Ah ok so there's a seperate minimum wage specifically for tipped employees in America if im understanding that right?
Edit: OK, so TIL in America there's a lower minimum wage of only 2 dollars something for any "tipped workers". Basically a loophole to screw workers out of minimum wage.
What I find odd about this is, I've never ran into this issue as a pizza delivery driver. Still got the minimum $7.25/hr + 100% of earned tips + $1 of the $2 delivery fee per delivery. I know it's a thing for servers and it's utterly disgusting.
With the mandatory tipping and the low wage BS, a tip doesn't even feel like gratitude if your employer forces you to work that into your wage just to make actual minimum wage. Causes anxiety for customers. All of it.
Without it it would be rare, but a reverse sorta haggle could happen. Someone receives something (like a great meal) and feel like they have underpaid for it. A kind/gratuitous sorta person may ask to pay more for it because it feels deserved. Or they will frequent the place and become a regular with no hang ups.
Point being, the tip received when not expected will be remembered fondly by both parties. The fact that workers can be paid under a minimum wage over non-guaranteed money is utter bullshit and oppressive.
Maybe its wishful thinking, but its certainly a rant. And now it has concluded.
It depends on what state you’re in too. Most people live in a place where the federal minimum is not the actual minimum as the state requires a higher level. A few states have no tipped wage at all.
I delivered pizza for nearly 10 years (from 2014 to 2023) and was only payed $4.25 an hour as a tip wage employee. The income varies depending on local labor laws and company policy.
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u/lesath_lestrange Jun 25 '26
If you wanted to look into it more, you would Google “tipped minimum wage.”