Idaho tip pooling laws & tipped minimum wage
In Idaho, employers can pay tipped workers $3.35/hr as long as tips bring them to the $7.25 minimum — here's how that works and who can legally share your tips.
| Regular minimum wage | $7.25/hr |
| Minimum cash wage for tipped workers | $3.35/hr |
| Maximum tip credit | $3.90/hr |
| Tips belong to | Employees — always |
Rates reviewed June 2026. Rates change — confirm with the Idaho labor department. Not legal advice.
Tip pooling in Idaho
Idaho follows the federal baseline: employers may require tip pooling. If your employer takes the tip credit (pays $3.35/hr cash), the pool may only include customarily tipped workers — servers, bussers, bartenders, runners, hosts. Back-of-house can only be included if everyone is paid full minimum wage with no tip credit. Managers and supervisors are always excluded.
Two federal rules apply no matter what: managers and supervisors can never take from a tip pool, and credit card processing fees can only be deducted from tips where state law allows it .
What this means for your tip-out
Because part of your legal wage in Idaho comes from tips, every dollar you tip out matters — your employer's tip credit assumes those tips reached you. Track what you actually keep. Use our tip-out calculator to split a shift by your house's percentages or by hours, and see standard tip-out percentages to check whether your house's rates are typical.
Idaho tip law FAQs
What is the tipped minimum wage in Idaho?
Employers in Idaho may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $3.35/hr and claim a tip credit of up to $3.90/hr toward the $7.25 minimum wage. If tips don't close the gap in a workweek, the employer must make up the difference.
Is mandatory tip pooling legal in Idaho?
Idaho follows the federal baseline: employers may require tip pooling. If your employer takes the tip credit (pays $3.35/hr cash), the pool may only include customarily tipped workers — servers, bussers, bartenders, runners, hosts. Back-of-house can only be included if everyone is paid full minimum wage with no tip credit. Managers and supervisors are always excluded.
Can my manager take a cut of the tip pool in Idaho?
No. Federal law prohibits managers, supervisors, and owners from keeping any portion of employee tips in every state, including Idaho. A manager may keep only tips they directly and solely earned (e.g., a table they personally served start to finish).