How you can earn $18 to $25 an hour with Amazon Flex

If you have ever wondered how your Amazon orders magically appear so fast, you have the workers behind Amazon Flex to thank. And if you're looking for extra income, or are thinking about making a jump into the gig economy, Amazon Flex can be a great side hustle. Paying $18-25 an hour, it's an excellent way to make money on your own schedule.

What Is Amazon Flex?

For Amazon Prime Now deliveries, the giant online retailer hires independent contractors to make deliveries. It's more cost-efficient for them than using major delivery companies like UPS and allows them to guarantee delivery within just an hour or two.

Amazon Flex is only available in certain markets right now, including Arlington (VA), Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, Richmond, Rockville (MD), San Antonio, Seattle, Springfield (VA), Tampa Bay, and Virginia Beach. However, Prime Now is growing in demand, so it's likely that Amazon will expand its services to new regions soon.

Amazon Flex drivers earn between $18 and $25 an hour, based on their per-delivery payment and on tips from customers. Drivers can pick up delivery blocks on the days they want to work, and they can schedule their availability for the future.

As a driver, you pick up items at the Amazon distribution center and deliver them directly to people's homes. Items can range from a blow dryer at 10:00 p.m. to a bag of dog food in the morning.

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How Do I Become a Driver?

To become an Amazon Flex driver, you need an Amazon account. Then visit the Flex website and submit your information. If you're located in a participating city, you will get an email with a webinar link. The webinar will teach you how the program works and how to use the Flex app. After the webinar, you will be asked to submit your driver's license number and car details; a clean driving record and background check is required. Once you've completed this process, you're ready to start working. You can set up your availability and start picking up orders right away.

What Does a Regular Day Look Like?

When you show up to the distribution center, you will wait in a designated area for Amazon Flex drivers. An employee will call your name and give you the orders. Sometimes you will have just one package, and other days you will be handed several. Like Uber or Lyft, you use your smartphone to track orders and customer locations.

Each package will have special instructions, such as "deliver only if someone is home" or "check customer ID" — especially for liquor deliveries — and more. If you have any issues, Amazon does offer support to their drivers to help you navigate the process and any situations that arise. Once you are finished, you can head back and get back in line for more deliveries.

Benefits of Amazon Flex

With Amazon Flex, $18 an hour is the minimum pay rate; you are guaranteed that amount as long as you work. Additionally, customers can give tips online up to 48 hours after delivery and you receive 100% of the tipped amount.

Downsides of Amazon Flex

While the pay is excellent and the job is low-pressure, Amazon does not guarantee a minimum of hours. While one week you may be able to do 20 hours of deliveries, the next you may not get any. It can be a convenient way to make a decent side income, but it is not reliable enough to be a steady source of money.

Amazon Flex is another entry into the gig economy that allows you to use an app and pick up jobs when you have the time. An excellent supplement to your day job, you can take on orders and earn a good hourly wage when you have free time.

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