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SALT LAKE CITY — Uber decided to let riders tip their drivers a year ago, and the numbers are in: Salt Lake City riders tip the most in the nation.
The five U.S. cities that topped the list were Salt Lake City; San Antonio, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Nashville, Tennessee, according to data collected by the ride-sharing company.
In total, Uber drivers and deliverers made $600 million in tips.
While Utah isn’t known to be a state of generous tippers, the Beehive State has been named the “most charitable state” each year for more than a decade — a title that may have something to do with its ranking.
“We know tips are about more than just money changing hands. They’re a sign of meaningful connections and high-quality experiences riders can’t help but feel grateful about,” Uber said in a statement on the company's website.
The company, now under new leadership after coming under scrutiny for the way it treated drivers and employees, hopes tips will sweeten the deal for Uber drivers who have complained about low compensation in the past.
In the last year, Uber has tried to make tipping easier by adding elements like preset tip amounts that reflect the price and length of a trip to on-trip ratings that allow riders to rate, compliment and tip during the ride. The changes have led to nearly 30 percent more tips in the last three months, Uber said in an emailed statement.
According to Uber, riders often tip late at night or early in the morning — perhaps when they feel their drivers deserve something more for being awake and working. The most popular times are Friday at 2:12 a.m., Saturday at 10:33 p.m. and Thursday at 8:12 p.m.
The most common trips that spur riders to give tips are airport trips, trips where the rider gives the driver a high rating for a great interaction and weekend and night trips, Uber said. Only 12 percent said they’re most likely to tip when they’re heading to work.
Uber said 31 percent of Americans say they generally tip 15 to 20 percent, while the Midwest and Northeast are the most likely to tip 15 to 20 percent — with a spike as high as 38 percent, according to a survey of 1,000 respondents conducted by DKC Analytics. Fifty-five percent of those who are 54 years old and older generally tip 15 percent or more.
Do you think you’re a good tipper?
So do 47 percent of Americans, Uber found. Twenty-two percent consider themselves to be “great tippers” — 47 percent of which currently work in tipped jobs and 33 percent that formerly worked tipped jobs. Most people say they are happy to tip with only 4 percent, citing a reluctance to lay down the extra money.
Salt Lake City, however, doesn’t seem to have that problem.
How much do you tip? If the poll below doesn't work for you, click here.
