5 Best and Worst States for Tipping — Is Your State on the List?

It’s a voluntary act, but tipping is also completely expected in most restaurant settings. Still, some states are known to tip better than others.

As of 2023, nearly five million people in the U.S. work in food and beverage service and related jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median hourly wage for these workers is $14.29, compared with $23.11 per hour for all occupations.

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Given this, it’s easy to understand why many workers in this field rely on tips. As of the second quarter of 2024, the average restaurant tip in the U.S. was 18.8% of the check, according to the Toast Q2 Restaurant Trends Report . Slightly more, tips at full-service restaurants averaged 19.3% during this time period.

Generally speaking, most people (84%) consider themselves good tippers, according to a 2023 PlayUSA survey . Nearly half — 43% — of Americans believe 20% is an appropriate tip for good restaurant service, and 23% think it’s rude to tip anything less than 20%.

However, people in some states tend to be much better tippers than others. Keep reading to find out if your state topped the list of best or worst for tipping , according to Toast.

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5 Best States for Tipping

Delaware — 21.5%

Interestingly, Delaware also had the highest year-over-year price — 7.9% — increase on sandwiches and wraps.

West Virginia — 20.5%

In 2023, West Virginia restaurants realized a total of $3.8 billion in sales, according to the National Restaurant Association. At a 20.5% average tip rate, this would equate to $779 million in tips.

Indiana — 20.4%

Interestingly, year-over-year growth at quick-service restaurants in Indianapolis increased by one of the largest margins of any U.S. city.

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New Hampshire — 20.4%

In New Hampshire, every additional dollar spent in restaurants adds $1.83 to the state economy, according to the National Restaurant Association. Additionally, every $1 million spent at restaurants in New Hampshire adds 13.3 jobs to the state economy.

Kentucky — 20.3%

In 2022, there were 8,201 eating and drinking establishments in Kentucky, according to the National Restaurant Association. This generated 199,000 restaurant and foodservice jobs in Kentucky, which consumed 10% of jobs in the state.

5 Worst States for Tipping

California — 17.3%

In January 2024, California raised its minimum wage to $16 per hour for all workers. By April 2024, average tips for quick-service restaurant employees dropped from $4.98 to $4.77 per hour.

Cashiers who received tips on the Toast platform at quick-service restaurants received a combined total average wage — hourly base wage plus tips per hour — of around $21.72 per hour in June 2024.

Washington — 17.8%

A shift in dining patterns, Seattle realized a 9% decrease in late-night transactions in the second quarter of 2024, compared with the second quarter of 2023.

Nevada — 18.1%

Restaurants are the largest private employer in the state of Nevada, according to the National Restaurant Association. As of 2023, the state has 6,806 restaurants and 224,400 restaurant and foodservice jobs.

Florida — 18.2%

From the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024, Miami had one of the largest decreases — 4% — in dinner transactions in the U.S.

Louisiana — 18.4%

As of 2023, restaurants are the third-largest private employer in the state of Louisiana, according to the National Restaurant Association. That same year, they generated $14.3 billion in sales, which equals around $2.63 billion in tips, when tipped at an average rate of 18.4%.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 5 Best and Worst States for Tipping — Is Your State on the List?