The 8 States You Want To Wait Tables In

In a tweet during Friday's "Stolen Wages" episode premiere, producer Sam Black pointed out that some states make no distinction between tipped workers and non-tipped workers with regard to minimum wage. 

In these states, those who work in a restaurant, at a bar, or any other job where they would typically be "tipped," can expect to earn minimum wage and benefit from any state increases in that amount over time.

Compared to the $2.13 federal minimum cash wage for tipped workers - frozen at $2.13 for the past 20 years - tipped workers in these states can see up to 430% more money in each paycheck than those in states that adhere to the federal tipped worker minimum wage amount.

(Minimum wage for tipped workers in WA is $9.19.)

In the largest state, Alaska, tipped workers earn a minimum wage of $7.75. 

In California, the third largest and most populated state in the U.S., tipped workers earn a minimum wage of $8.00.

Additionally, last month, the California state legislature passed a bill approving a raise in minimum wage from $8 to $10 within three years. The increase will be done in two separate $1 increments. When implemented, California workers could have the highest minimum wage levels in the country.

This marks California's first minimum wage increase in six years.

In the U.S. territory Guam, tipped workers earn a minimum wage of $6.55. 

Although Minnesota makes no distinction between tipped and non-tipped workers, the state does distinguish between those working for "large" employers and those working for "small" employers. Minnesota defines a large employer as "an enterprise with annual receipts of $625,000".

So, workers for restaurants owned by large corporations like Darden Restaurants would be paid a minimum wage of $6.15. Those working for a smaller business, with receipts less than $625,000 a year would be paid $5.25.

Like Minnesota, Montana makes no distinction between tipped and non-tipped workers, but distinguishes between workers for large businesses and those who work for smaller businesses.

In Montana, businesses with gross annual sales over $110,000 are required to pay their workers a minimum wage of $7.80, smaller business must pay workers a minimum wage of $4.00.

Nevada requires that both tipped and non-tipped workers earn the same minimum wage but makes a distinction between employers that provide health insurance benefits to its employees and those who do not. 

Business that do not provide their workers with health insurance benefits are required to pay workers a minimum wage of $8.25, while those who provide such benefits are required to pay a minimum wage of $7.25.

In Oregon, tipped workers earn a minimum wage of $8.95. 

In Washington, tipped workers earn a minimum wage of $9.19, the highest minimum wage rate out of all U.S. states and territories.