Q: Ok I an clueless and just got hired as a hostess which will pay $8 plus tips. They want me to lean the menu so I can serve. I have not asked just yet what that pays, but what do the average servers make per hour with tips. This place serves home cooked miles, like say a Dennys. I hear places do not have to pay min wage so how do they figure what to pay their servers. Sorry forgot to add, I live in San Diego and min wage here is $8 an hour. So for now I would get that plus the divided tips. I guess I will have to muster up the courage and ask what she pays the servers per hour. Now I can see why she wants me to become a server asap. I could handle being just a hostess. I am only doing this for something to do and not for the money cause I am self-employed and good money working part-time. Wow after reading some of your answers, I have seen ads where servers get min plus tips. So I guess that is good. I've seen them on craigs list paying min. Its amazing how different this can be. I think for everyone who serves should get min wage in their state. This is not easy work and you have to be on your toes. Its a very stressful job indeed and anything less than be paid min. is awful even when you get tips cause I see you have to divide it amost others. Thank You all. Like I said I am clueless to this kind of work but am getting educated real quick. Also, thank you all for not making fun of some of my miss spelling here.
A: $2.13 per hour is the standardwage for tipped employees. It's called "tip credit" and can vary slightly per state laws. If you don't make (or don't declare) enough in tips every pay period to bring this up to minimum wage, then the restaurant has to make up the difference. There are several states (CA is one of them) that mandate that servers are paid the state minimum wage in addition to their tips. :-) You'll make a lot more as a waitress than as a hostess...how much more depends on the price point of your restaurant and how good your serving (and SELLING) skills are.