A gig worker payout is the transfer of earnings from a platform to a person who works through it job by job, such as a ride-hailing driver, delivery courier or freelancer. It is the outbound half of the money flow in the gig economy. Customers pay the platform by card or wallet; the platform records each completed job, deducts its commission, adds tips and incentives, and credits the remainder to the worker's balance.
Workers are usually classed as an independent contractor, so payment is not payroll and the timing is set by the platform. The standard payout schedule is weekly by bank transfer, which in the United States means the Automated Clearing House. Because many workers need income quickly to cover fuel and living costs, platforms also offer an instant payout several times a day, delivered by push to card or an instant bank payment, often for a small fee.