14 Things Every Diner Who's Never Worked In The Restaurant Industry Should Know

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Servers Make As Little As $2.13 Per Hour

Servers in the US who rely on tipped wages can sometimes make as little as $2.13/hour, depending on the state. Combined with tips, they are legally supposed to earn the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour during any week. If this requirement is not met, restaurants are obligated to make up the difference with cash wages. Now, say a server works 35 hours per week. Based on the minimum wage, their monthly income technically equates to $1,015, give or take. That means servers rely more on tips for their livelihood than on their hourly wages. It's uncommon for servers to make the bare minimum, but just be aware that their income does depend on your generosity.