I used to be a waitron. A bartender. And I’ll tell you this. I relied on those tips. Not the kind of tips about how to clean my Venetian blinds. No. I’m talking about the monetary tip. The cash-ola. The cheddar.
So. To tip or not to tip? That seems to be quite a question these days. That’s because lately it seems everybody wants a tip.
I’m all for tipping someone who provides good service. Restaurant servers, delivery drivers, hairdressers, and others who work hard to make our lives a little easier. I think they certainly deserve some money for their work.
But lately? Holy smokes. We can barely buy a cup of coffee without a little screen asking whether you’d like to leave 15%, 20%, or even 25%. And the thing of it is, sometimes, we’ve practically served ourselves.
Anyway, I came across an interesting report about tipping habits across America. And apparently, some states are considerably more generous than others.
The payment company JIM examined nearly 90,000 tipping transactions from 6,214 small businesses across all 50 states in 2025. The results were pretty interesting, I think.
First, let’s look at the five states with the LOWEST average tips:
1. Oregon — 13.10%
2. Virginia — 13.58%
3. New York — 13.72%
4. Alaska — 14.11%
5. Illinois — 14.37%
And now, the five states with the HIGHEST average tips:
1. South Carolina — 20.71%
2. Wisconsin — 19.15%
3. Connecticut — 18.43%
4. Maryland — 18.40%
5. Nevada — 16.88%
I used to live in Charleston, SC. And would you look at South Carolina? The tipping capital, apparently.
But there’s more to the story.
In South Carolina, some of those employees only earn a base wage of just $2.13 per hour. They rely on their tips to bring their earnings up to the required minimum wage.
Meanwhile, states such as Oregon require employers to pay all workers the full state minimum wage before tips. Every worker starts out making a lot more money than those in places like SC or Wisconsin.
That difference may help explain the numbers.
According to JIM’s report, the nationwide average tip was 15.46%, with an average dollar amount of $12.44.
Hair salons and barbershops received some of the highest percentage tips, averaging approximately 17%.
Here is another thing.
A 2025 Bankrate survey found that 63% of Americans held at least one negative view about tipping.
They even have a name for this growing frustration. Tipping fatigue.
One thing I’d like to know: When did tipping go from being a reward for good service to something we’re expected to do practically everywhere?
I believe in rewarding good service. Totally. But I also believe a tip should be an expression of appreciation. I don’t think it should be obligatory. I don’t think it should be imposed by a corporate predetermination.
Being generous is a good thing. May we all give freely when it is the right thing to do.
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“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” — Amy Carmichael
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“He who wishes to secure the good of others has already secured his own.” — Confucius (attribution uncertain)
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“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” — Cicero
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“Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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