Tag Archives: amount of money

I’m talking take-home pay, the amount of money that the server will actually have in the checking account each week to pay bills with, given the following variables…
1) This server works in a nicer, three-star restaurant with terrific food and a great, reasonably priced wine list, and a hip, elegant bar.
2) This server carries Health Insurance through the restaurant.
3) This server orders $800 worth of food and beverages per shift, and works 5 shifts per week.
4) 95% of the patrons pay (and tip) on a credit card.
5) This server is remarkably knowledgeable about the nuances of different foods served in the restaurant, and is able to choose just the right wine for each individual’s meal and personal taste, and is requested by name at least once per shift by returning patrons.
6) This server is paid the US standard $2.13/hour by the restaurant.
7) This server’s restaurant requires that the busser, bartender, and host staff each receive 1%(3% total) of each server’s sales as a tip
The real purpose of this question is to see whether anyone out there has a clue as to how their tipping habits (in the face of a great meal and service) impact a server’s income, and what that income actually is. I think that there are a lot of people out there who are duped into thinking that these folks either make an undeserved fortune, or, conversely, are doing little in the way of “real” work and should be happy earning little in the way of “real” income. Somebody’s going to earn 10 points, here, so if you get out a pen and piece of paper, it could be you. HINT: Count on total taxation to be about 35% including FICA, and know that health insurance premiums run about $50/week.