The app shows gross pay. This shows what a California driver actually keeps after the car, the IRS — and Sacramento.
Gross hourly
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Vehicle cost (72.5¢/mi)
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Self-employment tax
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Est. federal income tax
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Est. CA state tax
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Your TRUE hourly pay
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Tracking every mile is worth real money
At 72.5¢/mi, a driver logging 15,000 miles/year deducts $10,875 from taxable income. A mileage tracking app does it automatically. Compare mileage trackers →
How this calculator works
Your true hourly pay is what's left after costs the apps never show: your car and your taxes. We subtract vehicle cost at the 2026 IRS standard mileage rate of 72.5¢ per mile, then self-employment tax (15.3% on 92.35% of profit), federal income tax at your bracket, and California state income tax at the rate you pick. California brackets run 1%–12.3%; most full-time gig drivers land somewhere between 2% and 9.3% marginal.
What Prop 22 actually guarantees you
Since Prop 22, app-based drivers in California are guaranteed at least 120% of the applicable minimum wage for engaged time (from accepting an offer to completing it), plus a per-engaged-mile vehicle adjustment (roughly 35–36¢, adjusted annually) and a healthcare stipend if you average 15+ engaged hours a week. The catch: waiting between offers counts for nothing — and that's often a third of your online time. So a "guaranteed" $20+/hr engaged can still net out near minimum wage across a whole shift. This calculator uses your real totals, so the gap shows up honestly.
California-specific costs to watch
California gas prices are consistently the highest in the country, so the IRS 72.5¢/mi figure may understate your true cost here. Track every mile: at 72.5¢/mi, 15,000 business miles is a $10,875 federal deduction — and it reduces your CA taxable income too.
How much do gig drivers really make in California?
Gross $18–28/hour is common in major CA metros, but after vehicle costs (72.5¢/mi), 15.3% self-employment tax, federal income tax, and CA state income tax, realistic net is often $10–17/hour depending on miles driven per dollar earned.
Does Prop 22 mean I'm guaranteed a minimum wage?
Only for engaged time — from accepting an offer to completing it. Prop 22 guarantees 120% of the local minimum wage for engaged time plus a per-engaged-mile vehicle adjustment, but waiting between offers pays nothing toward the guarantee, so whole-shift hourly pay can be much lower.
Do California gig drivers pay state income tax?
Yes. Gig earnings are self-employment income, taxed by California at your regular bracket (1%–12.3%). Your mileage deduction reduces both federal and California taxable income, which is why tracking miles matters even more in a high-tax state.
Estimates for educational purposes only — not tax, legal, or financial advice. State rules and rates change; consult a tax professional about your situation.