A tip credit is the percentage or monetary amount set by federal or state law that is deducted from the minimum wage of tip-applicable employees.
For example, state law sets a $6.15 minimum wage and allows up to a 50 percent tip credit if the employee receives enough tips to earn the minimum wage amount for each hour. If the employee’s combined earnings (tip plus wage after tip credit adjustments) average out to being less than the minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference.
Parent topic: Labor Law Compliance