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Comment by 0x445442 | Hacker News Reader

In addition to the other replies we have this interesting social custom in the U.S. where certain jobs have been arbitrarily recognized as worthy of extra compensation by the paying customers (tipping). So with a number of states raising minimum wage combined with tips and given the right conditions of cost of living, frugal living, and money management I could see it being pulled off.

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As a general rule, the minimum wage does not apply to "tipped" jobs.

"The American federal government requires a wage of at least $2.13 per hour be paid to employees that receive at least $30 per month in tips. If wages and tips do not equal the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour during any pay period, the employer is required to increase cash wages to compensate. As of May 2012, the average hourly wage – including tips – for a restaurant employee in the United States that received tip income was $11.82."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipped_wage_in_the_United_St...

I think that you're misreading that: it states that: a different minimum wage (but still a minimum wage) applies to workers earning tips; and the standard minimum wage still applies if their wages & tips are insufficient to equal the minimum wage.

In other words, the minimum wage does apply, and even with tips the employer must pay at least some money.

Everyone I know who's ever worked for tips has tended to make quite a lot, considering.

I'd much rather the real cost just be built in to the experience. However as a single participant in the market I don't have much real hope of affecting that outcome.

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