New Hampshire tip pooling laws & tipped minimum wage
In New Hampshire, employers can pay tipped workers $3.27/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 | $3.27/hr |
| Maximum tip credit | $3.98/hr |
| Tips belong to | Employees — always |
A tip credit lets an employer count your tips toward the minimum wage it owes you. Rates reviewed July 2026. Rates change — confirm with the New Hampshire labor department. Not legal advice.
What's specific to New Hampshire
New Hampshire requires tipped employees to receive at least 45% of the minimum wage in cash. State law also makes tip pooling voluntary — employers cannot mandate it.
New Hampshire follows the federal floor, with a 45 percent tipped wage
New Hampshire uses the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. For tipped workers who customarily receive more than $30 a month in tips, state law sets the cash wage at not less than 45 percent of the minimum — $3.27 an hour — with tips expected to cover the rest.
As in other tip-credit states, that $3.27 is a floor on your cash wage, not your total. If your cash wage plus tips do not average at least $7.25 an hour in a week, your employer must make up the difference.
Tip pooling in New Hampshire is voluntary — your employer cannot force it
New Hampshire gives tipped workers a protection many states do not. Under RSA 279:26-b, tips are the property of the employee who receives them, and an employer may not require or coerce you into a tip pool or tip-sharing arrangement.
Employees may agree among themselves to pool or share tips, and that voluntary arrangement is allowed. But the decision has to come from the workers — an employer cannot mandate it as a condition of the job.
Tip pooling in New Hampshire
Tip pooling and sharing must be voluntary under NH RSA 279:26-b. Employers may not require participation.
One federal rule applies everywhere: managers and supervisors can never take from a tip pool. Separately, credit card processing fees may only be deducted from tips where state law allows it.
What this means for your tip-out
Because part of your legal wage in New Hampshire comes from tips, the employer's tip credit assumes those tips reached you. Use the 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.
New Hampshire tip law FAQs
What is the tipped minimum wage in New Hampshire?
Employers in New Hampshire may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $3.27/hr and claim a tip credit of up to $3.98/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 New Hampshire?
Tip pooling and sharing must be voluntary under NH RSA 279:26-b. Employers may not require participation.
Can my manager take a share of the tip pool in New Hampshire?
No. Federal law prohibits managers, supervisors, and owners from keeping any portion of employee tips in every state, including New Hampshire. A manager may keep only tips they directly and solely earned (e.g., a table they personally served start to finish).
Can my New Hampshire employer require me to share my tips?
No. Under RSA 279:26-b, tips belong to the employee who receives them, and an employer may not require or coerce you to join a tip pool. Employees may choose to pool tips voluntarily among themselves.
What is the tipped cash wage in New Hampshire?
It is 45 percent of the $7.25 minimum wage, or $3.27 an hour. If your tips plus that cash wage do not reach $7.25 an hour for the week, your employer must pay the difference.