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When you go out to eat at a fancy restaurant, the tip you leave at the end of the meal makes the difference between your waiter being able to live a comfortable life, and having to severely cut corners just to scrape by.

But waiters aren’t the only workers who rely on tips as a significant portion of their take-home pay. Fair or not, there are certain jobs that are considered “tipping professions,” where employers pay as little as possible -- in Oregon, that's the minimum wage of $9.75 (it may be much lower when you travel to other states, where employers may be allowed to pay below the minimum wage for some jobs). Tips from customers help make up the difference.

How much of a tip you leave when you eat out, travel or visit a salon is a matter of personal choice, and should be based on the level of service you receive. There is one golden rule of tipping, however: If you can't afford to leave an expected tip, you shouldn’t be going out or using a particular service.

Here are general guidelines on tipping for 21 different jobs:

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Ross William Hamilton, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Waiters

Tips between 15 and 20 percent remain the standard, though it's increasingly common for diners to leave 25 percent tips at places where there's a high level of service and a large staff of support players assisting waiters. If you’re dining as part of a large party, the restaurant may automatically factor in an 18 percent tip, but if the service is extraordinary, consider leaving an additional tip.

Remember that tips aren't just for servers; they are often shared with those who fill your water glasses and remove dirty dishes, as well as the cooks and washers back in the kitchen. There's no sales tax in Oregon, so your tip is based on the bill's total amount. But if you travel to states where taxes are tacked onto your bill, your tip should be based on the pre-tax amount. Using coupons or gift certificates? You still should tip based on what the total bill would have been before discounts are factored in.

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Stephanie Yao Long, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Bartenders

At restaurants, the bar tab is included in the overall dining bill, and gratuities are shared by the waiter with the bartenders and other restaurant staff. But when you’re getting a beer or a fancy cocktail at a bar, you should follow the same 15 to 20 percent guideline. Bartending is an area where extra effort should be rewarded. If you’re getting a cocktail that requires eight ingredients and precise measurements, consider leaving a little bit more.

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Stephanie Yao Long, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Food cart and takeout workers

Tip jars are common at food carts and at the cash register at takeout spot. While there’s generally no expectation of tips in these instances, they are appreciated, and warranted if you’ve placed a large or complicated order. In these instances, the Emily Post Institute recommends a tip of 10 percent.

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Doug Beghtel, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Pizza/food delivery

Home delivery of restaurant food is a growing trend. But just because you're going to do the dishes doesn't mean you're off the hook for a tip. The Emily Post Institute recommends tipping between 10 and 15 percent of the bill. For pizza, consider $2 to $5 for a tip, plus more if the driver had to contend with difficult weather (think winter snow storms or spring downpours).

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Beth Nakamura, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Perhaps the trickiest area for food service tipping, because there is no established standard. Think of tipping your barista the way you would tip a bartender. If they're making a high-maintenance coffee drink with specified temperatures for steamed milk and oodles of toppings, your tip should be somewhere between $1 and $2. If you're getting coffee that you pour yourself out of a pump-pot, maybe toss just 25 cents into the jar. In the end, it's entirely up to you.

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Motoya Nakamura, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Hair stylists

Your new haircut looks amazing! Reward the person who created your look with an adequate tip. AARP recommends leaving a gratuity of between 15 and 20 percent, though you might consider leaving more if you had a complicated color job.

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Olivia Bucks, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Nail salon technicians

Manicures and pedicures can be complicated, and if you’ve got stinky feet, more than a little gross. The Emily Post Institute recommends leaving between 15 and 20 percent. You might consider leaving a tip for the salon manager, too, if they bring you a nice glass of chardonnay while you’re getting your nails done, or change the TV to your favorite show.

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John M. Vincent

Massage therapists

Follow the 15 to 20 percent tipping standard.

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Ross William Hamilton, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Car valets

Tip $3 to $5, payable when the car is returned to you.

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The Associated Press

Gas station attendants

Tips at a gas station? This is unheard of across most of the country, where self-service gasoline carries the day. But in Oregon, where the law prohibits people from pumping their own gas, there’s been a growing expectation of drivers slipping the gas station attendant a buck or two. This is a matter of personal choice, but it’s worth considering if the gas station attendant cleans your windows or remains cheerful even when the weather is nasty.

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Car wash employees

Full-service car washes feature towel finishes, where a worker will wipe down interior and exterior surfaces, ridding your dashboard of dust and making hubcaps sparkle. Consider handing them between $3 and $5, depending on the level of detailed service they provide, and how grubby your car was in the first place.

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Michael Lloyd, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Hotel housekeeping

Whether you're staying at the Heathman or a Super 8, a tip of $2-$5 per day is expected. TipGuide.org says you can leave up to $10 per day, depending on how messy you are. You should leave a tip daily, since you may have a different member of the housekeeping staff every day. Leave the tip on your pillow, with a note that says "For housekeeping."

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Joel Davis, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Doormen and bellhops

When you stay at fancy hotels, there usually are doormen who welcome you and assist with hailing cabs. And bellhops help you get your bags to your room. Consider tipping the doorman $2 if he helps with your bags, and $2-$3 if they hail a cap. Tip the bellhop $2 a bag, with a minimum of a $5 tip.

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Stephanie Yao Long, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Taxi cab/Uber/Lyft drivers

Taxi drivers should get 15 to 20 percent of the total fare, depending on the speed of service, your comfort level and how safe you felt the ride was. The Emily Post Institute says the tip should never be below a dollar, even for short rides. Add $2 for the first bag they put in the trunk, plus $1 more for each additional bags. And consider giving your driver a dollar or two more if they provide tips on the city you’re visiting, like where to find great food or hear live music. If you’re using a car service like Uber or Lyft, tips aren’t expected, though they are appreciated. Lyft lets you add a tip in the app. Uber doesn’t, so you’ll need to hand the driver cash if you opt to tip.

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Joel Davis, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Gardeners

There’s no expectation of tips when you hire a garden service, though AARP says adding 10 to 15 percent is acceptable.

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The Associated Press

House cleaners

According to AARP, tipping a house cleaner who's employed by a cleaning service is optional, though 10 to 15 percent is acceptable.

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Dillon Pilorget, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Tattoo artists

According to The Tattoo Tourist, tipping is part of the tattoo experience. Tip between 10 and 20 percent of the cost of the tattoo, or more if you really love your tattoo.

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Beth Nakamura, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Strippers

At some strip clubs, strippers are sometimes charged a “house fee” in order to dance there at peak times. These women and men rely on those $1 and $5 tips to make money. If you’ve got a large bachelor or bachelorette party, tip the VIP host, who will make sure you get the best seats in the house and the best cocktail service. Don’t forget to tip the bartenders, too.

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Doug Beghtel, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Sports instructors

For ski and snowboarding instructors, tipping 15 percent for adult groups and 10 percent for private one-on-one lessons is pretty standard. There’s no expectation of a tip with golf and tennis pros, since they are either highly compensated or charge clients a direct fee.

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Golf caddies

Some private golf clubs have strict no-tipping policies, but at most public golf courses, especially resorts, tips are expected. Golf Advisor recommends tipping cart employees $3 to $5 per bag.

For caddie service, they recommend tipping about $20 to $25 per player for a forecaddie, and $40 to $50 for a caddie toting just your bag. Not sure how much to tip at a particular course? Ask the head golf pro.

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Olivia Bucks, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Dog groomers

Animal Behavior College recommends tipping your dog groomer 15 to 20 percent, though you should consider going higher if your dog bites the groomer, has fecal matter stuck in its fur, has extensive matting, or if the groomer squeezed you in without an appointment.

-- Grant Butler

gbutler@oregonian.com

503-221-8566; @grantbutler