10 States Where Tipping Falls Flat (Including Illinois)
Tipping used to be a feel-good gesture. But in 2025, many Illinoisans feel pressured to tip in situations where it was previously unnecessary, and in amounts that are hard to swallow.
According to USA TODAY, the average tip Americans leave across the country is 18%.
Nevertheless, residents in several states, including Illinois, unapologetically leave well below that.
How does the amount you tip compare to fellow Illinoisans and beyond?
Methodology
USA TODAY harnessed its Financial Services team to conduct an online survey of 5,000 Americans in September 2023.
Their goal?
To collect data on the average tipping percentage residents in each state follow.
The following states tip the least, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.4 points. Browse through the slideshow below to see where each state stands. USA TODAY notes there’s 95% confidence in the results.
Tipping the Most
Now you know where residents tend to tip the least. But what about where they tip the most?
These are the top ten states where Americans are statistically the most generous with their tips.
Move through the following slideshow to see if the states you have in mind match the data.
No Income Correlation
While one might be inclined to think that higher-income states tip more, USA TODAY’s data shows this isn’t always true.
For example, California, the best tipping state, ranks in third place for the nation’s highest annual average wages.
In contrast, Missouri, the second-highest tipping state, ranks in the bottom twenty for average salaries.
Similarly, Illinois, the state with the lowest American tippers, is home to the twelfth-highest-earning individuals in the country.
Tipping Guilt
Over half of Americans believe too many places are asking for tips. They’re growing tired of it, with “tip fatigue” quickly becoming part of U.S. vocabulary.
According to USA TODAY’s study, 40% of Americans have tipped higher than they ordinarily would due to tipping guilt.
Furthermore, 67% of Americans reported either somewhat agreeing or strongly agreeing with the statement, “I feel societal pressure to tip more.”
“I’m Tipped Out”
The tip jar, or worse, the tip screen, has become a ubiquitous part of American life. These are some of the top reasons Americans don’t want to tip anymore.
“I’m Tipped Out.” 11 Reasons Americans No Longer Want To Tip
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The frustration you feel when pulling up to the pump and seeing a higher price is nothing new. Gas prices have had peaks and valleys since World War II, and they’ve disrupted Americans’ lives many times.
9 Times in History When Gas Prices Spiked to Crazy High Levels
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