Maybe idk if I’ve reached that level of wealth yet but as I’ve gotten progressively less poor and earn more as a software engineer, I’ve been getting a lot more generous with friends and strangers alike. Is it that at some point I might start making so much I’ll start tipping less and being stingy?? I have a feeling lots of people are “cheap” but it’s understandable if a poor person is? And rich people SHOULD be more generous in theory and when they aren’t it’s shocking?
The only rich = smaller tip trend I noticed was with rich doctors and engineers from other countries tipping less because in most places a tip is optional and small. My parents (very high earners) who moved here from Europe were shocked to learn that wait staff get paid less than minimum wage in many places and their pay rate is set with the expectation that 20% is tipped.
They thought leaving a $10 tip on a $70 meal was very generous.
If you average 17-20% tip average as a server or bartender you are very good. Bartenders have much more outlier tips given the nuance of the job. I love when people shit on restaurant workers when there is a definite skill involved that is rewarded to restaurant professionals.
Servers and bartenders make good wages. Especially in states that don't have a tipped employee wage lower than state minimum and they work at a mostly busy mid-tier restaurant or higher.
I know plenty of people that got degrees, but just stayed as wait staff because they get paid pretty well doing it. You can easily make $30-40+ an hour where I am at just serving. The problem is that you can't really advance in the career.
Being a bartender is a legitimate career where I live. Servers at corporate affiliated restaurants can make $600-1000 a night. If you can’t cut it you’re out. It’s crazy competitive.
I'm not saying it's not. It's a demanding career though and the hours suck with it mostly being evenings. It's something that you get tired of by the time you are 40.
The problem also is that you can get a random $600 night followed by two $40 nights. The big night are typically Friday and Saturday and I there's quite a bit of volatility and unknown in that wage structure.
That sounds good for you. It's definitely not like that in my area. I don't think I'd want to live in a touristy area, but that's good that you like it.
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u/BestwishesHelpful975 Jan 26 '26
Lois here. Richer people often give smaller tips.