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A 41-year-old Uber driver of 10 years shares how his salary supports his family in Cambodia and life in Worcester.

By Annie Jonas

June 15, 2026 | 11:59 AM

3 minutes to read

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What is it like to live and/or work in one of the country’s most expensive cities? We asked, and you answered.

Greater Boston’s economy is powered by workers from across industries, pay ranges, and job types: from baristas to software engineers, teachers to chief executives, and everyone in between.

We’re sharing mini profiles of Greater Boston’s workforce, exploring not just how much they make but how they make it work. Interested in sharing how much you make in Greater Boston? Share with us in the form below or e-mail us at [email protected].

Below, see how much this Uber driver makes in Boston.

Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.

Name: Chiem

Job: Uber driver

Income: $70,000 (minus $40,000 in vehicle expenses)

Lives in: Worcester 

Works in: Boston

Age: 41

What drew you to this career/field?

I have been driving for 10 years. I started driving when the pay was good. But that has changed over the years. The pay is getting worse, and the expenses (i.e. gas, car insurance, tolls, car maintenance) keep going up. It’s become almost impossible to make ends meet.

That’s why I have been fighting for the union — for better pay and conditions. I am proud that we just won the first rideshare drivers union in the country, the App Drivers Union!

I have seen the fare percentage the driver keeps drop dramatically. Drivers used to make as much as 75% of the fare when Uber started; now it’s down to as little as 30-50% of the fare.

I’m now driving double the hours I did when I started driving to make the same money. I used to make $300 or $400 a day, and now I’m driving 12 hours a day and making about $200.

I used to be a bartender in a casino. I got laid off because they brought in a machine to make the drinks. After I got laid off, I started driving for Uber in Mississippi. I wasn’t making money, so I came to Boston to be closer to family. Driving for Uber in Boston got me back on my feet.

I drive because I love it, but the money has just gotten so much worse that it is not sustainable. I love making sure passengers have a good ride and am proud of my record. I do this for my family, including my wife in Cambodia and my nephew who has Huntington’s disease and needs support. 

What’s your biggest monthly expense?

My car payment ($2,200 per month) and gasoline (approximately $50 per day, or about $18,000 a year), especially with gas prices skyrocketing. 

Is your pay enough for you to live on? 

Right now, it is, but I am barely scraping by. I am still lucky because I live with my family, so I only pay $400 per month in rent. 

What trade-offs are you making to live or work here?

I have an hour commute to Boston. I drive 12-hour days. Sometimes I get a passenger to take to Boston and make money; sometimes I don’t and lose an hour.

Driving is hard on your body. I messed up my legs from sitting; I need a hip replacement.

I don’t have kids, but I have a nephew I try to see every week. I have a lot of time spent away from home; most drivers do. 

What would need to change for Boston to feel sustainable?

I work in Boston but cannot afford to live there. Cheaper rent would make it better.

The work is in Boston with all the football, basketball, hockey, concerts, and business conventions. Drivers come from all over to work in Boston.

Everything in Boston costs more than outside of Boston: gas prices, food, car insurance, everything.

What was your last splurge?

I went to Cambodia last year to visit my wife and family. I got to celebrate the new year with them. While I was there, I bought a JBL boombox.