Puh-leeeeeeze, can we put this rumor to rest!

Are there places that pay $2 per hour? Yes
Are there places where the waiters ans watresses PAY the owner to work? Yes

But, how much are your servers making? It's based on menu price AND volume. So, it's not just fine dining. Servers at bars and places like IHOP can make insane money too.

I worked at an up-scale place. My average tip was $20 (sometimes zero, sometime $80).
Set menu. No surprises. Nothing difficult.
I had 6 tables, 4-5 seatings per day (sometimes a tour before, or after, or both before and after).
Before sharing with my team members, I would pull in an average of $480-600, not including the tours. After sharing, I would make no less than$300, and up to $600 per day. Tours could add another $100 per day, easily.

You realize that this was $6,000 - $12,000 per month? I also made my wages $14 per hour, medical, dental, and pension....

During another period, I worked in the desert bar. My average tip was $2 - 3. From 6pm - 2am, with 12 tables, I could easily rotate tables all night. Cocktails, deserts and coffee, before dinner, before bed.... easily pulling in $200 -300 per shift. Again, another $4000-7000 per month.

Should we now look at that IHOP waiter? the fine dining server?

The money is insane. If people knew, they would support a new system. But the facade of guilt and pity continue.

I'd be glad to make $2 an hour to have that kind of money back in my life!