Tipping Trends Reveal Surprising Generosity Across Southern States

Do you consider yourself a big tipper? I do ok. But I only tip big if I get friendly service. If you act like you could care less about me and my party, you're getting a standard tip. Louisiana is not among the most generous states for servers. In fact, we are in the bottom third for big tippers.

The latest data from the restaurant-tech platform Toast, has some surprises for top tippers in the nation. The numbers show the national average for tipping has held steady at 19.2%.

Are Southerners Big Tippers?

Several southern states are quite generous. Kentucky residents tip 20.4%, tips in South Carolina average 20.1%, Alabama tips average 19.2% while Tennessee tips 19.1%. The average tip in Louisiana is 18.6%.

Delaware residents are the biggest tippers in the nation at 21.8%.

California is at the bottom of the list with tips averaging only 17.2%.

Top 10 Tipping States

Delaware (21.8%)
West Virginia (20.5%)
New Hampshire (20.4%)
Indiana (20.4%)
Kentucky (20.3%)
Ohio (20.2%)
South Carolina (20.1%)
Pennsylvania (20.1%)
Iowa (20.0%)
Maine (20.0%)

Bottom 10 Tipping States

California (17.2%)
Washington (17.6%)
District of Columbia (17.8%)
Nevada (18.1%)
Florida (18.2%)
New Jersey (18.4%)
New York (18.5%)
Oregon (18.5%)
Louisiana (18.6%)
Texas (18.7%)

Another tidbit in this report shows the average tip at fast food restaurants is 15%. This is stunning to me. Are people really tipping this much at burger and chicken joints? I sure don't. And I DON'T tip at a drive-through window.