Survey shows support for higher base pay and benefits for servers
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Our recent story on local tipping laws clearly made you hungry for a tipping survey — we got 1,225 responses!
The big picture: While a majority approve of charging service fees to benefit workers, and boosting the tipped minimum wage to $16.60, few knew that servers can earn just $2.13 an hour (as base pay) in nine states, including Indiana.
The intrigue: In our smaller 2024 survey, 28% said they're tipping less as base wages grow, but that figure dropped to just 15% this time.
- Does that mean people are becoming more accepting of the policy?
Zoom out: In a recent national WalletHub survey, two in five Americans said they think tipping should be banned altogether!
Zoom in: Some readers don't think surveys capture enough nuance and wrote in with more:
- "My answer reflects my support of the gradual wage increase on tipped wages but my tipping habits are likely to change since the customer is no longer 'expected' to help the server make a living wage." — Sari B
- "I like it when a restaurant pays their staff well - and provides that info about it on the check, like Lula Cafe. [That way,] I can still tip a little extra or not. But I know that not all owners are as transparent or as generous. All of the uncertainty and different levels make it a true mess." — Barb G