In case you’ve been wondering, Instacart is actually one of the more lucrative gig options. It offers better pay than most food delivery ($15-30/hour with tips), you’re shopping instead of dealing with hot food bags, and the flexibility is genuine. Plus, you get a workout while getting paid.
Here’s what most people don’t realize about learning how to get hired at Instacart: the application is fast (approved in 24-72 hours typically), you’re completely self-employed (true flexibility), the tips can be excellent ($5-20 per order), and you choose every single order you accept. No boss, no schedule, no commitments—just open the app and work when you want.
I’ve helped thousands of people figure out how to get hired at Instacart, and I’m about to break down everything you need to know. How the pay really works (batch pay + tips + mileage), the hidden strategies for maximizing earnings, the application process, what the algorithm wants to see, and what it’s really like pushing a cart through Costco while your phone beeps with order updates.
Whether you’re 18 and need flexible income, 35 and want side hustle money, or 55 and looking for active retirement work, Instacart works. This complete guide on how to get hired at Instacart covers every step from downloading the app to delivering your first order.
Let’s get you hired. 🛒
The Quick Facts About How to Get Hired at Instacart
Here’s what you need to know right now:
💰 Potential Earnings: $15-$30/hour (highly variable)
📍 Availability: 14,000+ cities in North America
👥 Active Shoppers: 600,000+ independent contractors
⏱️ Time to Get Hired: 24-72 hours (often same-day approval)
🎂 Minimum Age: 18 years old (21+ in some areas)
💉 Drug Test: NO
🔍 Background Check: YES (through Checkr)
🎓 Education Required: None
🚗 Car Required: YES (reliable vehicle essential)
📱 Smartphone: Required (iPhone or Android)
📅 Schedule: 100% flexible (work whenever you want)
🎯 Hiring Speed: VERY FAST (usually approved within days)
💪 Physical Demands: Moderate to high (lifting, walking, pushing carts)
🎁 Tips: Yes (can be 30-50% of total earnings)
Now let’s break down why Instacart is worth considering and how to actually get approved.
Why Instacart is Actually Better Than Most Gig Work
Before diving into how to get hired at Instacart, let’s talk about why shoppers choose it.
1. The Earnings Are Better Than Food Delivery (Usually)
Instacart earnings breakdown:
- Base pay per batch: $7-20 (depends on items, distance, difficulty)
- Tips: $5-40 per order (customers tip percentage of order total)
- Heavy pay bonus: +$2-15 (for cases of water, dog food, etc.)
- Peak boosts: +$2-12 during busy times
- Mileage: $0.60/mile typically
Total per hour: $15-30/hour typical (varies significantly by market and strategy)
vs. DoorDash/Uber Eats:
- Food delivery: $12-22/hour typically
- Instacart advantage: Grocery orders are larger = bigger tips
Good batch example:
- 45 items from Costco
- $14 batch pay
- $22 customer tip
- $5 heavy pay bonus
- Total: $41 for ~1 hour of work
2. True Flexibility (Work Literally Whenever)
You control:
- When you work (any time, any day)
- How long you work (30 minutes or 12 hours)
- Which orders you accept (turn down anything)
- Which stores you shop (choose your favorites)
- Where you work (different areas/cities)
No schedule. No boss. No commitments.
This is perfect for:
- Students (work between classes)
- Parents (work while kids are at school)
- Side hustlers (evenings/weekends)
- Retirees (stay active, supplement income)
- Anyone wanting complete control
3. You’re Shopping, Not Dealing With Food Drama
Grocery shopping is more pleasant than food delivery:
- No hot food bags
- No angry restaurant staff
- No “where’s my order?!” texts while you wait
- No cold food concerns
- Shopping is straightforward
Plus:
- Air-conditioned stores
- You can shop for yourself while working
- Less stressful than food delivery
4. Tips Can Be Excellent
Grocery orders = bigger bills = bigger tips:
- $200 order with 15% tip = $30
- $350 Costco order with 20% tip = $70
- People tip well for heavy items (cases of water, etc.)
Average tips: $5-15 per order (smaller orders) to $20-50 (large orders)
Tips are where you make real money.
5. Exercise While Earning
Instacart is a workout:
- Walking store aisles
- Pushing full carts
- Lifting cases of water, dog food, etc.
- Carrying groceries to doors
- Loading/unloading car
Many shoppers: “I get paid to exercise and cancelled my gym membership.”
6. No Boss, No Drama
You’re an independent contractor:
- Nobody manages you
- No coworkers to deal with
- No workplace politics
- No scheduled shifts you can’t miss
- Just you, your phone, and the stores
Low stress (mostly).
7. Start Immediately After Approval
Once approved:
- Download shopper app
- Watch training videos
- Start shopping same day
No orientation. No in-person training. Just go.
How Instacart Really Works (The System Explained)
Understanding how to get hired at Instacart requires understanding the platform.
The Batch System
Batches are shopping orders that appear in your app.
Batch types:
Single orders:
- 1 customer
- 1 store
- Simplest
Double orders:
- 2 customers
- 1 store
- Shop both orders together, deliver separately
- Higher pay but more complex
Triple orders:
- 3 customers
- 1 store
- Most complex
- Highest total pay but lowest per-order efficiency
You see:
- Number of items
- Store location
- Delivery distance
- Batch pay amount
- Customer tip amount
- Heavy pay bonus (if applicable)
- Estimated time
You choose which batches to accept. Nobody forces you.
How Shoppers Get Paid
Per batch, you earn:
1. Instacart Pay (Base Pay):
- Calculated by Instacart algorithm
- Factors: item count, distance, store type, complexity
- Typically: $7-20 per batch
2. Customer Tips:
- Set by customer (usually 5-20% of order total)
- Can be adjusted after delivery (up or down)
- Typically: $5-40 per order
3. Heavy Pay Bonus:
- Automatically added for heavy items
- Cases of water, dog food, cat litter, etc.
- Typically: +$2-15
4. Peak Boosts:
- During busy times or low shopper availability
- Added by Instacart to make batches more attractive
- Typically: +$2-12
Total batch earnings = Instacart Pay + Tip + Heavy Pay + Boosts
Example batch:
- 32 items from Safeway
- 4.2 miles delivery
- $11 batch pay
- $15 customer tip
- $5 heavy pay (cases of water)
- Total: $31 for estimated 45 minutes
Hourly rate: ~$41/hour (if estimate is accurate)
Payment Schedule
Paid weekly:
- Monday through Sunday earnings
- Paid out Wednesday
- Direct deposit to your bank
Instant Cashout available:
- Cash out earnings anytime (up to $2,000/day)
- Small fee ($0.50 per cashout)
- Arrives within minutes
What You Need to Get Hired at Instacart
Let’s break down requirements when learning how to get hired at Instacart.
Age Requirement
18 years old minimum (21+ in some areas like California for alcohol deliveries)
Vehicle Requirement
Reliable car required:
- Any car works (doesn’t need to be new)
- Must be insured and registered
- Must fit groceries (SUV/trunk space helpful but not required)
Bike/walking not allowed for full-service shopping (different from some food delivery apps)
Smartphone Requirement
iPhone or Android:
- Must be relatively recent (able to run Instacart Shopper app)
- Need data plan (WiFi in stores helps)
- Good battery life essential (app drains battery)
Background Check
Instacart runs background check through Checkr:
What they check:
- Criminal history (7 years)
- Driving record
- Sex offender registry
What typically disqualifies:
- Violent crimes
- Sexual offenses
- DUI within 7 years
- Major driving violations
What usually doesn’t:
- Minor traffic violations
- Non-violent misdemeanors years ago
No drug test required.
Timeline: 24-72 hours typically (sometimes same day)
Physical Capability
Can you:
- Lift 30-50 lbs repeatedly? (cases of water, dog food)
- Walk several miles per day?
- Push full shopping carts?
- Climb stairs with groceries?
If yes, you’re good.
The Application Process
Alright, let’s get into the actual how to get hired at Instacart steps.
Step 1: Download the Instacart Shopper App
NOT the regular Instacart app (that’s for customers)
Download: “Instacart Shopper” app (green icon)
- Available on iOS and Android
- Free download
Step 2: Create Your Account
You’ll need:
Personal Information:
- Name
- Phone number
- Address
- Date of birth (proof you’re 18+)
- Social Security Number
Banking Information:
- Bank account for direct deposit
- Routing and account numbers
Vehicle Information:
- Make, model, year
- Insurance information
- Registration
Step 3: Background Check Consent
Instacart uses Checkr for background checks.
You’ll authorize:
- Criminal background check
- Driving record check
- Sex offender registry check
Timeline: Usually 24-72 hours (sometimes same day)
You’ll get email when approved (or if there are issues)
Step 4: Complete Onboarding
Once background check clears:
Watch training videos:
- How to shop orders
- How to communicate with customers
- How to deliver
- Safety guidelines
- App navigation
Takes: 30-60 minutes
Quiz: Short quiz at end (easy, common sense)
Step 5: Get Your Card & Bags
Instacart Payment Card:
- Mailed to you (arrives in 5-10 days)
- Used to pay for customer orders in stores
- Absolutely required
While waiting for card:
- Some markets allow “card on file” orders
- But full access requires physical card
Insulated bags (recommended but not required):
- Keep cold items cold during delivery
- Available on Amazon ($15-30)
- Instacart doesn’t provide
Step 6: Start Shopping
Once you have your card:
- Open Instacart Shopper app
- See available batches in your area
- Accept a batch
- Start shopping!
That’s it. No in-person orientation. No uniform. Just start.
Maximizing Your Earnings (Insider Strategies)
Understanding how to get hired at Instacart is just the beginning. Here’s how to actually make money.
Strategy 1: Be Picky With Batches
Not all batches are equal.
Good batches:
- High item-to-dollar ratio (efficient)
- Good tips ($10+ minimum)
- Short delivery distance
- Familiar stores
- No excessive heavy items (unless heavy pay is good)
Bad batches (decline these):
- Low or no tip
- Excessive items for low pay
- Long delivery distance
- Difficult stores (you’ll learn which)
- Apartment deliveries without unit numbers
Rule of thumb: Aim for $20+ per hour after expenses. If batch doesn’t meet that, decline.
Strategy 2: Know Your Stores
Become an expert at 2-3 stores:
- Know exactly where items are
- Shop faster = more batches per hour
- Less stress
Best stores (generally):
- Costco (big tips, bulk items)
- Whole Foods (usually good tippers)
- Safeway/Kroger (familiar, consistent)
Difficult stores:
- Aldi (weird organization)
- Small ethnic markets (hard to navigate)
Strategy 3: Work Peak Times
Highest earnings:
- Sunday mornings (biggest shopping day)
- Saturday afternoons
- Weekday evenings (5-8pm)
- Before holidays
Instacart adds peak boosts when busy + low shopper availability.
Strategy 4: Communicate Well
Good communication = better tips:
- Message customer when you start
- Ask about replacements (out-of-stock items)
- Send picture of replacement options
- Update on delivery ETA
- Thank them at delivery
Customers can adjust tips after delivery. Good service = tip increases.
Strategy 5: Multi-App
Many shoppers run multiple apps:
- Instacart + DoorDash
- Instacart + Shipt
- See which offers best batch, accept that one
Maximize earnings per hour.
Strategy 6: Track Expenses
You’re self-employed, which means:
- Gas is tax-deductible
- Car maintenance deductible
- Phone bill partially deductible
- Mileage deductible ($0.67/mile in 2024)
Use app like Stride to track automatically.
Tax savings can be $2,000-5,000+ annually.
What It’s Actually Like Working for Instacart
Real talk about the day-to-day.
Your “Shift”
There are no shifts. Here’s what it really looks like:
Morning (example):
- Wake up, check app for batches
- See good Costco order ($38 for 45 items)
- Accept batch
- Drive to Costco (10 minutes)
- Shop order (35 minutes)
- Check out (5 minutes)
- Deliver (15 minutes)
- Total time: ~1 hour, earn $38
- Check app for next batch or go home
Completely on your terms.
The Shopping Process
Step-by-step per batch:
- Accept batch in app
- Drive to store
- Get cart
- Open app (shows list of items)
- Shop item by item (scan each with app)
- Find replacements for out-of-stock items (message customer)
- Checkout (use Instacart card)
- Load groceries in car
- Drive to customer
- Deliver (knock/ring, leave at door or hand to customer)
- Mark delivered in app
- Earnings credited immediately
Per batch time: 30 minutes – 2 hours depending on size
The Physical Reality
Instacart is active work:
- Walking store aisles (miles per day)
- Pushing full carts
- Lifting heavy items (water, pet food, cases of soda)
- Loading/unloading car repeatedly
- Carrying groceries to doors (sometimes upstairs)
First few days: You’ll be sore.
After a week: Your body adapts. It’s a workout.
Good shoes are essential.
The Customer Interactions
Types of customers:
Easy customers (majority):
- Leave clear instructions
- Reasonable about replacements
- Tip well
- “Leave at door” (no contact needed)
Communicative customers:
- Want updates
- Specific about replacements
- Usually appreciative
- Can be time-consuming but tip well
Difficult customers:
- Vague instructions
- Argue about replacements
- Live in hard-to-find locations
- Rate poorly for minor issues
- Can adjust tip down after delivery
Most customers are fine. 5-10% are difficult.
The Earnings Reality
Actual earnings vary SIGNIFICANTLY:
Good market, good strategy:
- $20-30/hour consistently
- Can hit $150-250 per 8-hour day
Average market, average strategy:
- $15-22/hour
- $100-180 per 8-hour day
Slow market, poor strategy:
- $10-15/hour
- $80-120 per 8-hour day
Factors that affect earnings:
- Your market (wealthy areas tip better)
- Your strategy (picky about batches = higher hourly)
- Time of day (peak times pay more)
- Speed (faster shopping = more batches)
- Customer service (better service = tip increases)
The Algorithm
Instacart uses algorithm to show batches:
Priority given to:
- High rating shoppers (5-star preferred)
- Fast shoppers (completion time matters)
- Shoppers near stores
- Active shoppers (working more = see better batches)
Maintain good ratings by:
- Accurate item selection
- Good communication
- On-time delivery
- Careful with replacements
Rating below 4.7 = see fewer/worse batches
The Costs (What You’ll Spend)
You’re self-employed = you pay your own expenses.
Gas
Biggest expense:
- Depends on miles driven and MPG
- Typical: $15-40 per day ($75-200/week)
Tips:
- Choose batches with short delivery distance
- Group batches in same area
- Use gas rewards (many stores offer)
Car Maintenance
More miles = more maintenance:
- Oil changes more frequent
- Tire wear
- Brakes
- General wear and tear
Budget: $100-200/month
Phone & Data
App drains battery and uses data:
- Car charger essential ($10-20)
- Unlimited data plan recommended
- Budget: $50-80/month (if not already covered)
Taxes
You’re self-employed = no taxes withheld.
Set aside 25-30% for taxes:
- Federal income tax
- State income tax (if applicable)
- Self-employment tax (Social Security & Medicare)
Example:
- Earn $500/week
- Set aside $125-150 for taxes
- Take-home: $350-375
File quarterly estimated taxes to avoid penalties.
Tax deductions reduce this significantly.
Tips for Success
1. Start Slow
First week:
- Accept small batches
- Learn the app
- Figure out your favorite stores
- Don’t stress about speed
Speed comes with experience.
2. Be Strategic About Batches
Don’t accept:
- No-tip orders (ever)
- Low pay for high item count
- Excessive delivery distance
- Confusing delivery addresses
Wait for good batches. Don’t take crap orders out of desperation.
3. Maintain High Rating
5-star rating = see best batches
Protect your rating:
- Communicate well
- Double-check items
- Handle replacements carefully
- Be polite
- On-time delivery
Below 4.7 stars = earnings drop significantly
4. Work Peak Times
Make money when demand is high:
- Sunday mornings
- Saturday afternoons
- Before holidays
- Evening rush (5-8pm)
5. Learn Stores Inside-Out
Become expert at 2-3 stores.
Your speed increases dramatically when you know exactly where everything is.
6. Track Everything
Mileage, expenses, earnings:
- Use Stride or similar app
- Essential for taxes
- Understand your true profit
7. Join Shopper Communities
Facebook groups, Reddit (r/InstacartShoppers):
- Learn market-specific tips
- Get batch advice
- Commiserate about bad customers
- Stay updated on app changes
FAQs About How to Get Hired at Instacart
Q: How much can you really make with Instacart?
A: $15-30/hour typical, highly variable. Good markets + good strategy = $20-30/hour. Slow markets = $12-18/hour.
Q: How long does approval take?
A: 24-72 hours typically, sometimes same day.
Q: Do you need a special car?
A: No, any reliable car with insurance. Bigger is better for large orders.
Q: Can you do Instacart part-time?
A: Yes! Many people work 5-15 hours/week. Totally flexible.
Q: Do they drug test?
A: No.
Q: What if items are out of stock?
A: You message customer, suggest replacement, they approve or decline. App guides you.
Q: Can customers change tips after delivery?
A: Yes, for 24 hours. Tips can go up or down. (Usually stays same or increases)
Q: Is Instacart better than DoorDash?
A: Different. Instacart = bigger orders, better tips usually, but more physical. DoorDash = easier, but smaller tips.
Q: Can you work in multiple cities?
A: Yes, shop anywhere you want.
Q: What happens if you damage customer groceries?
A: Report it to Instacart, they handle it. You won’t be charged (unless pattern of issues).
Q: Can you get deactivated?
A: Yes, for low ratings, fraud, safety issues. Maintain 4.7+ rating to be safe.
Q: Do you get benefits?
A: No. You’re independent contractor. No health insurance, no PTO, no 401k.
Instacart vs. Other Gig Apps
| Factor | Instacart | DoorDash | Uber Eats | Shipt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings | $15-30/hr | $12-22/hr | $12-20/hr | $15-25/hr |
| Tips | Excellent ✅ | Variable | Variable | Good |
| Flexibility | Complete ✅ | Complete | Complete | Complete |
| Physical | HIGH | Low | Low | HIGH |
| Startup | Fast ✅ | Fast | Fast | Medium |
| Requirements | Car, 18+ | Car, 18+ | Car, 19+ | Car, 18+ |
Instacart advantages:
- Better tips (grocery orders bigger than food)
- Exercise while working
- Less stressful than food delivery timing
Instacart disadvantages:
- More physically demanding
- Expenses (gas, car wear)
- No benefits
Alright, Let’s Get You Hired at Instacart
So there you have it—everything about how to get hired at Instacart.
Is it easy money? No.
Is it physically demanding? Yes.
Can you make $15-30/hour with complete flexibility? Absolutely.
If you want true flexibility, don’t mind physical work, and have a reliable car, Instacart is one of the better gig options.
Your Action Plan (Do This Today):
- ✅ Download Instacart Shopper app (green icon)
- ✅ Complete application (15 minutes)
- ✅ Submit background check
- ✅ Wait for approval (24-72 hours)
- ✅ Watch training videos
- ✅ Wait for payment card (5-10 days)
- ✅ Buy insulated bags ($15-30 on Amazon)
- ✅ Learn your local stores
- ✅ Start with small batches
- ✅ Be picky about which orders you accept!
Instacart is approving shoppers constantly. Now that you know how to get hired at Instacart, you’re ready to start.
Go get those groceries. 🛒
