How Much Does an Uber Driver Earn Working 10 Hours a Day in Argentina?

Driving for Uber in Argentina generates approximately 2,6 millones de pesos gross per month for drivers working ten-hour days, providing a crucial income cushion amid a broader contraction in formal private-sector employment, according to a report published by iProfesional and detailed by La Gaceta.

Working as an app-based driver has emerged as a primary financial alternative for individuals navigating job loss in the formal economy. Official data from the INDEC household survey place the unemployment rate at 7,8% during the first quarter of 2026, while formal private-sector wage employment contracted by 9,100 positions in May 2026 according to reports from the IIEP UBA-CONICET. Against this backdrop of declining formal jobs, thousands of workers have turned to ride-hailing platforms to support their households.

Daily Earnings and Operating Hours for App Drivers

Drivers operating between nine and ten hours daily bring in gross earnings ranging from 90.000 to 150.000 pesos per shift before platform deductions and vehicle expenses, according to the iProfesional data. Pablo, a 51-year-old driver in Argentina with a background in business administration who entered the platform economy following a corporate restructuring, notes that a solid shift nets around 150.000 pesos, while working for less than 100.000 pesos daily is unfeasible.

Factoring in an intermediate daily intake of 130.000 pesos across a five-day workweek yields roughly 650.000 pesos weekly, totaling 2.600.000 pesos over a four-week period, as reported by La Gaceta. Peak demand periods heavily dictate these daily returns. Pablo starts his shifts around 7:00 AM, identifying the most lucrative windows as 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM and from 5:00 PM onward, with weekend overnight hours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays also offering high passenger volume.

Fuel Costs and Net Income After Vehicle Expenses

Gross revenue fails to reflect actual take-home pay because drivers must cover substantial operating costs, including fuel, insurance, oil changes, routine maintenance, and vehicle depreciation. Fuel consumption represents the single largest variable expense, varying widely depending on the vehicle’s powertrain. According to industry estimates cited by La Gaceta, fuel claims roughly 30% of earnings for gasoline-powered vehicles, drops to 15% for compressed natural gas (CNG), and falls to 10% for electric vehicles.

Subtracting these estimated fuel costs from the 2.600.000 peso monthly gross leaves approximately 1.820.000 pesos for drivers using gasoline vehicles, 2.210.000 pesos for those using CNG, and 2.340.000 pesos for electric car operators. These totals do not yet account for insurance, unexpected repairs, or the steady wear and tear on the vehicle’s resale value.

Poverty Thresholds and Middle-Class Reality

Net earnings after fuel expenses generally clear the official poverty line for a family of four, though they do not guarantee middle-class stability. The INDEC Total Basic Basket for a four-member household stood at 1.564.716 pesos in July 2026. While the post-fuel gasoline income of roughly 1.820.000 pesos sits above that poverty benchmark, drivers emphasize that maintenance and depreciation eat heavily into the remaining margin.

A study conducted by the Inter-American Development Bank in partnership with Uber and Ipsos surveyed 2.589 Argentine drivers, finding an average baseline earning of 8,9 dollars per hour online before operating costs. With nearly half of the surveyed drivers holding tertiary or university degrees, ride-hailing functions primarily as a flexible economic stabilizer rather than a gateway to formalized middle-class security, lacking traditional labor benefits or employer contributions.