Current:Home > ContactAre Americans tipping enough? New poll shows that many are short-changing servers. -VitalWealth Strategies
Are Americans tipping enough? New poll shows that many are short-changing servers.
View
Date:2025-04-17 15:14:01
A new poll shows that when it comes to tipping, many Americans are shortchanging their servers.
The Pew Research Center poll of 12,000 people, which came out on Thursday, shows that 57 percent of American diners tip 15% or less for a typical sit-down meal, "including 2% who say they wouldn’t leave any tip," Pew researchers wrote.
Only about 22 percent of people said they would leave a tip of 20% or more," Pew found.
Are we at a 'tipping' point?You're not imagining it. How and why businesses get you to tip more
What factors into how Americans are tipping?
The amount that people tip varies depending on their age, income, and other factors, the poll found.
Younger adults are slightly more likely to be more generous with their tips than their older counterparts, who tend to be more conservative with their wallets, the poll found.
For some, the location makes a big difference. At fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle and Sweetgreen, or quick stops at coffee shops, only about 25% of Americans say they will usually or frequently tip, according to Pew.
Time is money:Customers who don't tip DoorDash drivers will wait longer for deliveries, company warns
Americans are upset growing expectations to leave tips
Among concerns of those surveyed was frustration over expectations to leave tips in increasingly more situations outside of restaurants.
According to Pew, 72% of people said that tipping is now expected in more places than five years ago. Only about a third of respondents said they find it easy to determine when and how much to tip for different types of services, like food deliveries and pet sitters.
In hopes of taking out some of the guesswork and ensuring their staff get adequate tips, many bars and nightclubs now include gratuity in the bill, typically ranging from 18 to 25%.
"I'll look at the bill and see a 20 percent gratuity charge," Lawrence Edgerton of New York City told USA TODAY about some of his experiences getting drinks with co-workers.
"Like, how they even know I like the service?" said Edgerton, a membership coordinator at a private club. "In cases like this I don't add an extra tip."
Kaia Grey, a 24-year-old flight attendant in Washington, D.C., says it seems like service fees are the norm at bars, restaurants and lounges in the country's capital.
"I literally can't go anywhere in D.C., and it will be a service fee," she said. "I have to be mindful when ordering because the more I order, the higher the surprise fee is."
Feds investigating:Elections officials in multiple states get fentanyl-laced letters
When to tip?
It's a common practice for most Americans to leave a gratuity when dining at a restaurant, but there seems to be some uncertainty around tipping in other situations. Many people are unclear about when and how much to tip in situations such as hotel stays, haircuts, or rideshares.
“Even as Americans say they’re being asked to tip more often, relatively few have a great deal of confidence about when and how to do so,” Pew researchers said.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- 'It's not for the faint-hearted' — the story of India's intrepid women seaweed divers
- Kate Spade 24-Hour Flash Deal: Get This $280 Crossbody Bag for Just $62
- In W.Va., New GOP Majority Defangs Renewable Energy Law That Never Had a Bite
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Bernie Sanders announces Senate investigation into Amazon's dangerous and illegal labor practices
- Irina Shayk Proves Lingerie Can Be High-Fashion With Risqué Cannes Film Festival Look
- The pandemic-era rule that lets you get telehealth prescriptions just got extended
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Here's What Kate Middleton Said When Asked to Break Royal Rule About Autographs
Ranking
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- The Truth About Tom Sandoval and Influencer Karlee Hale's Relationship
- Why LeBron James Is Considering Retiring From the NBA After 20 Seasons
- One way to prevent gun violence? Treat it as a public health issue
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- Federal Agency Undermining State Offshore Wind Plans, Backers Say
- Back pain shouldn't stop you from cooking at home. Here's how to adapt
- Back pain shouldn't stop you from cooking at home. Here's how to adapt
Recommendation
A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
Crushed by Covid-19, Airlines Lobby for a Break on Emissions Offsets
Is there a 'healthiest' soda? Not really, but there are some alternatives you should consider.
Federal Agency Undermining State Offshore Wind Plans, Backers Say
McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
Walmart will dim store light weekly for those with sensory disabilities
Car rams into 4 fans outside White Sox ballpark in Chicago
In W.Va., New GOP Majority Defangs Renewable Energy Law That Never Had a Bite