Georgia among the best states for tipping. See where it ranks
Get your pocketbooks ready, we have some tips to cover.
USA TODAY Blueprint conducted an online survey which examined tipping culture in the U.S.
The data in this study was collected from Sept. 11 to Sept. 25 of 2023 and was commissioned by USA TODAY Blueprint and conducted by market research company, OnePoll. The online survey was taken by 100 people per state across the country, for a total of 5,000.
According to the study, Georgia is ranked high among the best states for tipping. On average, the Peach State tips 19%. But where does our state rank among others? And why do we tip?
Where does Georgia rank among the best states for tipping?
Georgia ranked No. 10 as one of the best tipping states, with Georgians tipping an average of 19%.
Which is the best state overall for tipping?
California secured the top spot, with the study finding that California residents tip on an average 22.69%.
What are the top ten states for tipping overall?
According to USA Today, the best tippers can be found in the East and West coasts:
California - 22.69%
Missouri - 22.05%
Florida - 21.68%
Arizona - 20.66%
Rhode Island - 20.50%
Washington - 20.23%
Colorado - 19.85%
Pennsylvania - 19.64%
Connecticut - 19.14%
Georgia - 19.00%
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Which states tip the least?
Illinois residents tip the least, averaging 14.22%.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour in the United States, with tipped employees making $2.13 per hour. The state minimum wage law in Georgia does not apply for tipped employees, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Accordingly, the DOL said that employers in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee "must pay employees covered by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act at least the federal minimum wage."
Other states set higher amounts for tipped workers, for example, Florida raised the minimum wage for tipped employees to $8.97 an hour as of Sept. 30. However, Tennessee, Mississippi, South Carolina and Utah do not.
According to USA Today, the worst tippers are a little more scattered across the country and can be found in the South, West and Midwest:
Illinois - 14.22%
Mississippi - 14.98%
South Carolina - 15.13%
New Mexico - 15.32%
Tennessee - 15.40%
Oklahoma - 15.51%
Wisconsin - 15.78%
North Dakota - 16.05%
West Virginia - 16.16%
Utah - 16.23%
What is the average tip left by patrons?
The average tip percentage in the U.S. is 17.94%.
Which age group tips the best?
The study found that Millennials tend to be the best tippers in the country, averaging 18.18% at tip time. Millennials are considered anyone born between 1981 and 1996, according to Pew Research Center.
Baby Boomers came in second with 17.92% and Gen Z came in third with 17.88%.
Members of the Silent Generation came in as the least likely to give a big tip with an average of just 15.16%.
Why do we tip?
The study determined the top three reasons for tipping were because they felt an employee earned it, because tips are expected in certain industries and because they’d feel guilty if they didn’t tip. In addition, respondents wrote in reasons for tipping such as:
To ensure workers are paid a fair wage.
To show appreciation for good service.
Because they’re familiar with the industry and know how demanding the work can be.
What is the appropriate amount to tip? Is it always good to tip?
Many consider tipping mandatory and a 20% tip should be the standard across the board. For others, they believe it depends on the service.
According to nerdwallet.com, it is customary and considered good etiquette to tip servers, bartenders, drivers, artists, and beauticians anywhere from 15% to 20% of the total bill.
For certain situations, etiquette expert Melissa Leonard told USA Today that it's not expected to tip for takeout. A 10% gratuity might be recommended for extra services like curbside delivery or particularly complicated orders.
Where does tipping culture stem from?
According to Restaurant Business Online, the practice might have origins dating back to the Roman era, but most trace it back to medieval Europe, when wealthy visitors to homes would leave tips for servants who provided good service.
The writer later explained that it was almost nonexistent in the U.S. before the Civil War until wealthy Americans brought the practice to the U.S. in the mid-1800s after visiting Europe. It took root as a business strategy during the Reconstruction Era.
"Some hospitality companies started to use freed slaves, paid them low wages, then encouraged customers to leave tips," Jonathan Maze wrote for the publication.
Even then the practice was met with criticism, likened to a bribe and was seen as "un-American." However, it grew in popularity and the practice was stuck by the early 1900s.
Contributing reporting: Carissa Rawson, Glen Luke Flanagan and Robin Saks Frankel, USA Today BLUEPRINT
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia one of best states for tipping, USA Today survey says
