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Tip-out calculator
Many restaurants have servers tip out support staff a percentage of their sales (not their tips), for example 2% to bussers and 1.5% to the bar. Enter a shift below to see exactly what each person gets.
How tip-outs work
Each support role gets a fixed percentage of the server's sales. Basing it on sales rather than tips is common because it doesn't depend on how generous guests were. Example: $1,850 in sales with a 2% busser tip-out means the busser gets $37.00, whatever the server's tips were.
Tip-outs vs. tip pools
Each server pays support staff
- Simple per-shift math
- Common in full-service restaurants
- Uneven when tips vary a lot
Everyone's tips go into one pot
- Split by hours or role points
- Smooths out good and bad nights
- Needs weekly calculation (or TipSplit)
The same federal rules apply to both: no managers or supervisors, and no back-of-house staff if you take a tip credit.
Running a pool instead? Split the whole week in one go.
Free calculator. Runs in your browser. Nothing uploaded.
Keep reading
General information about U.S. federal law (FLSA, 29 U.S.C. §203(m)) and selected state and city rules as of October 2026. Not legal advice. Check your state labor department or an employment attorney before changing your pay practices.