Do Wolfgang Puck waiters really make $120,000/year?
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Anonymous
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Wolfgang Puck claims his wait staff makes $120,000 a year. I'm guessing he's referring to tips, but I find it hard to believe. For that amount of money, it seems like there would be many applicants for the positions he claims he can't fill. Is this actually true?
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wolfgang-puck-waiters-make-120000-a-year-but-i-cant-find-them-163442777.html |
Anonymous
| These are all pricy CA restaurants. I would assume its all tips. |
Anonymous
| When I worked in a nice restaurant (albeit many years ago), the wait staff had to tip out 8% to the bartenders, bussers, dishwashers. So you didn't keep what you made. |
Anonymous
| I knew a server at a high end place that made $80k so maybe $120k is possible. |
Anonymous
| If you made $500 a night and worked 5 nights a week, that’s $125,000 with two weeks off. Easily done there. |
Anonymous
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I can believe it. I worked in a pretty high-end restaurant in college, and the top waiters were making comparable amounts to $120,K Seniority counts a lot in waiting, so these waiters were working the best tables on the best shifts. Several had started as part-time in college and stayed on years after graduating since they were making more money than they would in the corporate world.
It's physically demanding work though. Very hard on your back and legs. |
Anonymous
| I was friendly with a waiter at Bobby flat steakhouse in Atlantic City. We went there for years, and he was always there on the weekends. He was a normal dad and supported his family by working there. So, yes, I think it’s possible. |
Anonymous
| No problem. I tended bar in the 80s and could easily make 500-700 a night in tips. I have friends who worked at high-end DC places who made double that. One bartendress I knew ended up with three houses and 3 apartment buildings in Dupont and Logan. Not a bad gig if you can land it. |
Anonymous
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In the Hamptons I have personally seen folks tip
$100 just to get a good table. They will buy $200 bottles and invite girls to join then and eat full dinners. The bills are often $3k to $5k for dinner. $600 to $1,000 tips are not uncommon. They also lend out boats, vacation homes, cars to wait staff. My buddy owned a very popular place in 1990s in NYC and he as owner was clearing $20k a night. I am surprised it is so little. I went to school in NYC and the good looking waitress, bouncer and bartender typed would be paid a ton. My friend was even a doorman at a hot place and make $100 and hour. It is shocking tipping at high end places!!! Then we go McDonald’s and give zero |
Anonymous
| This is why tipping needs to stop , |
Anonymous
| If he banned tipping and paid $120k as a wage, he would have plenty of applicants. |
Anonymous
| Would you work nights on your feet for $120k? I wouldn't. |
Anonymous
| Recently my hairdresser quit her day job because she was making $3000 per night as a cocktail waitress. And yes, she was only serving drinks, no "extras". |
Anonymous
The problem with McDonald’s is not that people don’t tip. It’s the lack of a living wage. I’m sure they would rather make $15/hr in the DMV than get 20% tips on a $8 meal that the cashiers would have to share with everyone else that shift. |
Anonymous
Why? So people can’t have the dignity of work and support a family? |