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Original poster

How much would a US server or bartender take in tips per shift?

65 replies

WaltonOnNaze · 23/03/2023 16:29

If they serve fifty drinks an hour that’s a dollar per drink on top of a small basic wage. That’s quite a high hourly rate isn’t it. Or am I missing something? Am going to US soon and trying to get head round tips

OP posts:
happysingleversary · 23/03/2023 16:43

They take them very seriously.
Every time you get a drink you leave a tip under the glass, a dollar. Someone told me a dollar per drink!

I once asked for a tip to be removed (it was a fiver for drinks we were forced to buy for a comedy show) so that I could leave my own tip in cash. It did not go well, the lady became very aggressive and I had to leave the tip on the bill. This was ten years ago so that tip would probably be double that now.

Restaurants are 20% on the bill but yes, bars are the worst. It just feels like you're paying their wages. I'd rather just go and get my own drink, it's not like they have a weights and measures act, they just pour. I can do that. They should move to self-service bars with dispensed alcohol and you just swipe your card to release the alcohol.

MadisonAvenue · 23/03/2023 21:32

There’s been a post on Twitter this week which has caused a bit of arguing.
A waiter in the US posted that they “fucking hate Europeans sometimes” because they’d served a party whose bill came to around $700 and they left a $70 tip. It was explained to them by the restaurant staff that the expected tip was 20% but they didn’t increase it.

Most restaurant/diner bills have suggested tips printed on them, last time we were there was just before the pandemic and the suggested amounts ranged from 16%-20% but it seems from what people have said and shown on bills posted online is that 20% is now the minimum expected in a lot of places.

Eating out in tourist places isn’t cheap (which is why we’ve often tended to use diners and delis as they offer better value) and adding a tip on at 20% makes it even more expensive.

(And don’t get me started on the fact that in shops the price you see on an item isn’t the price you pay because sales tax, their VAT, isn’t added on until it’s rung through the till and also differs from state to state).

gogohmm · 23/03/2023 21:36

Depends on the state and town but often they barely receive any base pay and some have to hand over a % of their tips to management.

As a non American is doesn't make sense but you have to calculate the cost of your meal/drinks including the sakes tax and 15% tip minimum

Businessflake · 23/03/2023 21:37

(And don’t get me started on the fact that in shops the price you see on an item isn’t the price you pay because sales tax, their VAT, isn’t added on until it’s rung through the till and also differs from state to state).

But that’s exactly why it’s not included on the tag.

Businessflake · 23/03/2023 21:38

And it’s been $1 per drink for at least 15 years.

mindutopia · 23/03/2023 21:42

They generally do quite well, if they get to keep their tips (not always the case). Though keep in mind that hourly wages are quite low.

My friend was a shot girl in New York back in the noughties and she could make $800 in a 8 hour shift…with a strong dose of sexual harassment on the side. She worked two nights a week and put herself through grad school, but said it was grim.

shivawn · 23/03/2023 21:42

Yeah servers in busy and popular bars can make massive money. I don't personally agree with it or think the job warrants a high salary and I worked in bars myself for years (not in USA). The tipping culture and adding of tax at the counter is part of the reason I can't be bothered visiting there.

MadisonAvenue · 24/03/2023 00:26

Businessflake · 23/03/2023 21:37

(And don’t get me started on the fact that in shops the price you see on an item isn’t the price you pay because sales tax, their VAT, isn’t added on until it’s rung through the till and also differs from state to state).

But that’s exactly why it’s not included on the tag.

But it’s easy enough to produce tags/shelf tickets which differ from state to state.

ComtesseDeSpair · 24/03/2023 00:41

We have friends in Michigan (so not wild wealth areas e.g. LA or NYC) who earn upwards of $3k a week bartending. Unlike in the UK, hospitality can be an actual life career if you’re good at it and want to make it one. Here it’s seen as a NMW gig for students and people who don’t give a shit because they aren’t paid enough to. It’s crap, and I don’t know why people think the US system is bad: if I want cheap and lazy service I’ll stay at home and ask DH to get me a drink! If I’m going out, I’m perfectly happy to pay top dollar to get a great experience.

You tip in the US for the excellent service and to me it’s worth it. I love many things about London, but I don’t love that I frequently have to wait at a crowded bar for up to ten minutes (or more) trying to catch the bartender’s eye, or wait for the same or more at a table after I’ve asked for the bill whilst staff gossip away amongst themselves in a corner somewhere.

HighInfidelity · 24/03/2023 00:46

Does it not vary a lot by shift? I’ve worked in a bar in England and if everybody gave me £1 during a busy hour then I could make a fair bit but there are also quieter parts of the day where you barely serve anyone. If there’s no minimum wage like there is here then that must make wages feel really precarious.

Kay286 · 24/03/2023 00:51

We’re in Canada, tipping culture same as U.S , minimum expectation is 18% of whatever your bill is- my daughter is a server and on a busy night can make very good money !

wobytide · 24/03/2023 00:59

You get a bill, you can add a tip or not.

Why is it a worry what they earn(or earning too much as it seems to be)

Happyhappyday · 24/03/2023 01:03

No one pays cash in bars where I am but 15-20-% is pretty typical. Normally you’d start a tab though and settle at the end so you don’t have to have a load of ones hanging about!

FWIW, I find the whole thing stressful (recently moved back after spending all of my drinking-age-years) in the UK. I miss pubs!! Also people don’t do rounds here which still annoys me!

GulfCoastBeachGirl · 24/03/2023 02:19

gogohmm · 23/03/2023 21:36

Depends on the state and town but often they barely receive any base pay and some have to hand over a % of their tips to management.

As a non American is doesn't make sense but you have to calculate the cost of your meal/drinks including the sakes tax and 15% tip minimum

Correct on the low base pay but incorrect on handing over tips to management. An employer can not keep any portion of an employee's tips.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/tips

The key is to work in a high-end restaurant and grab an evening shift. My niece easily earns $1,000 - $1500 just working two weekend evening shifts at a local country club. Not bad for an 18 year old student!

But it is really hard work and there usually are no benefits. I wouldn't recommend it as a career, but as a side hustle or to tide you over between career changes...sure.

Tip Regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/tips

mathanxiety · 24/03/2023 03:07

MadisonAvenue · 24/03/2023 00:26

But it’s easy enough to produce tags/shelf tickets which differ from state to state.

Show quote history

It's not a state to state difference. And it's not the equivalent of VAT.

It's tax levied in order to fund various county and city services for the specific county or city in which they are levied.
It's a city to city, county to county difference. I pay sales tax on everything I buy. Some of what I pay goes to services in the municipality where I live. Some goes to the county in which the municipality lies.

It would be utterly impossible to produce the necessary shelf tickets.

Instead I add 10% in my head. It's not that difficult.

mathanxiety · 24/03/2023 03:10

And if I went to the city next door and bought something, the sales tax would go to that city but the same county.

If I went west to the big mall in the next county and bought something, my sales tax would go to that city and the county it's in.

Again, rule of thumb, approximately 10% added on is an easy way to figure out what you'll pay.

mathanxiety · 24/03/2023 03:17

But if I want to be precise, it's closer to 11% in the next door city and closer to 8% in the county next door.

It's only a problem if you might not have enough in cash or in the bank to cover your bill.

mathanxiety · 24/03/2023 03:17

Sorry for serial posts. App keeps going weird stuff.

Liorae · 24/03/2023 04:00

Happyhappyday · 24/03/2023 01:03

No one pays cash in bars where I am but 15-20-% is pretty typical. Normally you’d start a tab though and settle at the end so you don’t have to have a load of ones hanging about!

FWIW, I find the whole thing stressful (recently moved back after spending all of my drinking-age-years) in the UK. I miss pubs!! Also people don’t do rounds here which still annoys me!

Why does the choice not to do rounds annoy you?

MadisonAvenue · 24/03/2023 10:40

It would be utterly impossible to produce the necessary shelf tickets.

I honestly don’t see why that can’t be done.
I can go into a large Tesco here and pay £1 for bread but if I go into the small neighbourhood Tesco convenience store a mile away from the supermarket they will have the same item priced at, say, £1.20 and both stores have shelf tickets which manage to show the correct price for that store.

99victoria · 24/03/2023 11:31

We were in Canada recently and were gobsmacked that we were even expected to tip in a couple of places (like parks) where we bought coffees in paper cups from a little stall at a gift shop. It does make eating/drinking outrageously expensive. We ended up just eating out once a day and then buying supermarket food and reckon we saved about £1000 over our 18 day holiday!

KatherineJaneway · 24/03/2023 11:45

The expectation is you tip, regardless of whether you think they make enough money per hour without tips.

Not been to the Sates in quite a few years but it was 15% to 20% on sit down meals and also the same on drinks in a bar / lounge then.

If anyone does anything for you i.e. delivers room service, takes your bags to the room etc you are expected to tip. If you are in a hotel you are also expected to tip housekeeping a few dollars a day.

ComtesseDeSpair · 24/03/2023 12:13

MadisonAvenue · 24/03/2023 10:40

It would be utterly impossible to produce the necessary shelf tickets.

I honestly don’t see why that can’t be done.
I can go into a large Tesco here and pay £1 for bread but if I go into the small neighbourhood Tesco convenience store a mile away from the supermarket they will have the same item priced at, say, £1.20 and both stores have shelf tickets which manage to show the correct price for that store.

Apart from the fact that it would be complicated, I suppose the base answer is that in the US, people are used to seeing their prices without tax added and don’t have a problem with it being that way. It might seem odd if you’re used to a different system but a preference to keep prices separate from taxation is a part of the American psyche. Welcome to international travel: different countries do things differently and just because it isn’t the same as the way your country does things doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

FusionChefGeoff · 24/03/2023 12:16

ComtesseDeSpair · 24/03/2023 00:41

We have friends in Michigan (so not wild wealth areas e.g. LA or NYC) who earn upwards of $3k a week bartending. Unlike in the UK, hospitality can be an actual life career if you’re good at it and want to make it one. Here it’s seen as a NMW gig for students and people who don’t give a shit because they aren’t paid enough to. It’s crap, and I don’t know why people think the US system is bad: if I want cheap and lazy service I’ll stay at home and ask DH to get me a drink! If I’m going out, I’m perfectly happy to pay top dollar to get a great experience.

You tip in the US for the excellent service and to me it’s worth it. I love many things about London, but I don’t love that I frequently have to wait at a crowded bar for up to ten minutes (or more) trying to catch the bartender’s eye, or wait for the same or more at a table after I’ve asked for the bill whilst staff gossip away amongst themselves in a corner somewhere.

But if it's standard / expected then it's NOT dependent on level of service so they don't work for it so you don't necessarily get better service as there's no penalty for being crap??

ComtesseDeSpair · 24/03/2023 12:32

FusionChefGeoff · 24/03/2023 12:16

But if it's standard / expected then it's NOT dependent on level of service so they don't work for it so you don't necessarily get better service as there's no penalty for being crap??

Show quote history

Generally, because they know they’ll be well-rewarded for their service, hospitality staff take pride in their work and put a lot of effort into it. But also, because there’s an expectation of good service, a bad server or bartender would have customers complaining to the bar or restaurant. And then they would lose their job. That’s ultimately the penalty for being crap.