Tipping Etiquette for 10 Holiday Helpers

When and How to Say Thanks

By Bridget Quigg, PayScale.com

Tipping this holiday season may sound too fancy for your budget. But, when you consider that many of the people you tip get anywhere from 8 to 68 percent of their income from tips, you may want to give these helpful folks a break. Use the list below to update your tipping etiquette for the most common service providers. To view tipping etiquette for other service related jobs, you can check out our full tipping chart.

1. Tipping Etiquette for a Bartender
Base Pay Per Hour: $7.30
Tips Per Hour: $10.30
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 59%

Fortunately for this service provider, we all tend to get a little more generous as the night goes on. But, it's a good thing when you consider that bartenders are getting the majority of their income from the extra dollars we place on the bar. Typical tip: 10-15 percent of the bar bill

2. Tipping Etiquette for a Waiter/Waitress
Base Pay Per Hour: $4.60
Tips Per Hour: $9.90
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 68%

Wow, nearly 70 percent of your waiter's income is based on that tip that you give. So, if you think that a bottle of wine would make a nice addition to your steak dinner, be ready to pay the service charge along with it. Typical tip: 15-20 percent of the bill, 20 percent at fine restaurants or if you have a large group

3. Tipping Etiquette for a Massage Therapist
Base Pay Per Hour: $26.30
Tips Per Hour: $4.80
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 15%

Between lugging heavy shopping bags, traveling thousands of miles and trying to tolerate your family's funky quirks, you may be a little tense. Wouldn't a rejuvenating rub down clear you mind? Typical tip: 10-20 percent of the total, 20 percent if it is a really great massage

4. Tipping Etiquette for a Hairstylist
Base Pay Per Hour: $9.90
Tips Per Hour: $3.50
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 26%

Oh, if you could only get that perfect cut and color before those annual holiday get-togethers. You can! Just remember that your hairstylist relies on you to provide nearly 30 percent of their income. Typical tip: 15 percent of the total

5. Tipping Etiquette for a Concierge
Base Pay Per Hour: $13.80
Tips Per Hour: $1.50 
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 10%

How about an evening in the big city, complete with a hotel stay, a stage show and a romantic table for two? It sounds nice but could require some planning. Let your concierge do all the work and then make sure to say thanks. Typical tip: $5-10 is average, more for special services or favors

6. Tipping Etiquette for a Doorman
Base Pay Per Hour: $11.00
Tips Per Hour: $4.90 
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 31%

Nothing is quite as exciting as getting dressed up to go out on the town then having the front door magically swing open in front of you as the doorman whistles for your taxi. How much does he deserve for this luxurious treatment? Typical tip: $1 dollar or more for help with luggage or finding a taxi on the street   

7. Tipping Etiquette for a Parking Attendant
Base Pay Per Hour: $8.90
Tips Per Hour: $3.70 
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tip: 29%

You toss them the keys and when they toss them back, how much do they get? Typical tip: $1-2, depending on how far they travel to get your car

8. Tipping Etiquette for a Van Driver
Base Pay Per Hour: $10.20
Tips Per Hour: $1.30 
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 11%

Whether you're off to visit grandpa and grandma or are helping coordinate their arrival at your house, you will likely need to tip an airport or hotel van driver. Typical tip: $1 or more per bag, especially if they help you with your luggage

9. Tipping Etiquette for a Musician/Singer
Base Pay Per Hour: $49.10
Tips Per Hour: $4.10 
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 8%

No holiday party is complete without a jazzy guitar riff playing in the background or a bright-lipped brunette cooing about winter. But, what are these pleasant sounds worth? Typical tip: $35-75 per person

10. Tipping Etiquette for a Taxi Driver
Base Pay Per Hour: $16.10
Tips Per Hour: $4.40 
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 21%

Taxi drivers zig-zag through congested main strips and zoom along back roads to get you there on time. What sort of tip do they deserve? Typical tip: 15 percent of fare, $1 per bag up to 5 bags, $2 per bag for 5 or more bags or if bags are very heavy (50 lbs. each)

So, check out our tipping chart, keep this list handy and also keep a generous outlook as you head into the holidays. If you practice good tipping etiquette it helps make the season more jolly for everyone!

Source: Median base pay per hour, median tip per hour and percent of total hourly income in tips data are provided by Payscale.com.
Source: Tipping data are provided by The Original Tipping Page.

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