Current:Home > MarketsAre Americans tipping enough? New poll shows that many are short-changing servers. -WealthSphere Pro
Are Americans tipping enough? New poll shows that many are short-changing servers.
View
Date:2025-04-18 03:04:02
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! (94825)
Related
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- 'It took approximately 7-8 hours': Dublin worker captures Eras Tour setup at Aviva stadium
- How RuPaul's Drag Race Judge Ts Madison Is Protecting Trans Women From Sex Work Exploitation
- Tropical Storm Beryl forms in the Atlantic Ocean, blowing toward the Caribbean Sea
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Hawks trading Dejounte Murray to Pelicans. Who won the deal?
- Air tankers attack Arizona wildfire that has forced evacuations outside of Scottsdale
- Environmentalists appeal Michigan regulators’ approval of pipeline tunnel project
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Retiring ESPN host John Anderson to anchor final SportsCenter on Friday
Ranking
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- New Jersey passes budget that boosts taxes on companies making over $10 million
- DOJ charges 193 people, including doctors and nurses, in $2.7B health care fraud schemes
- Despair in the air: For many voters, the Biden-Trump debate means a tough choice just got tougher
- Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
- Argentina, Chile coaches receive suspensions for their next Copa America match. Here’s why
- Sheriff says man kills himself after killing 3 people outside home near Atlanta
- Inside the Haunting Tera Smith Cold Case That Shadowed Sherri Papini's Kidnapping Hoax
Recommendation
Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
Homeless families to be barred from sleeping overnight at Logan International Airport
Nelly Korda withdraws from London event after suffering dog bite in Seattle
Mavericks trade Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks to Pistons
New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
The Saipan surprise: How delicate talks led to the unlikely end of Julian Assange’s 12-year saga
Lighting strike on wet ground sent 7 from Utah youth church group to hospital
Lakers reveal Bronny James' new jersey number