CLEAR LAKE – Even with the opportunity to use a “tipping screen” to leave a low-wage-earner a little extra, many Iowans are opting out or leaving peanuts, angering servers, sandwich makers and others just trying to make a living, and now Hawkeye-state-dwellers have gotten a reputation as total cheapskates, according to a new study.
Tipping used to be reserved for certain services, but now it’s expected, or at least prompted, almost everywhere consumers spend money.A new study highlights just how much Americans shell out on tips.
Tipping screens are everywhere these days, according to Lending Tree, and how consumers feel about them varies just as much as how much they tip. Lending Tree found that Americans spent $78 billion on tips, and not-surprisingly, Iowa residents are the 10th-worst tippers in the country.
LendingTree analyzed data to find how much Americans spend on tips and which states are the best and worst tippers. Here’s a quick look at the report:
Americans spent a total of $77.6 billion on tips. On average, they tipped 15.02% at full-service restaurants. At limited-service restaurants, bars, and similar establishments, the average tip was 6.75%.
Iowa residents are the 10th-worst tippers in the country, leaving an average tip of just 5.60%.
(These percentages include tips for full-service restaurants, limited-service restaurants, and drinking establishments, among others.)
New Hampshire residents are the best tippers in the country, leaving an average tip of 16.07%. They’re followed by the District of Columbia at 12.65% and South Carolina at 11.17%.
You can view the full study here.