Couriers are paid per job with the chance of tips. Since they are independent contractors, they do not have to be paid a minimum wage while on shifts.
Couriers make 80% of the delivery fee charged to customers. (If the customer uses a promotion or coupon code, the courier is paid 80% of what the delivery fee would be without promotions or coupon.) The minimum a courier can get for a delivery is $4. The delivery fee is based on distance, with an Uber-like "blitz" pricing that goes into affect when there are less couriers than demand for deliveries.
Tip is optional, which the customer enters after the delivery on the app in their phone.
There are plenty of ads that Postmates places claiming $25+/hr, but that's bogus. It is possible if a courier is lucky to get big tips (on large/expensive orders), but is not common. It's much more likely to go on shift and make less than minimum wage.
See Postmates Reviews on Glassdoor.
After gas and depreciation, you're looking at break even. If you have a used prius, maybe $1-2/hr. It's a volunteer job and keep in mind that most people who use the service are looking for the cheapest delivery option, so it's unlikely you'll see tips (besides perhaps NY/SF).
Source: I made four deliveries for them (all 1.75x, blitz pricing) to get a feel for their service. It's a great way to fill in time/get some exercise, but unlikely you'll make money. To do that, you'll need a bicycle/scooter (not that I'd want to in NYC/SF) scheduled sessions, and very close proximity to the pickup location.
To be honest, you are probably much better off delivering pizzas (where people are guilt tripped to tip)/starting your own delivery business if the sole object is to make money, unless:
A: you can't work a normal job or are on the brink of poverty, have a bicycle/scooter & live in the pickup zone.
B: you have a cheap, used car that gets 36+ mpg in the city and plan to cherry pick jobs (part time) so you can get all your grocery/x shopping done simultaneously while you are picking up goods for a customer.
I read that you get 80% of the courier fee plus tips.
I think it's a good way to make some extra money on your time off we're definitely not getting the best end of the deal most of the time. You also have to factor in expenses and your time.
