4 Service Providers You Should Tip in the US

We all know it is both ethical and thoughtful to give a gratuity to people who work in service jobs. These folks don’t typically get paid their full value for their services and labor, and customers give tips to let service workers know they did a good job. Not giving a tip is generally an indication that the service person didn’t provide adequate service. 

Servers at restaurants are the most frequently tipped people in the U.S. Still, there are other jobs people should consider rewarding with some extra cash after a job well done.

How you decide to differentiate between someone who deserves a tip or not is really just up to each customer, but we’ll give some dos and don’ts of tipping. 

For example, you may be thinking after hiring a tow truck, “Do I tip my driver?” What about giving some extra money to your hairdresser or barber after a great cut? These are the service providers you should tip in the U.S.

#1 – Waiting Staff

People who serve at restaurants are some of the most tipped people in the country. Most folks tip around 15-20% for good service when they go out to eat. The reason why waiters and waitresses have become the profession that gets tipped so often might have to do with the low wages restaurants pay their employees. 

Most servers only get minimum wage. Customers sometimes make up the difference with tips. If you don’t tip a server very well, you are making it more difficult for them to make a living. If you feel you received bad service, perhaps think about talking it over with the person instead of taking their tips away.

As one of the industries hit hardest by the coronavirus, restaurant workers have had a harder time maintaining a living wage at their jobs. Giving a little higher tip than you did before is a great way to make sure they can survive the economic destruction of the pandemic. 

You could also really make a difference by giving a bigger percentage tip on the bill when your food doesn’t cost very much. For example, tipping 15% on a $12 omelet at a diner is only $1.80. Consider upping your tip to $5 to be kind and considerate to the server or waiting staff. 

#2 – Hairdressers

Hairdressers and barbers are more than just the people who cut our hair. These folks are highly skilled workers who give us advice on hair mistakes, groom our beards, and put on hair extensions. 

Many people form long-lasting relationships with their hairdressers. When you keep going back to the same person for a service, it feels right to give them a tip for going above and beyond after many years. 

If your hairdresser becomes more of a friend than just a service person, it may feel awkward to give them a tip. Think about giving them a gift card to their favorite restaurant or another present if you know what they like. 

Sometimes hairdressers and barbers become pillars of the community they are in. They are small business owners. Giving them a tip is a way to thank them for being a huge part of the local area. Without them, it would be really hard and inconvenient to cut our own hair. 

#3 – Fast-Food Workers

Some people who work in fast food have had to put up with a lot of poor behavior from customers during the pandemic. While fast-food workers have not been a field that is usually tipped, think about giving the workers at the fast-food restaurant some extra money as a thank-you for all they have done the past few years during the pandemic. 

With so many lockdowns and difficulties obtaining food, these workers helped keep the world running by going to work and making it easy for the rest of us to eat. You don’t have to do it every time, but a few extra bucks given to the person at the window would really make their day. 

#4 – Drivers

Driving has become one of the most prevalent jobs in the world during the pandemic. There are drivers who deliver food right to your door. There are drivers who deliver packages from Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers. And there are some driving professionals who have always been relevant in society, like tow truck drivers.

No matter what type of driver has done something to make your life easier, it would be much appreciated by them if you give a little bit of a tip. Much like fast-food workers, driving has been an even more valuable job during the pandemic. 

Companies have not always compensated their employees who drive for the stress and difficulty of making it to their destination on time. People who have a driver do something for them should view it the same way they would a waiter. 

The Verdict on Tips

It can be hard to determine who you should tip and who you should skip. All of these service jobs are prime examples of people who should be tipped, but what about some of the more lucrative service professions? 

Technically, people who work in medicine are providing a service to patients. Students are receiving time and knowledge from their teachers. Doctors and teachers are people we don’t typically give tips to. 

If you do give your teacher or doctor a tip, they might think of it as disrespectful. This is because the other jobs we have mentioned above are usually compensated with minimum wage. 

Think about whether the person you want to tip is already being given a good salary. If they are, you can opt not to tip. You can show appreciation in other ways, like a simple thank you. 

Author Bio:

Shawn Laib writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, AutoInsurance.org. He wants to help people understand the importance of tips in the U.S.