Tipping in Pennsylvania

Last reviewed October 2026

Pennsylvania Tipping Laws in 2026: Quick Facts

In effect since July 24, 2009

Pennsylvania Minimum Wage

$7.25 per hour (same as the federal minimum wage)² ³

Pennsylvania Tipped Minimum Wage

$2.83 per hour¹

Maximum Tip Credit

$4.42 per hour³

Who Qualifies as a Tipped Employee?

An employee who earns at least $135 per month in tips¹

Are Tip Pools Allowed?

Yes, with restrictions¹

Are Mandatory Service Charges Tips?

No. For banquets and special events, businesses must state that service fees aren't tips.¹

Can Employers Keep Employee Tips?

No¹

Can Credit Card Fees Be Taken From Tips?

No¹

Pennsylvania has its own rules for wages and tips, and its Gettysburg battlefield tours, Amish Country buggy rides, and Pocono resorts create tipping situations many visitors may not be familiar with.

Work in Pennsylvania? Learn about Pennsylvania's tipping laws, minimum wage, tip pools, and your rights when it comes to tips.

Visiting Pennsylvania? Explore popular Pennsylvania experiences where tipping is common and see what customers and workers report about tipping.

What Is Pennsylvania's Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees?

A tip credit lets an employer count part of an employee's tips toward the minimum wage, so it can pay a lower hourly wage as long as tips make up the difference.

Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, the same as the federal rate.² Employers can pay tipped workers $2.83 per hour, which is higher than the federal tipped wage of $2.13, but only if the worker earns at least $135 a month in tips.¹

Side Work and the Tip Credit

Pennsylvania limits how much non-tipped work a tipped employee can do at the tipped wage. If a worker spends more than 20% of their weekly hours on duties that don't directly earn tips, the employer must pay the full minimum wage for the time beyond that 20%.¹

Who Owns Tips in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, tips belong to the employee who receives them, including tips left by card.¹ Managers, supervisors, and employers can keep a tip only when they personally provided the entire service.¹

Are Tip Pools Allowed in Pennsylvania?

A tip pool is an arrangement where employees' tips are combined and shared among a group, such as servers, bussers, and bartenders.

Yes, with these rules:¹

• With a tip credit: If any pool member is paid the tipped wage, the pool can include only workers in jobs that customarily and regularly receive tips.
• Without a tip credit: If everyone in the pool earns at least the full minimum wage, the pool can include both tipped and non-tipped employees.
• Managers and owners are out. Managers, supervisors, and employers can contribute to a pool but can't take a share.

Are Service Charges Considered Tips in Pennsylvania?

No. Businesses that offer banquets, special events, or package deals must list automatic service fees on a separate line from any voluntary tip. Their contracts and menus must also state that service fees aren't tips.¹

If you see a service fee on your bill, check the menu or contract to see whether it goes to staff before deciding whether to tip more.

Can Employers Take Credit Card Fees Out of Tips?

No. Pennsylvania is stricter than federal law. Employers can't deduct card or other non-cash transaction fees from any worker's tips.¹

Tipping While Visiting Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's history, small towns, and mountain resorts create tipping situations many visitors haven't run into before. Philadelphia's historic sites, the Gettysburg battlefield, and Lancaster County's Amish farms draw visitors year-round.

Whether you're touring Independence Hall or heading to the Poconos, here are popular experiences where travelers often have questions about tipping.

Tours and Outdoor Adventures

Gettysburg Battlefield Tours

Licensed Battlefield Guides can ride along in your car for a private tour of Gettysburg, and bus tours cover the battlefield too. Visitors often aren't sure whether a guide on a paid tour expects a tip.

• Do You Tip a Battlefield Guide?
• Do You Tip a Tour Guide?

Amish Country

Buggy rides, farm tours, and family-style dinners are popular in Lancaster County. Visitors often aren't sure whether tipping is expected.

• Do You Tip on a Buggy Ride?

Historic Philadelphia

Walking tours, trolley tours, and costumed guides bring Philadelphia's history to life.

• Do You Tip on a Trolley Tour?

Rafting and the Poconos

Whitewater rafting on the Lehigh River and resort getaways make the Poconos a popular escape from nearby cities.

• Do You Tip a Rafting Guide?
• Do You Tip a Ski Instructor?

Theme Parks and Casinos

Amusement Parks

Hersheypark and other amusement parks draw families every summer.

• Do You Tip at an Amusement Park?

Casinos

Pennsylvania has casinos across the state, including in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the Poconos. First-time visitors often aren't sure whether to tip dealers and cocktail servers.

• Do You Tip a Casino Dealer?
• Do You Tip a Cocktail Server?

Lodging

Resorts, Inns, and Hotels

From Pocono resorts to Lancaster County inns and city hotels, you may meet several staff members during your stay.

• Hotel Housekeeping
• Bellhops
• Valet Parking
• Do You Tip at a Bed and Breakfast?

Food and Drink

Cheesesteaks, Restaurants, and Bars

Restaurants and bars are the most familiar places to tip. Philadelphia's cheesesteak stands, Reading Terminal Market, and Pittsburgh's sandwich shops often use counter service, which raises a common question: do you tip when you order at the counter?

• Restaurant Tipping
• Bartender Tipping
• Do You Tip for Counter Service?

What Customers and Workers Report

Tipping customs and expectations don't always match people's real-life behavior.

TippingGuide.com collects feedback from both customers and workers to show the two sides of tipping.

Our Customer and Worker Averages compare what customers report tipping for average service with what workers report expecting to receive.

Explore the categories above to see what customers and workers report for different services and tipping situations.

Information about Pennsylvania wage and tipping laws is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws, regulations, and minimum wages can change. This information was last reviewed in October 2026.

Sources

1. Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Overtime and Tipped Worker Rules in PA
2. Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Pennsylvania's Minimum Wage Act
3. U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees