quistion about minimum wage and tips?

Question

if you work in a job were u make tips, can u be payed less than minimum wage? and if so how much less?

Answer 1

Yes, jobs, like waitressing, have a much lower minimum wage because of tips. The minimum varies from state to state. I've heard where in some places, they'd get a base of $2.75 per hour, and the rest would be all tips.

Answer 2

Yes, tipped employees are paid far less than minimum wage. Usually in 2 to 3 dollar range. IF your wage + tips for the day does not equal to exceed the state's minimum wage, then, the employer has to make up the difference, thus guaranteeing you the minimum wage per day.

At the end of the day, a tipped employee MUST declare the tip amount he/she received, so your employer can determine this.

Answer 3

Yes, although it depends on which state you live in. In California, I think one would still earn the normal minimum wage ($6.75 or $7.50/hr) + whatever tips you make (at least at the restaurants I frequently go to). In other states, they go with the federal minimum wage.

Federal minimum wage can be found here:
http://www.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm

What is the minimum wage for workers who receive tips?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires payment of at least the federal minimum wage to covered, nonexempt employees. An employer of a tipped employee is only required to pay $2.13 an hour in direct wages if that amount plus the tips received equals at least the federal minimum wage, the employee retains all tips and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's direct wages of at least $2.13 an hour do not equal the federal minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference.

Some states have minimum wage laws specific to tipped employees. When an employee is subject to both the federal and state wage laws, the employee is entitled to the provisions which provides the greater benefits.

Information about your state's minimum wage can be found here:
http://www.dol.gov/esa/programs/whd/state/stateMinWageHis.htm