A majority of millennial tipped hourly workers say they would experience an improved quality of life if they had access to their earnings as they are earned, according to a new survey commissioned by DailyPay and conducted by The Harris Poll.
The findings come amid ongoing economic pressure on service industry workers, particularly those reliant on tips. Among workers aged 29 to 44, 63% said being able to access their hourly pay immediately would enhance their overall well-being.
“Having access to their earned pay on demand for hourly workers is a must-have to make ends meet on their journey to financial stability,” said Ryan Mang, chief commercial officer at DailyPay.
Access to wages tied to financial and mental health
Beyond quality of life, more than half (55%) of millennial respondents said on-demand pay access would reduce their worries about covering expenses. Nearly half (45%) said it would positively impact their mental health.
When compared with other financial support mechanisms, 64% said earned wage access would improve their current financial situation—surpassing other options like eliminating taxes on tips (60%), having flexible work schedules (60%), or lowering interest rates (36%).
Financial outlook mixed amid economic uncertainty
Despite persistent inflation—reported at 3% at the time of the survey—half of millennial tipped workers said they believe the U.S. economy will improve in the next year.
DailyPay, a financial technology firm that partners with employers to offer earned wage access, says the findings reflect a generational shift in expectations around pay flexibility.
“With sweeping disruptive technologies, millennial workers live in a world where they expect everything on demand—including their pay,” Mang said.
Survey details
The online survey was conducted from January 15–21, 2025, among 1,012 U.S. service industry workers who earn tips, including 334 millennial tipped hourly workers. The results have a margin of error of ±4.2 percentage points for the millennial subset, with a 95% confidence level.
DailyPay says the data underscores the importance of pay flexibility as a retention and financial wellness tool for employers in the service industry.
