New data show Los Angeles rideshare drivers working fewer hours and earning less each quarter as Waymo grows. The Waymo driver pay data comes from a Gridwise analysis that LAist reported on Oct. 22, 2026. It compares the second quarter of 2024 with the second quarter of 2026.
What the Waymo driver pay data show
According to LAist, drivers’ total work hours in Los Angeles fell 17.8 percent over that period. Quarterly pay dropped 14.7 percent. However, pay per trip and per hour rose on average, so drivers earned a bit more per ride but completed fewer rides.
In cities without autonomous vehicles, both hours and quarterly pay increased, Gridwise says. Gridwise analyst Brandon Sellers also said the number of drivers grew during the period studied. That means more people share a smaller pool of trips.
How big Waymo is in Los Angeles
LAist reports about 900 Waymo vehicles operate in the city. That is the second-largest autonomous fleet in the country, after the Bay Area. Waymo began offering rides in Los Angeles in 2024. Uber, meanwhile, plans to add autonomous vehicles through partners, including Amazon’s Zoox, within the next year.
A USC survey found a small drop in ride-hailing with human drivers. The researchers could not tie the change directly to Waymo, though.
Why the numbers need care
Gridwise draws on drivers who opt in to its app, so the sample may not match every driver. An earlier Gridwise study, covered by Business Insider in September 2025, found Los Angeles hourly pay fell 4.7 percent year over year between July 2024 and July 2025. Monthly earnings fell 18.4 percent. At the time, outside experts said demand, incentives and trip length could also explain the shifts. Uber said the data reflect only a subset of its drivers.
So the data show a correlation, not proof of cause. Gridwise itself says it cannot attribute the changes directly to robotaxis.
What to watch next
If robotaxi fleets keep growing, regular riders may notice more Waymo cars and fewer human-driven ones in some neighborhoods. Drivers, for their part, may see further changes in hours and incentives. Platforms such as Uber and Lyft have not announced pay changes tied to this report. For more local business coverage, visit our money and business guide.
The main sources are LAist’s report on the Gridwise analysis and Business Insider’s earlier coverage.