Texas' minimum wage for tipped workers stays the same...

We've received some calls today from restaurant waitstaff, wondering how much of a pay raise they're getting with the minimum wage hike. The answer is, their wage will not rise.

Texas and 17 other states set the minimum wage rate for tipped workers at $2,13 per hour, with tips supposed to make up the difference. If tips don't bring the actual wage up to the federally required minimum wage for everybody else, which just rose to $7.25 per hour Friday, then the restaurant owner must make up the difference. In practice, experts say this rarely comes into play.

Tipped workers have advocates on their side who want Congress to up their base pay rate. Here's a link to a report on the topic from the National Employment Law Project, which looks at minimum wage rates and practices for tipped workers in the 50 states.

- Scott Nishimura

Comments

[Annie]

I have quick question. I thought this law doesn't applied to people who are training since they don't get any tips. Is it legal to pay employees $1.00 per hour during training?

[superdry shop]

everybody else, which just rose to $7.25 per hour Friday, then the restaurant owner must make up the difference. In practice, experts say this rarely comes into play.