Tip jar.

10 States with the Lowest Tipping Rates at Restaurants

Tipping used to be a feel-good gesture. But in 2024, many Americans 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 unapologetically leave well below that.

How does the amount you tip compare to residents in your state and beyond?

Methodology

Empty tip jar.
Photo Credit: Angela Allen/Wirestock via stock.adobe.com.

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. USA TODAY notes there’s 95% confidence in the results.

Watermill in Rockford, Illinois.

1: Illinois

Photo Credit: maksymowicz via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 14.22%

Swamp area in Mississippi.

2: Mississippi

Photo Credit: Pierre-Jean DURIEU via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 14.98%

Palmetto palms line shore of Intracoastal Waterway at sunset in South Carolina.

3: South Carolina

Photo Credit: TRAVEL EASY via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 15.13%

Hot air balloons flying in Albuquerque.

4: New Mexico

Photo Credit: Emeric's Timelapse via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 15.32%

Cloudy sunset over Tennessee mountains.

5: Tennessee

Photo Credit: marknortona via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 15.4%

Bison grazing.

6: Oklahoma

Photo Credit: Phoenix via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 15.51%

Winding road through Wisconsin countryside.

7: Wisconsin

Photo Credit: Jason via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 15.78%

Overlook at sunrise in North Dakota national park.

8: North Dakota

Photo Credit: Zak Zeinert via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 16.05%

Sandstone Falls in Hinton, West Virginia.

9: West Virginia

Photo Credit: Lori via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 16.16%

Arches Nationl Park, North Window, Utah.

10: Utah

Photo Credit: aheflin via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 16.23%

Tipping the Most

Woman at a coffee shop looking at money.
Photo Credit: mtrlin via stock.adobe.com.

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.

1: California

Photo Credit: fertatay via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 22.69%

Fishing in a river.

2: Missouri

Photo Credit: Kyle Spradley via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 22.05%

Boardwalk in St. Petersburg, Florida.

3: Florida

Photo Credit: Nazir via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 21.68%

Arizona desert.

4: Arizona

Photo Credit: TomR via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 20.66%

Middletown, Rhode Island.

5: Rhode Island

Photo Credit: Faina Gurevich via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 20.5%

Washington snow covered mountains and evergreens next to lake.

6: Washington

Photo Credit: SoisudaS via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 20.23%

Mountains and lake in Colorado.

7: Colorado

Photo Credit: Sean Xu via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 19.85%

Farm in Pennsylvania.

8: Pennsylvania

Photo Credit: Bob via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 19.64%

Berlin, Connecticut.

9: Connecticut

Photo Credit: duke2015 via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 19.14%

Live oak trees in Savannah, Georgia.

10: Georgia

Photo Credit: Wollwerth Imagery via stock.adobe.com.

Average tip: 19.0%

No Income Correlation

Tall Californian palm trees.
Photo Credit: marchello74 via stock.adobe.com.

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

Photo Credit: pashyksv via stock.adobe.com.

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.”

9 Countries Where Tipping Is Rude or Uncommon

A small tip on a plate.
Photo Credit: oleg_chumakov via stock.adobe.com.

Since when did tipping your local coffee shop barista 20% become the norm? If you’re tired of American tipping practices, you just might want to visit (and perhaps move to) one of these countries.

9 Countries Where Tipping Is Rude or Uncommon

25 Most Expensive Cities

San Diego skyline.
Photo Credit: Tomasz Zajda via stock.adobe.com.

Do you live in or are considering moving to one of the most expensive cities in America? These are the top 25 cities that’ll do a (lower) number on your bank account.

25 Most Expensive Cities in the U.S.

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