Uber drivers' wages break down this way: After deducting fees and expenses, they make an average of $11.77 an hour. After deducting mandatory Social Security and Medicare taxes, that figure goes down to $10.87 an hour. After additional deductions that are explained this way — "We calculate this W-2 equivalent wage by deducting the following in order, from passenger payments: all Uber fees, such as booking fees and commissions; vehicle expenses; and the cost of a modest benefits package, including mandatory employer-side payroll taxes. Our estimate also takes into account expense and benefit interactions with the federal tax code" — Mishel arrives at the final figure of $9.21 an hour.