What state has the worst tippers in America? The answer may surprise you
Residents of New York and New Jersey are among the stingiest tippers in America, despite boasting some of the nation's highest incomes and priciest restaurant tabs, a new 2025 study shows.
The Garden State ranked 35th out of 40 states studied with an average 19.5% gratuity, while New York came in 34th at 19.1% — based on full-service restaurant transactions — landing both near the bottom of BLogic Systems' 2025 'Generosity Index.'
Advertisement
4 New Yorkers and New Jerseyans are among the stingiest tippers in America, despite having some of the nation's highest incomes and priciest restaurant tabs, new study shows.
Andrii Lysenko – stock.adobe.com
The index, created by the payment processing company, doesn't just measure how much people tip — it weighs average tip percentage against after-tax income to show which states are the most generous relative to what residents are earning.
That formula dragged down high-income, high-cost states like New York and New Jersey — because tipping more doesn't count for much if your paycheck is bigger too.
Advertisement
That's why West Virginia — where an average tip was 21% — made the top of the list. Diners in rural, lower-per capita income states fared far better than their wealthier counterparts.
4 That formula dragged down high-income, high-cost states like New York and New Jersey — because tipping more doesn't count for much if your paycheck is bigger too.
New Africa – stock.adobe.com
Kentucky was a close second at 20.7%.
California came in dead last, with an average tip of just 17.8%, and the lowest generosity score in the country. New York and New Jersey weren't far behind, joined by other high-income, service-heavy states like Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Advertisement
It will be a tall order asking New Yorkers to fork over more to move up the index, because tipping fatigue is real.
'Tip fatigue is a real phenomena,' said etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, founder of The Protocol School of Texas. 'People are frustrated when being asked to tip on everything from a cup of coffee to a drive-through bagel.'
4 California came in dead last, with an average tip of just 17.8%, and the lowest generosity score in the country. Meanwhile rural states like West Virginia and Kentucky topped the list.
Kalim – stock.adobe.com
'Etiquette dictates that you show gratitude for good service,' she added. 'But asking for 20 and 25% on a quick counter exchange is not necessary.'
Advertisement
More than 80% of Americans say tipping has gotten out of control, according to a 2024 PlayUSA survey used in BLogic's analysis.
Adding to the fatigue? Both states report higher median hourly earnings for waitstaff — $22.30 in New York and $18.60 in New Jersey, according to federal labor data — which may make some customers feel less pressure to tack on more.
The BLogic study used 2025 data on tipping percentages, wage rates, disposable income and public sentiment on 'tipping fatigue' to paint a state-by-state picture of modern tipping behavior.
4 More than 80% of Americans say tipping has gotten out of control, as businesses continue to request tips on 'everything from a cup of coffee to a drive-through bagel.'
seanlockephotography – stock.adobe.com
Jay Zagorsky, economist at Boston University Questrom School of Business, said the study shows just how pricey dining out in the Empire State can be. He pointed to federal data showing New York's meal costs and per diem rates are among the highest in the country.
'A 19% tip on a $100 New York City meal is a much larger [dollar amount] than a 21% tip on a similar meal costing $50 in the heartland,' he told The Post. 'Any waiter or bartender good at math should love a 1 or 2 percent reduction in exchange for a bill that is 35% higher.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
16 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Iconic candy bar launches 3 new flavors to win back customers
In 2023, households across the country spent an average of $164 on candy and chewing gum, which is 31.2% higher than in 2022, and a staggering 86.4% more than in 2013, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics. This doesn't just suggest that Americans are eating more candy; rather, it suggests that the price of sweets has dramatically increased, driven by inflation, higher labor costs, and other factors. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Over the last few years, consumers have been raising concerns about candy companies' new trend of shrinking packages and raising prices. One post on Reddit from two years ago reveals an image of a piece of tiramisu, with the consumer saying that the price for the piece is close to the cost of the entire cake. Despite rising costs and new health trends among younger generations, the U.S. candy market is not subsiding. It was valued at $16.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $23.2 billion by 2032. After all, there's nothing more comforting than your favorite candy. Especially that first bite after a long craving. For some, it feels like a drug. According to Food Republic, Mars Inc.'s Snickers is the best-selling candy bar in the world. However, it is not everyone's favorite. That's why the candy bar market is constantly evolving, with new treats being launched regularly. Butterfinger is an iconic candy, and its combination of a "crispety, crunchety, peanut buttery" bar dressed with a thick chocolatey layer seems to hit the spot for a large group of sweet tooths. Related: Pepsi copies Coca-Cola to win back health-conscious consumers In 2018, the Ferrero Group, known for legendary brands Nutella, Kinder, Tic Tac, and Ferrero Rocher, acquired Butterfinger for $2.8 billion in cash. Ferrero has a history of innovations and product launches. Just recently, it revealed the first Nutella innovation in over 60 years: Nutella Peanut, which will be available in spring 2026. The brand recently released the Salted Caramel Butterfinger, and some consumers raved about it on Reddit. Several posts on different threads claim that the new candy is far better than any other Butterfinger. Some said they can't wait for the remaining two new flavors to become available. Butterfinger will roll out the new Marshmallow flavor in mid-August, and next year, consumers will be in for a treat with a special French Toast flavor. The Marshmallow flavor is said to include the candy bar's signature crispy, peanut butter-concentrated filling wrapped in a white chocolate coating with a marshmallow flavor. It's basically a familiar and beloved format with a twist. More Retail: Supermarket inflation: Beef prices soar as egg prices fallLevi's shares plan to beat tariffs, keep holiday prices downAmazon's quiet pricing twist on tariffs stuns shoppers According to comments, consumers are most excited about the French Toast Butterfinger flavor set to roll out early in 2026. This just might be a good move for the candy brand to regain customers. After Ferrero took over the Butterfinger from Nestle, many consumers turned away, arguing that the beloved candy bar just didn't taste the same anymore. "They used to be my all time fav candy, but now I don't even like them. I miss the old recipe so much," one consumer wrote on Reddit. Another one didn't comment on the new ones, but expressed nostalgia for the old one that was "unique and replicable." However, as tastes differ, not everyone agrees that the reformulated Butterfinger is inferior to the original. Some buyers even argue that the candy is now better. Related: Target delights shoppers with savings event, 30% discounts "I actually prefer them now that Ferrero took over. They don't have this cloying chemical flavor, the chocolatey coating actually melts, and it doesn't stick in your teeth." When the reformulated Butterfinger was introduced in 2019, it faced considerable consumer backlash, but eventually, it was a success, with sales reportedly improving 17.7%, according to BackThenHistory. However, looking at the myriad of comments, some consumers still crave the original Butterfinger, which means Ferrero has room for improvement to win back those customers. Perhaps these new flavors will do the trick, as consumers will be expecting something brand new rather than something old and familiar. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Los Angeles Times
16 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
How the E.U. trade deal wards off more escalation but could raise costs for companies and consumers
U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have announced a sweeping trade deal that imposes 15% tariffs on most European goods, warding off Trump's threat of a 30% rate if no deal had been reached by Aug. 1. The tariffs, or import taxes, paid when Americans buy European products could raise prices for U.S. consumers and dent profits for European companies and their partners who bring goods into the country. Here are some things to know about the trade deal between the United States and the European Union: Trump and von der Leyen's announcement, made during Trump's visit to one of his golf courses in Scotland, leaves many details to be filled in. The headline figure is a 15% tariff rate on about 70% of European goods brought into the U.S., including cars, computer chips and pharmaceuticals. It's lower than the 20% that Trump initially proposed, and lower than his threats of 50% and then 30%. The remaining 30% is still open to further decisions and negotiations. Von der Leyen said that the two sides agreed on zero tariffs on both sides for a range of 'strategic' goods: Aircraft and aircraft parts, certain chemicals, semiconductor equipment, certain agricultural products and some natural resources and critical raw materials. Specifics were lacking. She said that the two sides 'would keep working' to add more products to the list. Additionally, EU companies would purchase what Trump said was $750 billion (638 billion euros) worth of natural gas, oil and nuclear fuel over three years to replace Russian energy supplies that Europe is seeking to exit in any case. Meanwhile, European companies would invest an additional $600 billion (511 billion euros) in the U.S. under a political commitment that isn't legally binding, officials said. Brussels and Washington will shortly issue a joint statement that frames the deal but isn't yet legally binding, according to senior officials who weren't authorized to be publicly named according to European Commission policy. The joint statement will have 'some very precise commitments and others which will need to be spelled out in different ways,' a senior European Commission official said. EU officials said that the zero tariff list would include nuts, pet food, dairy products and seafood. Trump said that the 50% U.S. tariff on imported steel would remain. Von der Leyen said that the two sides agreed to further negotiations to fight a global steel glut, reduce tariffs and establish import quotas — that is, set amounts that can be imported, often at a lower rate or tariff-free. Trump said that pharmaceuticals weren't included in the deal. Von der Leyen said that the pharmaceuticals issue was 'on a separate sheet of paper' from Sunday's deal. And von der Leyen said that when it came to farm products, the EU side made clear that 'there were tariffs that could not be lowered,' without specifying which products. The 15% rate removes Trump's threat of a 30% tariff. But it effectively raises the tariff on EU goods from 1.2% last year to 17% and would reduce the 27-nation's gross domestic product by 0.5%, said Jack Allen-Reynolds, deputy chief eurozone economist at Capital Economics. Higher tariffs, or import taxes, on European goods mean sellers in the U.S. would have to either increase prices for consumers — risking loss of market share — or swallow the added cost in terms of lower profits. The higher tariffs are expected to hurt export earnings for European firms and slow the economy. Von der Leyen said that the 15% rate was 'the best we could do' and credited the deal with maintaining access to the U.S. market, and providing 'stability and predictability for companies on both sides.' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the deal which avoided 'an unnecessary escalation in trans-Atlantic trade relations' and said that 'we were able to preserve our core interests,' while adding that 'I would have very much wished for further relief in trans-Atlantic trade.' Senior French officials on Monday criticized the accord. Strategy Commissioner Clément Beaune said that the deal failed to reflect the bloc's economic strength. 'This is an unequal and unbalanced agreement,' he said. 'Europe didn't wield its strength. We are the world's leading trading power.' While the rate is lower than threatened, 'the big caveat to today's deal is that there is nothing on paper, yet,' said Carsten Brzeski, global chief of macro at ING bank. 'With this disclaimer in mind and at face value, (the) agreement would clearly bring an end to the uncertainty of recent months. An escalation of the U.S.-EU trade tensions would have been a severe risk for the global economy,' Brzeski said. 'This risk seems to have been avoided.' Asked if European carmakers could still sell cars at 15%, von der Leyen said the rate was much lower than the current 27.5%. That has been the rate under Trump's 25% tariff on cars from all countries, plus the preexisting U.S. car tariff of 2.5%. The impact is likely to be substantial on some companies, given that automaker Volkswagen said that it suffered a 1.3 billion-euro ($1.5 billion) hit to profits in the first half of the year from the higher tariffs. Mercedes-Benz dealers in the U.S. have said they were holding the line on 2025 model year prices 'until further notice.' The German automaker has a partial tariff shield, because it makes 35% of the Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold in the U.S. in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, but the company said that it expects prices to undergo 'significant increases' in coming years. Before Trump returned to office, the U.S. and the EU maintained generally low tariff levels in what is the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world, with around 1.7 trillion euros ($2 trillion) in annual trade. Together the U.S. and the EU have 44% of the global economy. The U.S. rate averaged 1.47% for European goods, while the EU has averaged 1.35% for American products, according to the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. Trump has complained about the EU's 198 billion-euro ($232.5 billion) trade surplus in goods, which shows Americans buy more from European businesses than the other way around, and has said that the European market isn't open enough for U.S.-made cars. However, American companies fill some of the trade gap by outselling the EU when it comes to services such as cloud computing, travel bookings and legal and financial services. And about 30% of European imports are from American-owned companies, according to the European Central Bank. McHugh and McNeil write for the Associated Press.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
I Asked ChatGPT: What Would Happen If Elon Musk's Wealth Was Evenly Distributed Across America?
Elon Musk's net worth recently broke $400 billion, although it dropped back down to $364 billion as of this writing in mid-July, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index. Much of this wealth is held in shares of Tesla stock; Musk owns 13% of the company, according to This means the tech mogul's net worth fluctuates wildly based on Tesla's success. It can be hard to fathom having so much money that losing $40 billion overnight is just an average day. But what if Musk shared all his money with everyone in the U.S.? Would it change people's lives? We asked ChatGPT what would happen if Elon Musk's wealth was evenly distributed across America. Check Out: Read Next: Elon Musk's Wealth Spread Out Across the US Calling it a 'fun thought experiment,' ChatGPT first broke down the math for me based on data I provided from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Federal Reserve. Elon Musk's net worth: $364 billion U.S. population: 340.11 million $364,000,000,000 ÷ 340,110,000 = approximately $1,070.36 per person So, if Elon Musk's entire net worth were evenly distributed among everyone in the U.S., each person would get about $1,070. Learn More: Do You Want To Be a 'Thousandaire'? Summarizing exactly what would change in everyday life for most Americans, ChatGPT said, 'not much.' The AI added, 'It could help pay down a small debt, cover a rent payment or buy groceries for a couple months.' ChatGPT's numbers were a bit off, since the average rent across all bedrooms and property types is $2,100, according to The AI was more accurate with grocery costs, since USDA figures suggest a family of four would spend $995 per month on a 'thrifty' food plan, while a single adult could spend anywhere from roughly $250 per month to $468 per month, depending on their age, gender and whether they choose a 'thrifty,' 'low-cost,' 'moderate' or 'liberal' plan. But the spirit of ChatGPT's assessment was correct. 'It's not life-changing money for most people. It's more of a temporary boost than a systemic solution to economic inequality,' it said. Economic Ripples While the extra cash could help families, it could also create short-term inflation, similar to what the U.S. experienced during the pandemic, according to ChatGPT. 'Flooding the economy with that much money — even just $1,070 per person — could cause short-term inflation, especially if everyone spent it at once. Think of how stimulus checks impacted spending during the pandemic,' ChatGPT surmised. However, during the pandemic, American families received a total of $814 billion, more than double Musk's total wealth. I pressed ChatGPT on this point, sharing that tax refunds, which averaged more than $3,000 per tax return in 2025, don't cause short-term inflation. ChatGPT shifted its stance: 'Inflation mainly needs larger, sustained demand increases, often alongside supply constraints — like during the pandemic,' it said. It would be more like we all received an unexpected tax refund, courtesy of Mr. Musk. And since it falls under the IRS limit for gifts, it would be tax-free. The Ethics However, there are still issues with redistributing the massive wealth of a single individual. ChatGPT was correct on this point. 'There's no legal or ethical mechanism to seize and redistribute wealth like this in the U.S.,' ChatGPT said. Plus, as the generative AI pointed out, 'Most of his wealth isn't liquid, so pulling it off would be like trying to cash in stock in a company while crashing its value at the same time.' So…What About Elon? Now that we know that redistributing Musk's wealth wouldn't really move the needle for most people, it was tempting to ask ChatGPT: 'What would be likely to happen to Elon AND Tesla, SpaceX, X and all his kids if he suddenly woke up broke?' 'Let's play it out,' ChatGPT said. 'Musk wakes up broke, just like the rest of us, with a crisp $1,070 in his Venmo account. $1,070 might cover a week's worth of organic formula and one tutoring session, at best. Grimes and the other moms might have thoughts. Or lawsuits.' As for Musk's companies, ChatGPT said, 'Tesla and SpaceX might survive — but the myth of Musk probably wouldn't. His companies could stabilize under new leadership, but his personal brand would take the biggest hit.' He continued, 'Elon waking up broke would be the ultimate test of the 'bootstraps' myth. Would he rebuild an empire from scratch, or fade into Silicon Valley obscurity? He's undeniably brilliant, but success like his also depends on timing, luck and access — all things he wouldn't have as a broke guy with a dozen kids. More likely? He'd be doing TED Talks and writing a bestselling book titled 'How I Lost $364 Billion and Found Myself.'' Final Words From ChatGPT We rounded out the conversation getting serious again. Would redistributing Elon Musk's wealth really help Americans? 'A one-time boost like that might help with a bill or two — but it also shows how wealth redistribution from a single billionaire wouldn't solve systemic issues,' the AI wisely concluded. 'Real change comes from better wages, smarter policy and long-term solutions — not just dividing up Musk's stock portfolio.' More From GOBankingRates Are You Rich or Middle Class? 8 Ways To Tell That Go Beyond Your Paycheck This article originally appeared on I Asked ChatGPT: What Would Happen If Elon Musk's Wealth Was Evenly Distributed Across America? Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
