Tipping in Utah

Last reviewed October 2026

Utah Tipping Laws in 2026: Quick Facts

Federal minimum wage in effect since July 24, 2009

Utah Minimum Wage

$7.25 per hour (federal minimum wage; Utah law matches the federal rate)¹²

Utah Tipped Minimum Wage

$2.13 per hour (federal)¹

Maximum Tip Credit

$5.12 per hour¹

Who Qualifies as a Tipped Employee?

An employee who customarily and regularly receives more than $30 per month in tips¹³

Are Tip Pools Allowed?

Yes²³

Are Mandatory Service Charges Tips?

No³

Can Employers Keep Employee Tips?

No. Tips belong to employees, apart from lawful tip pools.²³

Can Credit Card Fees Be Taken From Tips?

Yes, with limits. Employers can deduct only the actual card-processing percentage.³

Utah follows federal rules for wages and tips, and its ski resorts, national park tours, and red rock canyoneering trips create tipping situations many visitors may not be familiar with.

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

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

What Is Utah'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.

Utah's minimum wage matches the federal rate of $7.25 per hour.¹ Tipped employees can be paid a direct wage of $2.13 per hour, with the employer taking a tip credit of up to $5.12 per hour.¹ Utah law calls this direct wage the "cash wage obligation."²

If an employee's direct wages plus tips don't reach $7.25 per hour for the workweek, the employer must make up the difference.²³ Before taking a tip credit, employers must tell employees how much they'll be paid and how the tip credit works.³

Who Owns Tips in Utah?

Tips belong to the employee under both Utah and federal law.²³ Employers, managers, and supervisors cannot keep any part of employees' tips, whether or not the employer takes a tip credit.³ Managers can keep only tips they receive directly for service they personally provide.

Are Tip Pools Allowed in Utah?

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

Yes. Utah law allows tips to be shared through a bona fide tip pooling or sharing arrangement,² and federal rules set who can take part:³

With a tip credit: When an employer pays the $2.13 tipped wage, the pool can include only employees who customarily and regularly receive tips, such as servers, bartenders, and bussers.
Without a tip credit: When every employee is paid at least $7.25 per hour in direct wages, the pool can also include back-of-house staff, such as cooks and dishwashers.
Managers and owners are out. Managers, supervisors, and owners cannot take tips from the pool.

Are Service Charges Considered Tips in Utah?

No. A mandatory service charge, such as an automatic 18% added to a large party's bill, is not a tip under federal law.³

The difference comes down to customer choice. A tip is voluntary, and the customer decides how much to leave. A mandatory service charge is part of the required price, and the business decides how to distribute it.

Can Employers Take Credit Card Fees Out of Tips?

Utah has no specific rule on credit card fees. Under federal law, an employer can deduct only the actual fee. If a card company charges the employer a percentage on each sale, the employer can reduce a card tip by that same percentage.³ It cannot deduct more than the transaction fee.

Tipping While Visiting Utah

Utah's mountains, red rock canyons, and national parks create tipping situations many visitors haven't run into before. The state's "Mighty 5" national parks, including Zion and Arches, and the ski resorts near Salt Lake City draw millions of visitors each year.

Whether you're skiing in Park City or exploring the canyons near Moab, here are popular experiences where travelers often have questions about tipping.

Winter Sports

Ski Resorts

Utah's ski resorts are known for deep powder and easy access from the Salt Lake City airport. Visitors often have questions about tipping ski instructors, rental shop techs, and lodge staff.

How Much Do You Tip a Ski Instructor?
Do You Tip a Ski Tech?
Do You Tip a Ski Valet?

Snowmobile and Snowcat Tours

Guided snowmobile rides and snowcat skiing are popular winter adventures in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains.

Do You Tip a Snowmobile Guide?
Do You Tip a Snowcat Guide?

Tours and Outdoor Adventures

Canyoneering and Off-Road Tours

Guided canyoneering, rock climbing, and off-road jeep tours are popular around Moab and Zion. These trips are often led by small outfitters, and guests often wonder how much to tip the guide.

Do You Tip a Canyoneering Guide?
Do You Tip a Jeep Tour Guide?
Do You Tip a Rock Climbing Guide?

River Rafting

Whitewater rafting on the Colorado and Green rivers ranges from half-day trips to multiday adventures through the canyons.

Do You Tip a Rafting Guide?
Do You Tip on a Multiday Rafting Trip?

National Park Tours

Guided hikes, horseback rides, and shuttle tours are common ways to see Utah's national parks.

Do You Tip a Hiking Guide?
Do You Tip a Horseback Riding Guide?
Do You Tip a Tour Guide?

Lodging and Wellness

Resorts, Lodges, and Spas

Mountain resorts and desert spa retreats are popular places to stay in Utah. Guests often have questions about tipping hotel staff and spa providers.

Hotel Housekeeping
Bellhops
Valet Parking
Do You Tip at a Spa?

Food and Drink

Restaurants and Bars

Restaurants and bars are the most familiar places to tip. Visitors to Utah may notice different alcohol rules than they're used to, but tipping customs at restaurants and bars are the same as in most of the country.

Restaurant Tipping
Bartender Tipping
Do You Tip for Takeout?

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 Utah 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.

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