Most jobs today follow the state and federal guidelines set for wages. Those wage requirements tend to be lower for employees that are in the tip industry.
You probably know that restaurant staff relies on tips to survive, but did you know there are other industry workers that also rely on tips? Here are the most common jobs where workers rely on tips:
- Pizza delivery driver
- Bartender
- Room service staff
- Hotel housekeeper
- Tour guide
- Instructors
- Pet groomer
- Hairstylist
- Taxi driver
- Golf caddy
Some of these jobs do start their pay at the states set minimum wage. Tips are extra for those employees. For employees in the restaurant industry, wages tend to start lower than minimum wage so an extra $3-10 per hour in tips helps.
Common Tip Percentages
There has been some controversy in the news lately over what percentage of your total bill you should tip. In the early 2000s, 10% was a common tip percentage across the board. Recently, the percentage has increased to 15% with some industries being 25%.
Depending on your total bill, an extra 15-25% may be a lot of money. Remember that tips are a thank you for the service you were provided and are not a requirement. Any tip amount that you leave, will be appreciated so don’t feel obligated if you can’t afford a high percentage in addition to your total bill.
Reasons to Leave a Tip
If you’ve experienced good customer service, you should reward the worker for their hospitality. Here are other reasons why leaving a tip is a good gesture:
- Service jobs require the worker to do more
- Some workers rely solely on tips to live
- Good gestures are always noticed
- Treat others how you want to be treated
- The worker takes care of you from start to finish of your service
The next time you are somewhere where a tip is relevant to the industry, remember to thank the worker for their service.