With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The Tipping Point: Californians Are "Picky" With Gratuities
Photo by joelogon via Flickr
How much cash do you throw the guys who towel-off your ride at the car wash? Do you scrutinize Yelp to pick a dinner spot where you're sure to get the star-treatment from the servers? If these are your predicaments, congratulations: You're on par with the "picky" tippers of California.
Data collected by survey by Marketplace ranks the states when it comes to the average tip left for certain services, like getting your daily Extra-hot Non-fat Mocha Lattechino at your local coffee shop or when you get your locks shorn at the salon. In California, our average tips break down as follows:
A $20 sit-down meal: $3.76 (18.8%)
Food Delivery: $3.73
Takeout: $0.85
Bellhop Service: $3.19
Haircut: $6.89
Cab Ride: $3.35
Coffee Shop: $0.59
Cleaning Services: $3.97
Yes, that's right: We value our haircuts and dry cleaning more than our Chinese food delivery guys or the folks who bring our $15 sandwiches to our table at lunchtime. Surprised?
Sponsored message
Incidentally, in New Hampshire the average diner tipped just under 25% for their $20 sit-down meal, and in South Carolina those dry cleaners are only getting an extra 40 cents for their efforts.
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
