The New York Times is reporting that hourly tip rates are still bogged down at recession levels. Last year's study (completed with the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration) found that total take home pay for restaurant servers was down 10% from the year before. Now this year's study is showing that even though the recession has statistically ended, tips are still down at 2009 levels. The study covered 80 different job areas, and the only two jobs to see some recovery were butlers and building superintendents. The researchers believe this is because of the swift economic recovery seen on Wall Street and the financial sector. Check out
this NYT article to see the 2009 median hourly tips for everyone from a barista to a banquet manager.