State-by-State Survey Reveals the Divide
A recent survey from USA Today Blueprint, conducted by OnePoll, reveals major differences in how Americans tip — depending on where they live, how much they earn, and even how old they are. With 5,000 people surveyed (100 per state), the findings are both eye-opening and a reminder of just how inconsistent and unsustainable tipping culture has become.
Key Findings
National average tip: 17.94% Top tipping state: California (22.69%) Lowest tipping state: Illinois (14.22%) Best tippers by age: Millennials, averaging 18.18% Income matters: The more you make, the more you tip
Tipping by State: Coastlines Lead, Midwest Lags
According to the data, coastal states tend to tip more generously than those in the middle of the country — with one big exception: Missouri, which comes in second nationwide.
Top 10 Best-Tipping States
These states average 20.54% across restaurant meals, delivery, personal care, and service-based interactions.
A $75 meal in California would average a $17.01 tip, bringing the total to $92.01 (before tax).
Bottom 10 Worst-Tipping States
A $75 bill in Illinois? That’s just a $10.66 tip — totaling $85.66 before tax.
Notably, four of the bottom 10 states still follow the federal tipped minimum wage of just $2.13 per hour, including Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Utah.
Tipping Fatigue Is Growing
Americans are tipping more often — and in more places — but not always because they want to.
Survey respondents said the top reasons they tip are:
Feeling the worker earned it Feeling expected to tip in certain industries
Feeling guilty if they didn’t
Other reasons included:
Wanting to support low-wage workers
Being familiar with how hard the job is
Showing appreciation for good service
What This Means for EndTippingCulture.org
This survey underscores what we already know: Tipping is not a fair or consistent way to compensate workers.
The difference between a 14% and 22% tip isn’t just about kindness — it’s about who’s responsible for paying wages. Tipped workers shouldn’t depend on geography or guilt to earn a livable income. We believe it’s time to move toward no-tip models, where businesses pay fair wages directly, and customers aren’t pressured at every turn.
Survey conducted by OnePoll from Sept. 11–25, 2023 with 5,000 respondents (100 per state). Margin of error: ±1.4%.