According to the US Department of Labor, states vary in how much the minimum wage is for tipped employees (which are federally defined as employees who regularly receive at least $30 in tips each month).
- As low as federal tipped minimum wage ($2.13/hr). e.g. Texas
- Somewhere between federal tipped minimum wage and full state minimum wage, e.g. Florida ($5.03/hr)
- Full state minimum wage, e.g. Minnesota ($7.25), California ($10.00)
I understand that part of the reason to tip employees is to supplement their low income, but if they are already being paid minimum wage, that seems like an odd thing to do since non-tipped employees in the establishment (busboys and such) probably make the same amount, but don't get tips.
Do I tip higher in Texas where they are being paid $2.13/hr? Do I tip lower in California where they are being paid $10.00/hr?
I do not think that this is a duplicate of How much to tip in the United States? because that question is about the general practice of tipping in the United States and how much to give in various industries. It does not ask about differences between states within the US, like this question does.