Walmart Spark has become one of the fastest growing gig economy apps in recent years. It’s also pretty straightforward - pick up orders from Walmart or Sam’s Club stores and deliver them to customers’ doors.
If you participate in the gig economy and you’re reading this article, you may be curious whether or not Walmart Spark (or Spark Driver as they officially call it) is financially worth it. How much do Spark Drivers earn, and how does its pay structure work?
Let’s break all of this down.
Related: Is DoorDash Worth It? | How Much Does DoorDash Pay?
How Much Do Walmart Spark Drivers Make?
As an independent contractor, you’re paid per order rather than by the hour. This means that your income from Spark will depend on how many deliveries you complete and how strategically you work.
Most gig economy advocacy sources claim that Walmart Spark Drivers report earning between $15-25 per hour on average, with more experienced drivers in busier markets hitting $30 or even more during peak times. Those numbers include tips and incentives.
With that said, Walmart Spark can be among the most varied in terms of pay relative to other gig economy apps like Uber or DoorDash. Many drivers report that some Walmart locations tend to have more frequent and higher-paying orders than others.
Drivers working part-time or only a few hours a day will see their weekly pay in the low $300s or so. If you’re putting in over 40 hours per week, you can find yourself making $1,000 or more per week, assuming you’re strategic with your work and you rolled the dice on a good location near you.
Related: How Much Do Uber Drivers Make? | Uber Driver Earnings Explained
Some Spark Drivers report that they see payments of around $3,000-5,000 per month in decent markets working consistently and full-time. However, keep in mind that these numbers tend to be reported as gross earnings.
Your take home pay will be lower as you will need to account for expenses like gas, vehicle maintenance, taxes, etc. Tracking your expenses and mileage will be crucial as you can deduct them on your taxes.
Factors That Can Affect Your Spark Driver Earnings
First and foremost, your location will arguably make the biggest difference in your Spark Driver earnings potential. If you’re driving in a busy suburban area with multiple Walmart stores nearby, you’ll probably earn more than if you were in a rural market with fewer locations and less delivery demand.
Your time of day is also an important factor, as well as the day of the week. Many drivers report that most high-paying orders come in mid-morning, around lunchtime, and in the early evening. Weekends also generally see higher order volume during weekdays.
The order type can also play a significant role in your earnings per delivery. Curbside pickups (where Walmart employees do the shopping and bring you the order) will pay less than shop-and-deliver orders (where you do the shopping). Returns are also available in which you pick up an order from the customer and driving it back to a Walmart store.
Related: Best Times to Deliver For Uber Eats
Drivers report that the former typically pays around $7-11 in base pay, whereas the latter is more like $11-20+, but it does require more effort and time from you. Batched orders (where you deliver to multiple customers per trip) and also boost your hourly rate.
While some locations are better than others for earning, moving cities just to earn a little more with Spark Driver probably isn’t worth it. There are simply better uses of your time that can help supplement your income.
As a Spark Driver, you also have a rating that customers provide you, as well as other metrics like acceptance rate, completion rate, and more. While it’s not confirmed, some drivers speculate that having things like low acceptance rates and a low customer rating can result in you getting fewer or lower quality offers.
Additionally, like with any other gig economy app where you’re going to be using your vehicle, having a highly fuel efficient car can help save you significant amounts of money as well. Consider getting a hybrid or an electric vehicle if you’re able and seriously considering doing gig work long term.
Related: The 6 Best Uber Eats/DoorDash Tricks To Maximize Your Earnings
How Spark Driver Pay Is Calculated
Spark’s payment structure is fairly easy to understand. You see the total estimated payout before accepting an order, and that includes the base pay and any tip the customer may have already added.
Base pay is calculated using three main factors: the distance traveled, the order size, and any extra costs like apartment deliveries or heavy items. Longer drivers, larger orders, etc. will naturally pay more, whereas quick nearby deliveries may offer lower base rates.
Tips and Incentives for Spark Drivers
Like with all gig economy apps, customer tips will represent a big part of your earnings as a Spark driver, with many drivers reporting that these tips can account for 1/4 or even 1/2 of their total earnings. Customers can tip when placing their order, and you keep 100% of your tips.
Tips can be adjusted by customers after delivery for up to 24 hours, which means great service may result in bigger tips, while poor service could lead to them reducing their tip amount. Being on time, communicating clearly and respectfully, and handling their items with care can significantly boost your tip amounts - and thus your overall pay - over time.
Related: Uber Driver Requirements Explained | How To Become an Uber Driver
Spark Drivers also can have access to numerous incentives. Here they are, taken from Spark Driver’s website:
- “Lump Sum Incentives – This baseline incentive type offers eligible drivers one defined incentive earning for completing a set number of trips.
- Example: Complete ten trips between X/XX – X/XX and earn an extra $30.
- Tiered Incentives – Include a series of lump sum incentives presented in increasing tiers, providing a higher total earning opportunity for each subsequent tier.
- Example: Complete six trips to earn an extra $24 or eight trips to earn an additional $32.
- Earn-Per-Trip Incentives – Simply put, this incentive provides an extra earnings amount upon completion of a single trip.
- Example: Earn an extra $5 for each trip completed after 4pm today.
- Multi-Trip Earnings Incentives – The Spark Driver platform covers the difference if eligible drivers do not earn a set amount of earnings after completing a certain number of trips over a given period-of-time.
- Example: Complete ten trips between a seven-day period and if your earnings are $180 before tips, we will add the $20 difference, up to $200.”
Additionally, Spark Driver offers referral bonuses and increased pay during holidays, severe weather, or exceptionally busy times. Learn to recognize these opportunities and plan your schedule around them accordingly, as well as take advantage of the incentives as they come to you.
Maximizing Your Spark Driver Income
Like with any gig economy app, there are a few basic tips. Work during peak demand hours (discussed above), select good-paying orders near you (while being mindful of your acceptance rate - Spark claims you won’t be dinged, but some drivers believe otherwise), and consider declining orders that take you far from busy store locations unless you know the pay will justify the return trip.
Related: Make More Money With Uber: 9 Must-Know Tips
In the end, you will simply need to get on the road. With time, you will develop a feel for when are the best times to deliver on which days, etc.
You can also deduct every mile you drive for Spark deliveries on your taxes! With the current official 2025 IRS business mileage rate sitting at $0.70 per mile, you can easily save thousands when driving for Spark and other gig economy apps. For example, 1000 miles driven is $700 back in your pocket come tax time!
Using an automatic mileage tracker app like TripLog ensures you capture every deductible mile while avoiding the hassle and time wasting of logging manually. TripLog starts tracking when you start driving, stops when you stop, and can automatically categorize your drives as business or personal!
Track all of your business expenses beyond mileage as well. Phone bills, insulated bags, maintenance, and any other costs related to your Spark work (TripLog can track your expenses as well!).
Spark Driver Pay FAQ
Q: Do Spark drivers get paid for every delivery?
A: Yes, you’re paid per order, every time. Each offer shows the estimated payout before you accept, including base pay and any tips the customer may have already added. You can also earn more from batched orders where you deliver multiple orders in one trip!
Q: How much do Spark drivers make in tips?
A: Many Spark drivers report that tips make up a large amount of their income (~25-50%). You keep all of your tips, and customers can adjust tips up to 24 hours after delivery, so it’s important to make an effort to provide good service.
Q: Is driving for Walmart Spark worth it?
A: Spark can be worth it if you’re in a decent market and work strategically during peak hours. Drivers earning $20-25 after expenses can make solid money, but it can be a crapshoot as to whether you’re in an area where that’s even possible. Your success may depend on your location, whether you’re tracking your mileage and expenses, and things like your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
Q: Can I use other gig economy apps while driving for Spark?
A: Yes, you can, and most gig workers recommend you do so to maximize your earnings.
Related: DoorDash Driver Requirements Explained
Spark Driver Pay Explained - Conclusion
There’s a reason Walmart’s Spark Driver program is seeing the massive growth that it is. Like other gig economy apps, it provides drivers with a flexible and highly accessible source of income.
The key to maximizing your Spark earnings lies in working at the right time, choosing the right orders, properly tracking your mileage and expenses, and being in the right location to get frequent, high-paying orders. But remember - as an independent contractor, you’re running a small business, and you should treat it that way.
You can start by making sure you properly track your mileage with every Spark delivery. Download TripLog on iOS or Android and start tracking unlimited mileage for free today!
