Is Walmart Spark Worth It? Here’s What Drivers Really Think!

From driving for Uber to delivering food with DoorDash, there are plenty of ways to earn money with gig work. One gig economy job you might be considering is driving for Walmart Spark.

If you’re considering delivering for Walmart, you’re likely wondering, “How much do Spark drivers make?”

After all, you want to make sure that the earning potential is good. Knowing how much you can earn with a side gig like Spark can help you decide whether or not the gig is right for you.

In this post, we’ll cover how much you can earn driving for Spark and also address another important question – is Walmart Spark worth it?

What is Walmart Spark?

Spark is an app that pays you to make deliveries and returns for Walmart and other retailers. There’s a Spark Driver app you can use to make money delivering and returning items.

The Spark Driver app operates in all 50 states across more than 17,000 pickup points.

How Does Walmart Spark Work?

Walmart Spark has a driver app, available for both Android and iOS devices. You can sign up to be a Spark driver and make money delivering and returning items for Walmart and other retailers.

Here’s a quick overview of how Spark works.

Sign Up

You can visit this page on the Spark Driver website to sign up.

To get started, you’ll need to enter your zip code to see if the Spark Driver platform is available in your area. Select your preferred zone and complete the enrollment form. Once your information is accepted and sent for review, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a link to track your enrollment status.

Walmart Driver Requirements

To become a Spark driver, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be authorized to perform services as an independent contractor in the U.S.
• Provide proof of valid auto insurance for the vehicle you’ll use to make deliveries.
• Have an unexpired, valid driver’s license issued by a state in the U.S.
• Be willing to undergo a background check. This may include motor vehicle records and criminal background screening, conducted in accordance with applicable laws.

Once you’re approved as a Spark driver, you’ll receive a welcome email and text message with instructions on how to download and sign in to the Spark Driver app.

Make Deliveries

Once you’re signed up as a Spark driver, you can start making deliveries. To get started, turn on the “Spark Now” feature in the Spark Driver app, which enables you to receive delivery jobs, known as “offers.”

You’ll begin receiving offers once the Spark Now feature is activated. Each offer provides details such as:

• The type of order or orders included.
• The pick-up and delivery timeframe.
• The estimated earnings amount.

You have the flexibility to accept or decline any offers, so you only take the orders that suit you. If you accept an order, you’ll need to drive to the specified Walmart store and follow the instructions to pick it up.

Each order has different requirements. For example, some orders may require you to pick up items from the Walmart parking lot, while others may involve going inside the store to retrieve the items. In some cases, you may even need to shop for the items yourself.

Once you’ve picked up the order, you’ll need to deliver it according to the instructions provided in the order.

Types of Walmart Spark Deliveries

As a driver on the app, you’ll deliver a variety of products. The items you deliver will vary depending on the type of order you’re completing.

Orders will differ in product quantity and type, but no single item within an order will weigh more than 60 pounds.

You have the flexibility to choose the types of products you want to deliver.

Here are the different types of orders and products you can deliver as a Spark driver:

• Grocery offers: These orders include items you’d typically buy during a grocery shopping trip at a Walmart store.
• Dotcom offers: These are items purchased online at Walmart.com. Orders may include toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other general merchandise.
• Walmart GoLocal offers: These involve pickups from non-Walmart stores and may include hardware items, car parts, or flowers.
• Pharmacy offers: These orders involve picking up prescriptions from a Walmart or Sam’s Club store and delivering them to the customer.
• Returns offers: For these orders, you collect an item from a customer that they wish to return and deliver it back to a Walmart store.
• Shopping & Delivery offers: These orders require you to shop for a specific list of items at a store and then deliver the order to the customer.

Get Paid

You’ll earn money for each offer you complete. Your earnings include:

• Trip earnings
• Tips
• Incentives

You can view the estimated earnings for a delivery before accepting the order, allowing you to decide if it’s worth your time.

You also get to keep 100% of customer-confirmed tips.

Spark Driver Incentives

In addition to trip earnings, Spark offers incentives that can boost your income. These incentives come in various forms:

• Lump Sum Incentives: Receive a one-time bonus for completing a specific number of trips. For example, you might earn an extra $30 for completing ten trips between two set dates.
• Tiered Incentives: These are structured as increasing tiers of lump-sum bonuses. Each tier offers a greater earning potential. For instance, you might earn $24 for completing six trips or $32 for completing eight trips.
• Earn-Per-Trip Incentives: Earn extra money for each individual trip. For example, you could receive an additional $5 for every trip completed after 4 p.m. on a specific day.
• Multi-Trip Earnings Incentives: If you’re an eligible driver and don’t meet a set earning amount after completing a specific number of trips within a timeframe, Spark covers the difference. For example, if you complete ten trips in a seven-day period and earn $180 before tips, Spark will add $20 to bring your total to $200.

How Much Do Spark Drivers Make?

Spark drivers in the United States earn an average of $24.55 per hour, according to figures from Indeed. However, this is just an average, and your actual earnings can vary.

Your income as a Spark driver will depend on several factors, including the number of deliveries you complete, the hours you work, and the tips or incentives you receive.

For example, if you work 20 hours a week at the average rate of $24.55 per hour, you’d earn approximately $491 per week or $1,964 per month. Add incentives on top of that, and your earnings could be even higher.

In the “Walmart Spark Driver Reviews” section below, I’ll include real-world examples of earnings shared by Spark drivers.

Walmart Spark Driver Reviews & Ratings

Many Spark drivers share their earnings and experiences in reviews, providing insights into the earning potential and overall work experience with Spark. These reviews can give you a better idea of what to expect when driving for Walmart Spark.

Spark has a rating of 3 stars on Indeed and 3.4 stars on Glassdoor. As expected, opinions vary, especially when it comes to income and whether the app is worth it.

Here’s what some drivers have to say:

• Positive Review on Indeed:
  “Fun, nice to have own schedule. If you work really hard at it, there’s some good money to be made to get you by. More like having a part-time job… not always steady, but you have to stick to it.”
• Mixed Review on Indeed:
  “It’s okay for side money. You can make up to $140 a day if you’re committed to doing 8 hours or more. Pays decent for a side job. I don’t see myself doing this full time with all the driving and time away, as shopping prolongs you to start another order.”

On Reddit, some users express frustration with Spark’s earning potential. For example:

• Critical Review on Reddit:
  “In contrast to other delivery apps, I say don’t bother signing up for this slave wage. My very first order was a shopping order and it paid $30+, it was worth my time and effort—all was good. The second offer was 2 drop-off orders for $17.00. I declined and told them no thanks. You figure your monthly expenses of car payment, car insurance, gas, wear and tear on your car, and added miles—it doesn’t make financial sense. It better be over $20, or it’s a no-go for me.”

Other users in the same thread though do enjoy the app, like this user who says:

• “I just started spark last week and made $600 total in 4 days. Most of it from incentives and tips. I was basically spamming this one neighborhood walmart for grocery trips and sometimes able to do 2 trips an hour. I worked about 4 hours a day on it. It wasnt that hard but there are challenges to it. Apartments are the most strenuous. One time I had an xl order with 94 items with a lot of heavy liquid items on the 3rd floor. Other than that its fine. It pays better than other apps.”

How Does Walmart Spark Pay You?

Your confirmed trip earnings will be instantly deposited or disbursed on a weekly basis into your earnings account.

Then you can choose to receive your earnings through online banking or direct deposit or establish a digital wallet. Digital wallets are offered by third-party digital wallet providers.

Walmart Spark Pros & Cons

Let’s take a look at some pros and cons of Spark so that you can decide whether or not the app is for you:

Pros

We’ll start out with the pros of working for Spark:

• You get to keep 100% of your tips.
• You get paid weekly.
• Spark offers incentives which can increase your earnings.
• You get to choose which deliveries you can make.
• You can work as little or as much as you want to.
• Spark drivers only operate out of Walmart locations in their zone.

Cons

Now let’s take a look at some of the cons of working for Spark:

• Earning potential can vary depending on where you live. So, if you live in rural and lower population areas, the earning potential might be limited.
• Driver reviews are average.
• Work may not be steady, although this is often the case with gig work.

Walmart Spark FAQs

In this section, I’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about driving for Walmart Spark.

Can you make good money with Spark Driver?

Whether or not you can make “good money” with Spark depends on your expectations. If your goal is to earn a few hundred dollars extra per month, then yes, Spark can be a good side hustle. However, if you’re aiming to make thousands of dollars per month, Spark may not be the right fit, as it typically doesn’t pay that much.

How much can you make a week with Spark Driver?

Your weekly income depends on how many hours you work and your hourly earnings. The average hourly income for Spark drivers is $24.55. Based on this, here’s an estimate of what you could earn:

• $245.50 per week for 10 hours of work.
• $491 per week for 20 hours of work.
• $736.50 per week for 30 hours of work.
• $982 per week for 40 hours of work.

How do Spark drivers get paid?

Spark drivers are paid weekly. You can choose to receive your earnings through direct deposit, online banking, or a digital wallet. The digital wallet option is provided by third-party wallet providers.

Can you make a living on Walmart Spark?

Whether you can make a living on Spark depends on your financial needs. Many drivers don’t recommend relying on Spark as a full-time job, as work can be inconsistent. However, it can be a reliable part-time gig for earning extra money.

Is Walmart Spark Worth It?

Walmart Spark can be worth it if you live in an area where there’s high demand for drivers. It’s a flexible way to earn extra money on the side, with an average pay of $24.55 per hour, making it a solid option for those seeking a part-time gig.

However, if you’re looking for a consistent, full-time income, Walmart Spark may not be the best choice. Delivery availability on the app can vary greatly, leading to inconsistent earnings. For full-time income, using multiple delivery apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and others can help you maintain steadier earnings.

Closing Thoughts

Walmart Spark is a great app for earning extra cash, with drivers making an average of $24.55 an hour. While driver reviews are mixed, this is common among delivery apps.

If you’re interested, sign up for the Spark Driver app and see what opportunities are available in your area. To maximize your earnings, consider combining Spark with other delivery apps like Instacart, DoorDash, Uber Eats, GrubHub, and Shipt.