6 Highest-Paying Service Jobs That Make Tips Plus a Salary

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Tipping can be a weird unpredictable thing where sometimes you make a metaphorical million and sometimes you make literal pennies. That being said, many service jobs don’t require a bachelor’s degree so it can be an easy way to make some money in a full-time capacity or a nice side gig. 

6 Highest-Paying Service Jobs That Make Tips

Most money-making jobs pay hourly or salary, but some come with added gratuity. High-paying job openings, especially ones that don’t require a college degree, don’t just grow on trees so it’s good to know where to start looking. Here is a list of the highest-paid jobs in the service industry that make tips:

1. Bartender
2. Server
3. Babysitter
4. Hairstylist 
5. DJ
6. Rideshare or delivery driver

1. Bartender 

• Average salary: $31,510 plus tips

Depending on whether you are working in a high-volume nightclub or the day shift at a dive bar, the money you make bartending will vary widely. Often bartenders make minimum wage hourly with the hope that what they make in tips will subsidize the rest of their income. But location matters — for example, a bartender at a busy bar in Manhattan making $218 a night will pull in around $4,523 a month or $63,878 a year before tax. 

2. Server 

• Average salary: $31,940 plus tips 

Much like a bartender, a server, waiter, host or other front-of-the-house staff make minimum wage hourly plus tips. Many restaurants and chains however are pushing more toward an hourly system to try and do away with the tipping system. For now, though tipping remains the primary source of income for many servers with the standard being around 20% added on in gratuity to your bill. 

3. Babysitter 

• Average salary: $30,370 plus tips 

Babysitting, nannying or other childcare work is more than just a side gig for the teenagers in your neighborhood, it can be a full-fledged career. The only skills required are to be responsible and good with children. You can set your own wages in many cases either by the shift or by the hour, plus plenty of potential for tipping. 

4. Hairstylist 

• Average salary: $35,080 plus tips 

There are many high-paying jobs that tip well involving the hair arts. Whether you want to work as a barber, cosmetologist or cutting hair in general, there are options for you as a self-employed stylist or working for a high-end salon. You tend to get a decent hourly wage plus tips. 

5. DJ

• Average pay: $41 per hour plus tips 

If you are a music lover and know how to spin a good playlist, part-time DJ work can pay pretty well. The hours you typically work will be nights and weekends, but it can be a fun way to make some extra cash. You could even have a tip jar for playing specific songs. 

6. Rideshare or Delivery Drivers 

• Average salary: $39,950 plus tips 

The gig economy is booming with opportunities for drivers. If you have your own car you can drive people from place to place or deliver food or goods to someone’s doorstep for a good chunk of change, plus tip. You can pick the times you work, but if you work in a higher volume location at peak hours you’d be setting yourself up for success. 

Final Take To GO 

Whether you’re mixing drinks or styling hair, high-paying service jobs with tipping opportunities can boost your income. Keep in mind that when it comes to gratuity and tipping, what you make will vary greatly not only from job to job but also from day to day. 

Pay data is accurate as of April 17, 2024, and was sourced from Indeed, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and ZipRecruiter.

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