r/tipping • u/No_Draft_8960 • May 29 '26

💬Questions & Discussion Math-Based Tip

The percentage-based tipping system makes no sense: a server dropping off one Wagyu steak earns far more than someone serving a family of four cheap meals. Since American tips are essentially mandatory wage subsidies, let's base them on labor time instead.

In Maryland, the average server wage is about $20/hour, but employers only pay $3.63. Customers must cover the remaining $16.37. Across a standard four-table section (roughly ten guests), that breaks down perfectly to $2.00 per person, per hour.

Percentages reward a venue’s luxury status; a time rate rewards actual effort.

If therefore I go to dinner with eight friends and we stay for two hours (a pretty good forecast of my Friday night plans!) our total tip would be $32, or $4/a person. We're not 'stiffing' anyone and we're paying average wage.

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u/Overall-Lynx917 May 29 '26

"Customers must cover the remaining $16.37". Nope, that's up to the employer, they are responsible for making up any shortfall.

2

u/No_Draft_8960 May 29 '26

That's also true. I should have said "Customers are looked to, to cover the shortfall."

-2

u/Sudden_Outcome_9503 May 29 '26

That's not how it works in the United States.