PA's flat 3.07% looks gentle — until Philadelphia adds its own bite. See what a Pennsylvania driver actually keeps.
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. PA state + local 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. 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 Pennsylvania's flat 3.07% state income tax — one of the lowest flat rates anywhere. The catch in PA is local: pick the option above that matches where you live.
The Philadelphia catch: the Net Profits Tax
If you live in Philadelphia and drive gig, the city treats your profit as self-employment income subject to its Net Profits Tax — roughly 3.74% for residents in 2026 (the rate is being trimmed slightly each year). Stacked on PA's 3.07%, Philly drivers pay about 6.8% combined — more than double what a Pittsburgh driver pays, before anyone touches a federal form. Self-employed Philadelphians also have a city business filing (BIRT), though at typical gig income levels it generally results in little or nothing owed. Outside Philly, most PA municipalities levy a local earned income tax around 1% — the third option above.
No pay floor
Pennsylvania has no minimum-pay guarantee for app drivers — your pay is exactly what the offers add up to. Watch the per-mile readout above: $2/mile earned is strong; under $1/mile means your car is eating most of your pay. Philly's dense rowhouse neighborhoods keep miles short but slow; suburban and Pittsburgh-area runs pile on the 72.5¢ miles.
How much do gig drivers really make in Pennsylvania?
Gross $15–24/hour is common in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but after vehicle costs (72.5¢/mi), 15.3% self-employment tax, federal income tax, and PA's 3.07% flat tax — plus Philadelphia's roughly 3.74% city tax on self-employment profits if you live there — realistic net is often $9–15/hour.
Do Philadelphia gig drivers pay extra city tax?
Yes. Self-employed Philadelphia residents owe the city's Net Profits Tax — roughly 3.74% of net profit in 2026 — on top of Pennsylvania's 3.07%, bringing combined state-plus-city to about 6.8%. Drivers outside Philadelphia may owe a smaller local earned income tax depending on their municipality.
Is there a minimum pay law for gig drivers in Pennsylvania?
No. Pennsylvania has no state or city minimum-pay guarantee for app-based drivers, so per-offer judgment — especially declining low dollar-per-mile offers — matters more than in states with pay floors.
Estimates for educational purposes only — not tax, legal, or financial advice. Local tax rules vary by municipality and change; consult a tax professional about your situation.