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States Where People Leave the Best Tips

States Where People Leave the Best Tips

Millions of hospitality industry workers – including most servers and bartenders – rely on tips for a majority of their income. In over a dozen states, tipped bar and restaurant workers earn a minimum wage of just $2.13 an hour. That comes to just over $17 for an eight-hour shift, with the rest of their earnings dictated by the whims of their customers. While the average customer tips between 15% and 20%, some leave much more or less. (Tips can run to the hundreds of dollars at the most expensive restaurants in America.)

To compile a list of the states with the most generous tippers, 24/7 Tempo reviewed The Restaurant Trends Report, powered by Toast, a restaurant point of sale and management system. Data came from restaurants on the Toast platform – about 79,000 locations as of Dec. 21, 2022 – where a tip was added to the order via a card or digital payment. Cash tips are not included in analysis. 

Although tipping is not mandatory at most restaurants, the majority of customers do leave a gratuity. According to the report by Toast, tips at full service restaurants during Q4 2022 averaged 19.6%, while those at quick-service (i.e., fast-food) places averaged 15.9%. (Take a look at the states with the most and fewest fast food restaurants per capita.)

California was the least generous state overall, with a tip average of 17.5%. California, however, is one of few states where employers are required to pay tipped workers full state minimum wage – which in California is $15.50 – before tips. Nevada and Washington also ranked low for tipping but have laws guaranteeing servers higher state minimum wages.

Over 30 states had full service tip averages of 20% or above, with Delaware leading at a 22.5% average. The First State also boasted the highest overall tip average, knocking Indiana from the top spot for the first time since Toast began tracking tips. Other states with the most generous tippers include New Hampshire, Maine, Wyoming, and Ohio.

Source: halbergman / E+ via Getty Images

50. California
> Avg. tip: 17.5%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.0%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 18.2%

Source: danox / Flickr

49. Washington
> Avg. tip: 18.2%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.1%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 18.7%

Source: Sunshower Shots / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

48. Florida
> Avg. tip: 18.3%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.2%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 18.6%

Source: Bim / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

47. Nevada
> Avg. tip: 18.4%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.3%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.3%

Source: catscandotcom / iStock via Getty Images

46. Hawaii
> Avg. tip: 18.7%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.6%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.2%

Source: mariaeklind / Flickr

45. New York
> Avg. tip: 18.7%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.4%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.2%

Source: shreveportbossier / Flickr

44. Louisiana
> Avg. tip: 18.8%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.5%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.3%

Source: number7cloud / Flickr

43. Texas
> Avg. tip: 18.9%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.8%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.7%

Source: J. Michael Jones / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

42. New Mexico
> Avg. tip: 18.9%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 14.4%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.2%

Source: andykazie / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

41. New Jersey
> Avg. tip: 19.0%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 14.6%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.7%

Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images

40. Arkansas
> Avg. tip: 19.0%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.5%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.7%

Source: Public Domain / Library of Congress

39. Mississippi
> Avg. tip: 19.1%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.5%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.5%

Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

38. Minnesota
> Avg. tip: 19.2%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.6%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.6%

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

37. Oklahoma
> Avg. tip: 19.2%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.0%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.9%

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

36. Utah
> Avg. tip: 19.2%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.3%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.4%

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

35. Georgia
> Avg. tip: 19.3%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.3%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.9%

Source: Tim Boyle / Getty Images News via Getty Images

34. Illinois
> Avg. tip: 19.3%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.6%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.8%

Source: miromiro / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

33. Connecticut
> Avg. tip: 19.3%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 14.8%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.9%

Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

32. Arizona
> Avg. tip: 19.3%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.8%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.1%

Source: ralphandjenny / Flickr

31. Alabama
> Avg. tip: 19.4%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.6%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.0%

Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

30. Oregon
> Avg. tip: 19.4%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 17.6%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.0%

Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images

29. South Dakota
> Avg. tip: 19.4%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.9%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 19.9%

Source: traveler1116 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

28. Massachusetts
> Avg. tip: 19.4%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.0%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.3%

Source: Peeter Viisimaa / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

27. Virginia
> Avg. tip: 19.5%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.7%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.1%

Source: Marc Dufresne / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

26. Vermont
> Avg. tip: 19.5%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 17.3%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.1%

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images

25. Tennessee
> Avg. tip: 19.5%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.4%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.3%

Source: Courtesy of Pranjali S. via Yelp

24. Alaska
> Avg. tip: 19.6%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 18.1%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.0%

Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

23. Idaho
> Avg. tip: 19.6%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.3%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.4%

Source: digidreamgrafix / iStock via Getty Images

22. North Carolina
> Avg. tip: 19.6%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.7%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.1%

Source: YinYang / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

21. North Dakota
> Avg. tip: 19.7%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 18.0%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.0%

Source: aimintang / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

20. Maryland
> Avg. tip: 19.7%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.7%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.3%

Source: RiverNorthPhotography / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

19. Nebraska
> Avg. tip: 19.9%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.8%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.4%

Source: TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

18. Kansas
> Avg. tip: 19.9%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.6%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.7%

Source: RiverNorthPhotography / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

17. Colorado
> Avg. tip: 19.9%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.9%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.6%

Source: alan-light / Flickr

16. Iowa
> Avg. tip: 20.0%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 18.0%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.2%

Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images

15. Montana
> Avg. tip: 20.1%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 17.3%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.9%

Source: aimintang / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

14. Rhode Island
> Avg. tip: 20.1%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.6%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.9%

Source: pasa / Flickr

13. Missouri
> Avg. tip: 20.1%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 17.1%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.8%

Source: RiverNorthPhotography / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

12. Michigan
> Avg. tip: 20.2%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.7%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.7%

Source: jmoor17 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

11. Maine
> Avg. tip: 20.3%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.9%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 21.2%

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images

10. Pennsylvania
> Avg. tip: 20.3%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 16.4%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.8%

Source: diversey / Flickr

9. Wisconsin
> Avg. tip: 20.3%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 18.4%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.6%

Source: Simplyphotos / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

8. South Carolina
> Avg. tip: 20.4%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 17.1%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.9%

Source: reiver / Flickr

7. New Hampshire
> Avg. tip: 20.6%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 15.6%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 21.7%

Source: houseofhall / Flickr

6. Ohio
> Avg. tip: 20.6%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 18.3%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 21.0%

Source: John M. Chase / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

5. West Virginia
> Avg. tip: 20.6%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 17.8%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.9%

Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

4. Kentucky
> Avg. tip: 20.7%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 18.6%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 20.9%

Source: aimintang / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

3. Wyoming
> Avg. tip: 20.8%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 18.7%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 21.1%

Source: Kirkikis / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

2. Indiana
> Avg. tip: 20.8%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 17.1%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 21.3%

Source: John M. Chase / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

1. Delaware
> Avg. tip: 21.8%
> Avg. tip at quick-service restaurants: 17.8%
> Avg. tip at full-service restaurants: 22.5%

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