hourly earnings, while 10 experienced a decline.
When you factor in rising costs of living, it’s clear that many drivers are effectively earning less than Uber and Lyft suggest. The lowest hourly earnings honor went to two cities, Miami and Houston, which were tied!
Delivery Only
In the screenshot above, Seattle leads the way in hourly earnings for Delivery only in 2025, followed by San Diego, Boston, and San Francisco. Most of the remaining metro areas are averaging around $13–$15 per hour.
Year-over-year (YoY) change in the third column tells a different story. Of the 15 cities listed, eight saw an annual increase in hourly earnings, while 7 experienced a decline.
When you factor in rising costs of living, it’s clear that many drivers are effectively earning less than DoorDash, Instacart, Grubhub, and Walmart Spark suggests. The lowest hourly earnings honor went to Houston!
In the screenshot above, Seattle leads the way in hourly earnings for Rideshare/Delivery combined for 2025, followed by Boston, San Francisco, and San Diego. Most of the remaining metro areas are averaging around $16–$18 per hour.
However, the Year-Over-Year (YoY) change in the third column tells a very different story. Of the 15 cities listed, only 3 saw an annual increase in hourly earnings, while 12 experienced a decline.
When you factor in rising costs of living, it’s clear that many drivers are effectively earning less than the on-demand platforms suggest. Lowest hourly earnings honor went to Houston for this category as well!
Using the Solo App to Maximize Earnings
The Solo app gives drivers the ability to dive into hyper-local data, helping them understand exactly where and when to drive for the best results. Here’s how to use it effectively:
Select Your City: Open Solo and choose your city from the list. The app provides insights even if your city isn’t in the top 15, with detailed data on ride patterns, income averages, and surge activity.
Check Top-Earning Drivers: Solo shows you profiles of top-earning drivers in your area. Observing patterns like which zones they focus on, their shift timing, and ride frequency can help you replicate strategies that work.
Analyze Averages: Compare your current earnings with city averages. Solo provides hourly, daily, and weekly income data, letting you see how your performance stacks up. This is crucial for spotting areas of improvement or untapped opportunities.
Track Hotspots: Solo’s heat maps highlight high-demand areas, surge zones, and event-driven traffic. By planning your shifts around these zones, you can significantly increase the number of rides/deliveries and your total earnings.
Optimize Timing: The app provides insights into peak hours, weekend patterns, and event spikes, helping you schedule your driving when it’s most profitable.
Set Personal Goals: Use Solo to create daily or weekly targets for income, rides, and hours. This keeps you organized and motivated while giving a clear view of your progress.
Experiment and Learn: Solo isn’t just about data, it’s about testing. Track different zones, adjust schedules, and experiment with strategies to see what works best for you.
Don’t forget the Solo Earnings Guarantee
For all your questions regarding Solo Pay guarantees, please click this link: https://www.worksolo.com/pay-guarantee-how-it-works
My Take
By combining knowledge of top cities with actionable insights from the Solo app, ride-share drivers and delivery couriers can take control of their earnings like never before.
Whether you’re in a major urban center or a smaller city, understanding your market and leveraging real-time data makes all the difference. With the right approach, you can transform ride-share driving from a side hustle into a profitable and sustainable income stream.
Sergio@RSG
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