It does depend on the state, they all have different Labour laws. CA is like $16 minimum for tipped employees, PA is $2.83 ( but like in a lot of states if tips don't pull you up to the Fed Min of $7.75 the employer must make up the difference ) .
Everything you need to know about changes to tipped minimum wage, and how your restaurant can deal with increased labor costs.
www.touchbistro.com
It is interesting to know about the different wage setup for tipping jobs in each state. Good to know if I get to the west coast of the USA again, they'll be getting f**k all tip based on those rates.
Interestingly enough tipping/gratuities is obviously a big thing on cruise ships around the world, but all of the bigger cruise lines structure their fares for Australians completely differently than everyone else in the world.
Generally every drink you have, or item you pay for, has a standard gratuity amount (between 15-25% depending on the item or the cruise line) added on top. Even when they give you something included for free, like a drinks package, or specialty dining package, you still have to pay the gratuity percentage amount of the value of the included item.
However, everything is different for Australians. For instance, all of the ships based here have no gratuities at all, and the majority of ships that come here seasonally each year, re-adjust their financial setup onboard once it arrives to remove the tips (they just up the prices onboard to cover the tips).
And if you book a cruise outside of Australia (i.e. Caribbean or Mediterranean), but book in Australia, you have a completely different fare structure to everyone else onboard, where all of the gratuities are removed from the fare and you pay no mandatory gratuities once you get onboard.
It is intriguing that they change their entire operation to suit one nationality (I suspect it's the same for the Kiwi's too though), but such is the hatred of tipping for Australians. I often make the comment when on a cruise overseas, that an Australian would rather be on trial for murder than have to tip someone!