In recent years, tipping culture has quickly become out of control, and is weighing heavy on the consumers in America. As a result, tipping percentages should decrease, in order to support the consumers. In 2023, Americans are typically tipping anywhere from 15% to 25%, with the median being 21%, according to the credit card company creditcards.com, run by Bankrate. The high tipping percentages that are now seen every day, were rare less than a century ago. During the 1950s, people commonly tipped 10% of the bill and by the 1980s, that percentage had jumped to 15% according to creditcards.com.
One of the driving factors behind the increase in tipping is pressure on the consumer—kiosks and tablets—with three tipping suggestions that pressure customers into tipping more than they usually would. According to a survey by Forbes, nearly 65% of people tip at least 11% more when they pay digitally.
Washington state requires all employers to pay tipped employees a minimum of $15.74 an hour (minimum wage in Washington state), which is much higher than that of any other state. Surprisingly, with such a high-tipped employee minimum wage, the tipping average is still just above 18% in Washington state according to the restaurant software company, Toast.
The high tipping rate, combined with the good pay, places Washington state’s tipped workers in a great position to receive a larger paycheck compared to other minimum wage counterparts. The consumers, on the other hand, are still dealing with the prolonged effects of COVID-19 and subsequent inflation.
With fair pay for tipped employees and economic problems for consumers, it only makes sense that tipping percentages should decrease. The only way to control tipping culture is to lower the percentages so that the consumer can save money at the register, which will bolster the economy and overall better support Americans. I’m not against paying hard-working tipped workers extra, I am against the fact that it is at the expense of Americans around the country who deserve to save their hard-earned money.
