Las Vegas residents turn to DoorDash for extra income amidst rising living costs

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)– As the cost of living continues to rise Las Vegas residents are seeking alternative ways to supplement their income.

Kim Bui, a pharmaceutical student who relocated to Las Vegas from California two years ago for pharmacy school, shares her experience with DoorDash.

Midway through Bui’s pharmacy program she chose to pursue a dual degree by also earning a Master’s in pharmaceutical sciences. With a demanding school schedule, Bui needed a part-time flexible job and turned to DoorDash.

“Compared to other job interviews, where you’re going through weeks and months of interviews, DoorDash doesn’t do that. It gives you the opportunity to get on the platform really quickly and start dashing,” Bui said.

Taylor Bennett, the global head of public affairs at DoorDash said over the past few years DoorDash has expanded beyond restaurants and now includes grocery stores, hardware stores, Sephora, Michaels, and more.

Bennett said more than seven million people nationwide dash and in the Las Vegas area the vast majority spend fewer than ten hours each week on delivery.

“I think there is this trend, toward work on your own time, that fits your own schedule,” Bennett said.

People can jump on and off DoorDash when they need to make money. Bennett explains that the ease of it is what brings more young people to the platform.

“Half of Gen-Z Dashers say this allows them the flexibility to leave a job they may not like. So I think this type of work is and becoming more so, a real source of income,” Bennett added.

Features, like Earn by time or Earn by offer, give dashers more choices to work with.

Bui appreciates the convenience that DoorDash offers, when she’s short fifty or sixty bucks to pay bills or buy groceries, she just turns her app on and starts working.

“Sometimes with school, I have seasons, months super busy with finals, or rotation, or if I’m sick.
I do love, that I can do it at any time anywhere,” Bui said. “Sometimes I’ll do it coming home from school, turn on my DoorDash, dash on the way home. Easy way to make some extra income.”

Over the past few months, nationwide DoorDash has also partnered with food banks and non-profits, such as SafeNest.

Dashers now also have the opportunity to fulfill bundled and batch orders for organizations that provide meals and other items to victims of abuse.

Bennett added door dashers are a critical function in helping with those deliveries.

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