Popular positions at Instacart
There are two different shopper roles with Instacart: Full-Service Shopper and In-Store Shopper.
Full-Service Shopper
Full-service Shoppers are independent contractors. This opportunity has lots of flexibility—you choose which batches (orders) you’d like to shop, with no limit on how many batches you can fulfill.
Working as Full-Service Shopper
- You need a car
- You deliver to the customer's door
- You work whenever you want
Other things to note
You’ll need to multitask in this position. Your ability to manage time efficiently is also a key to success.
Order schedules can be anywhere from one-hour delivery time to a few days later in the week. Keeping track of all orders will require you to pay attention to details.
Previous experience in the transportation industry can be a huge advantage, not towards getting the job but in how easy it will be for you to navigate the streets and deliver your orders on time. Couriers, taxi drivers, or food delivery drivers generally have an easier time adjusting to a career as an Instacart Full-Service Shopper.
In-Store Shopper
As an In-Store Shopper, you’re considered a part-time hourly employee. During your shift, you’ll fill customer orders that you receive through the app and prepare them to be picked up by a Full-Service Shopper.
Working as an In-Store Shopper
- You don’t need a car
- You prepare orders at one store
- Your shifts are scheduled up to 29 hrs/wk
Other things to note
You should always take into account how much time you’ll have to wait in line or how much time it takes to find all the requested products. If you miss the deadline, you will not only inconvenience the customer but also damage the delivery driver’s reputation.
Sometimes it is up to you to replace an item from the order. If you can’t find what the customer requested, you need to use your judgment as to whether or not the customer would appreciate a replacement or not. You can’t always rely on orders containing sufficient “what if” guidelines but it is recommended to at least try and contact the client before making any replacement decisions on your own.
Previous experience working in supermarkets, even if the position did not involve rearranging items on shelves, can be helpful. Former cashiers, store managers, and kitchen managers can all benefit from their above average special awareness. They usually find items faster regardless of which store they are shopping in.
It is your responsibility to bag all products accordingly and make sure the driver doesn’t have to spend extra time rearranging them. While the designated delivery person is responsible for delivering the bags in perfect condition, you can also be blamed if something goes wrong.
Instacart Shopper pay and earnings
The way you earn money is determined by the work you do. What you are paid for a given batch depends on the number of items, type of items, driving distance (if you’re a Full-Service Shopper), and effort involved in shopping and delivering.
Full-Service Shoppers
- Earn around $15 per hour
- Paid for each order you complete
- You can complete as many or as few batches as you want to (so on a good day earnings can climb high)
- Full-Service Shoppers can receive in-app tips or cash tips
In-Store Shoppers
- Paid a set hourly wage, typically around $11 – $16 per hour
- Hourly pay varies depending on the city
Instacart now allows shoppers to preview the order before accepting. You’re able to see the earnings estimate before you take an order to determine if it’s worth your time.
