As of January of 2016, Washington, D.C. held the title for having the highest minimum wage — $10,50 per hour. In second place, California and Massachusetts were tied at $10.00. But if you work in some areas of the food industry, even in these forward-thinking states, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll see wages this high. Minimum wage food service facts specify that if you’re employed in a position where you regularly receive tips, for instance, your hourly wage could still be as low as $2.13 per hour, just so long as your tips bring you level with your state’s current minimum wage. If they don’t, then, by law, your employer is required to make up the difference.
So, if you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Do restaurants have to pay minimum wage?” the answer is a round-about yes. They do, but only after tips have been figured into the equation.
Tags: Food & Beverage