A bartender’s salary for two weeks work has shocked the online world, underscoring the importance in the US of tipping.

Aaliyah Cortez posted a clip of her recent pay cheque to TikTok, showing just how low her take-home pay is if you take out the tips.

Watch the video above

She works at a sports bar in Austin, Texas, and was paid just $9.28 (AUD13.81) by her employer - for nearly 71 hours work.

“So this is why you should always tip your bartenders, servers, anyone who waits on you or provides a service for you, because this is my hourly for two weeks,” Cortez said in the video.

The now-viral clip has sent shockwaves across the social media platform, with TikTok users referring to it as ‘scary’.

How is it so low?

If you are wondering how this is possible, you’re not alone.

It basically stems from wider issues with a tipping-based culture.

In short, before tips, Cortez makes $2.13 (AUD3.17) an hour which would leave her approximately $150(AUD224.25) for 71 hours.

After social security, Medicare and federal income tax were taken out this leaves her with $9.28 take-home pay.

The payslip. Credit: TikTok

“I worked almost 71 hours, I get paid $US2.13 (AUD3.17) an hour as a bartender and a server, I should have made $US150.81 (AUD224.25),” she said.

“But because I have to have social security, Medicare and the income tax taken out, I was paid $US9.28 (AUD13.81) for 70 hours of work.

“Of course I got tips but this is what I got for my hourly.

“This is why you should tip.”

How does tipping affect it?

The official minimum wage in the US is $US7.25 (AUD10.78) per hour - so why was she allowed to be paid so low?

In some states, an employer is only required to pay the worker $US2.13 (AUD3.17) per hour, if they receive tips.

So if the worker is getting tips - and the combination of the two bring them up to a minimum that’s at least on par with federal minimum wage - then the low hourly wage is allowed.

“An employer of a tipped employee is only required to pay $2.13 an hour in direct wages if that amount, plus the tips received, equals at least the federal minimum wage, the employee retains all tips and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips,” the US Department of Labor said.

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Relying on strangers

In other words, those in the industry have to rely on the kindness of total strangers to make ends meet.

Cortez said in a later video that she liked her job but she just doesn’t agree with the state laws.

She says it allows “restaurants to pay under minimum wage and expect the customer to pay their wages”.