Tipped employees must receive a minimum wage of $2.13 per hour, known as a cash wage. That cash wage is combined with tips to reach the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Employers can credit up to $5.12 per hour in tips against a worker's earnings. If an employee’s wages (at least $2.13 per hour) plus tips is less than $7.25 per hour, their employer is required to make up the difference. Tips are considered a “tip credit,” which allows employers to pay employees below the federal minimum wage.

The minimum wage in PA was 2.25 for waitstaff in 2000. Currently its 7.25/hr. I think we can all agree that waiting on a table is a little more complex than bagging groceries esp when you consider this wage law applies to any restaurant in any category.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/tipped-minimum-wa...