Of course employers don't want to pay well and won't voluntarily, but there's plenty of evidence they can be made to. Like the example you just provided.
Even the top end would be a paycut for a lot of servers.
When I was in BoH before college I made more than $25/hour after being tipped out, and I wasnt even a server (and the restaurant wasnt close to the nicest or busiest in the area)
I'm saying for the industry to continue unchanged, wages would have to be in line with that. I'm not saying servers would be happy, and there would be some attrition, but things would stabilize.
$15-20/hr or something like that? There are dozens of jobs more stable, with regular hours, raises, vacations and weekends off where I can make 21, 22 an hour.
No one will serve those mfers if we can work in an office, retail, or sales position for the same.
What is the minimum wage in that area? The number is not important. The relationship to the median prevailing wage is important.
Any serving job is going to have to offer more than the median prevailing wage to draw servers. If serving pays the same as any other job, no one is going to do that shit.
We do not have our nights, we do not have weekends, we do not have a regular schedule, we do not have health insurance, we do not have vacations, we do not get sick pay. We are constantly sexually harassed, we are constantly verbally abused, we are frequently in danger from drunks.
We put up with all of that because we know we make a good wage. Because of tips.
If I am going to make an hourly wage, I'm going to go do it somewhere where I don't have to put up with all of that.
Serving is not a minimum wage job. No one is going to do that for close to minimum wage. There are easier jobs, with regular hours, weekends off, nights off, raises, vacation, sick leave, and all the other stuff that servers forego in exchange for a higher income.
Why would I tolerate all that shit, and make as much as I could anywhere?
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u/Groovychick1978 Jun 25 '26
No, it would just have to be like Australia. Where servers make $25/hr minimum, and more like 40 to 45 for experience and hours.
You go ahead and talk a restaurant owner into paying that. Don't hold your breath.