Jobs with tips can boost your income significantly through customer gratuities.
We’ll discuss various positions where tipping is customary and how to excel in them.
Best Jobs with Tips
Grocery Delivery Driver
GoPuff is an on-demand delivery service available in over 1000 cities in the US.
The platform operates over 550 micro-fulfillment warehouses. Thus, couriers do not need to visit different grocery stores to collect orders. As such, they can save time and complete more deliveries, making this one of the best jobs with tips.
As a grocery delivery driver with GoPuff, you can earn up to $21 plus tips per hour. Although tipping is not the norm, some customers will still tip, and the platform allows you to keep 100% of the tips you get.
Do note that the platform requires drivers to be at least 21 years old since there may be occasional alcohol deliveries. As such, this may not be a suitable job for teenagers.
Personal Shopper
Instacart is one of the best delivery services for groceries and other essentials. If you enjoy shopping, you can become a personal shopper with Instacart to earn some extra income on the side.
As an Instacart personal shopper, your job involves visiting grocery stores to purchase items on customers’ shopping lists. You will then need to deliver these items to the customers’ addresses. The exact amount you can earn will depend on the type of job you do on Instacart.
Earning Opportunity | Job Scope | Earning Potential |
---|---|---|
Full-Service Orders | Shopping for customer orders Delivering orders to customers | At least $7 to $10 per order |
Delivery-Only Orders | Picking up orders from grocery stores and delivering them to customers | At least $5 per order |
In-Store Shopper | Packing and preparing customer orders | $13 per hour on average |
Customers who are pleased with your services may occasionally tip you. The exact amount you can earn will depend mainly on your job efficiency.
Rideshare Driver
Uber is one of the most popular ridesharing services in the US. If you are looking for gig economy jobs that you can do with flexible working hours, you can consider joining the platform as a rideshare driver.
As an Uber driver, you can earn an average of $1034 and $90 in tips each week. Drivers can also earn more with surge pricing. Uber fares automatically increase during periods of high demand, such as 7 am to 8 am and 6 pm to 9 pm, enabling you to earn more.
Dog Walker
If you are looking for jobs with the highest tips that you can do to stay fit, you can consider becoming a dog walker with Rover.
The platform connects pet owners with individuals who can provide sitting and walking services. Rover users must be 18 years or older and have access to a smartphone to use the app. Rover also does a background check on all applicants.
In general, you can expect to earn between $400 and $1000 per month as a dog walker. You can set your rates, so your earnings may vary depending on the demand and supply in your area. Some owners may also ask for regular updates on their pets. If you provide excellent service, you may earn up to 20% in tips.
Lawn Mower
Most people don’t have time or prefer not to do yard work themselves. Thus, if you like working outside and you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, you can join TaskRabbit as a tasker.
As a tasker, you can take on lawn mowing and other yard work gigs in your local area to earn some extra income on the side. The average pay for such tasks is $35 per hour. Although tipping is not the norm for such gigs, some customers may give you a tip of up to 10%.
The platform also offers over 50 other categories of tasks that you can do to earn money, including:
- Home repairs
- General cleaning
- Furniture assembly
- Heavy lifting
- Spring cleaning
- and many more
Gaming Dealers With JobMonkey
In the US, there are over 450 commercial casinos across 20 states. If you are okay with working in a casino environment, becoming a dealer or croupier can be one of the best jobs with tips.
Gaming dealers and croupiers typically earn a basic wage of around $8.81 per hour. Their income is also supplemented with tips of between $3 to $23 per day, depending on the type of games that they deal for.
Most dealers and croupiers typically have first to attend courses to learn how the industry and specific games work. If you are quick with numbers and can work with your hands, you can check out JobMonkey for available casino work.
Waiter or Waitress
Most restaurants have modest requirements for their wait-staff. As long as you have got a pleasant disposition and are willing to work on your feet, you can get a job as a waiter or waitress.
Waiting tables can be one of the highest-paying jobs with tips, given the generous tipping culture in the US. In general, the standard tip that most restaurant guests will give is around 20%. If you provide good service, you could boost your earnings with even more tips.
Since tips are typically calculated as a percentage of a customer’s bill, you can earn more tips if you work as a higher-end establishment.
Golf Caddy
Golf caddies assist golfers with their clubs and equipment. Some golf caddies may also be tasked with driving golf carts to ferry golfers around within a golf course. Becoming a golf caddy does not require any special skills or talents, although it can be beneficial if you enjoy working outdoors since you will be outdoors most of the time.
Some golf courses even encourage golfers to tip their caddies with a set tipping scheme. Thus, working with a golf course that encourages tipping can help you maximize your earnings.
According to Golf Advisor, a caddy can expect to earn a $40 to $50 tip per player.
Doorman
As a doorman, your job is to provide basic security and greet residents and guests who enter your building. You will usually find a doorman at luxury hotels or residential condominiums.
This relatively simple job doesn’t ask for a lot of technical skill or knowledge, making it one of the best jobs you can do with no degree.
Being friendly, informative, and enthusiastic to help, even before you’ve been asked, will make your guests feel more inclined to give you a better tip. According to Indeed, the average salary for a doorman in the US is $14 per hour, with average tips of $50 per day.
Beautician
Beauticians offer a range of services, from hairdressing to manicures and pedicures. Mastering the skills needed to provide such services will take time, although you can start learning them with crash courses on YouTube.
According to Carrie Sloan, Editor in Chief at LearnVest, the appropriate tip for any beauty service stands at 20% of the total service cost. Thus, you can expect to earn a sizeable amount in tips, especially if you specialize in more expensive treatments and services.
Working at high-end, posh beauty salons and spas can give you access to more generous clients who are willing to give higher tips.
Pro Tip: Adapt your service style to your patrons and engage them depending on their preference to provide a service that they would be willing to tip for.
Bartender
Bartenders often interact with an entire bar full of patrons, significantly increasing their potential to earn a large number of tips.
In general, patrons usually tip $1 for every drink they buy. Those paying with a card are likely to tip 20% of their final bill. Working at high-end bars with more affluent patrons and more expensive cocktails can even earn you a tip of $2 to $4 per glass.
Although these amounts may seem small, bartenders often serve drinks for an entire restaurant or bar. Thus, you can stand to earn up to $50 or more in tips on a busy night.
Taxi Driver
If you have a driver’s license and don’t mind spending your working hours driving around the city, you can consider becoming a taxi driver.
Taxi drivers in some cities also cater mainly to foreigners and tourists. These individuals may not be familiar with local tipping standards and may be more inclined to give higher tips, especially if you are friendly and provide good service.
USA Today states that the average tip for a taxi driver can be anywhere from 15% to 20% of the fare. Nonetheless, good manners and a friendly personality can enable you to earn even more.
Dog Groomer
For some pet owners, finding the perfect groomer can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Dogs can be especially sensitive, feeling uncomfortable, stressed out, and scared in the presence of a groomer and his tools.
Thus, when a pet owner finds a groomer who works well with his dog, they are more likely to express their gratitude with a big tip. In addition, there are usually no formal requirements to become a dog groomer.
Different employers may have different requirements, although most will require you to have at least:
- A high-school diploma
- Apprenticed as a dog groomer for 6 to 10 weeks
On average, you can expect to make 15 to 20% in tips, on top of the fee you charge. You can earn even more in tips if you’re lucky enough to get several wealthy clients.
Sommelier
Becoming a sommelier is one of the best jobs with tips you can get if you have a love for wine. A sommelier, also known as a wine steward, provides service, information, and suggestions on wine and food pairings.
There is no shortage of places where you can work as a sommelier, including:
- Bars
- Restaurants
- Wine stores
- Vineyards
- Hotels
- And many more
This line of work stays interesting as it uses a variety of skills including:
- Creating wine lists for fine restaurants
- Keeping up-to-date with top wines and how they pair with particular meals
- Ordering wine selections
- Training other staff in some knowledge of the wine selection
As a sommelier, you can expect to earn a high base salary of between $22 to $34 per hour. It is also one of the highest-tipping jobs, with average tips of between 15% to 20%.
Pizza Delivery Guy
If you own a bicycle and are familiar with your local neighborhood, one of the best jobs with tips you can get is that of a pizza delivery guy. Even minors can get jobs as delivery workers, making it a great side hustle option if you have no prior background or experience.
Tips in the pizza delivery industry may not be as high as some of the other options on this list. However, for what it lacks in value, it makes up for with bulk. For orders less than $20, a pizza delivery guy will typically receive a standard $3 tip.
Any amount over $20 will likely earn you 10 to 15% of the order price in tips. You are also unlikely to get stiffed on tips due to the tipping culture in the US, where it is considered basic etiquette to tip a pizza delivery guy.
If you work in an area with a high order volume, you can average up to four deliveries every hour. That can add up to at least $12 per hour in tips alone, excluding your hourly wage.
Disc Jockey (DJ)
If you enjoy music, working as a DJ can be one of the best jobs with tips available. If you can get a regular gig at a bar or club, this can be a lucrative and fun way to make money. Because this is night work, you can do it in addition to a full-time job as a profitable side gig.
The hardest thing about this job is that it may be difficult to get gigs at the start before you have a good reputation. Thus, you may want to take on lower-paying gigs at smaller locations at the start to build your brand before trying to get gigs at a large nightclub or bar.
On average, you can earn between $20 to $50 per hour, plus 10% to 15$ tips per hour. You can also work at weddings and events in the day to maximize your earnings.
Hotel Floor Manager
A hotel floor manager generally manages an entire floor of a hotel and is responsible for multiple staff members. They are accountable for their decisions and must plan and direct their workers to ensure that their floor runs efficiently.
If you work as a floor manager in a larger hotel, your responsibilities may be focused on a very specific area. However, you may also be placed in charge of other guest-related services or marketing.
Every hotel manager’s job is slightly different depending on the hotel’s needs. On average, most hotel floor managers earn around $15 per hour, plus occasional tips of up to 10% from satisfied guests.
Casino Host
The role of a casino host is different from that of a dealer or croupier, but it is still one of the highest-paying jobs with tips. A casino host works hard to cultivate strong relationships between loyal patrons and their casino.
Thus, a casino host has the authority to issue certain comps to players that can include:
- Free drinks
- Free meals
- Show tickets
- And as much as a night’s stay
This role requires an outgoing, friendly personality, and if you have the right skills, it can be one of the highest-tipping jobs. Casino hosts can earn between $15 and $40 per hour, plus tips of 15% to 20%.
Some casinos also give their hosts an annual bonus of up to $5000.
Barber
Becoming a barber can be one of the best recession-proof jobs because people will need haircuts regardless of the economy.
In some states, you may be required to take a licensing examination. A good barber can make around $30,500 per year plus tips of up to 20%. As you grow your brand, you will also get regular clients who can enable you to maximize your earnings potential.
Tattoo Artist
Tattoos have been an awesome way to decorate the human body. People will pay good money for an excellent tattoo job and the tipping opportunities are high.
The only way to get into the industry is to take an apprenticeship with a tattoo professional. This period typically lasts for around 3 years, during which you will not earn much but you will be able to learn all the essential skills you need to succeed.
As a tattoo artist, you will need excellent communication skills to ensure that the customer gets their desired tattoo. It is also crucial for a tattoo artist to be methodical and this is particularly relevant when it comes to hygiene.
A good tattooist can make up to $40,000 per year but if you own a studio this can rise to $100,000 or more. As such, this makes it one of the most lucrative jobs with up to 20% tips per service.
How Can You Supplement Your Income With Jobs With Tips?
You do not necessarily need to have an executive or office job to earn good six figures per year. Some of the best paying jobs with tips can enable you to earn over $100,000 in a good year.
One of the best ways to supplement your income with jobs with tips is by using FlexJobs. The platform is one of the best employment portals on the market for flexible job opportunities. You can look for side hustles or part-time jobs with tips on the platform to supplement your income.
Some of the job opportunities available on FlexJobs include:
- Part-time
- Remote
- Contract
- Freelance
- Work-from-home
- And many more