Average and median wage in Delaware
Half of the 484,790 workers in Delaware earn less than $52,190 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $69,880, or $33.60 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $31,650 or less and the top 10% $127,690 or more. The average is about the same as the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median about the same as the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $32K10th
- $37K25th
- $52KMedian
- $82K75th
- $128K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Delaware per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $69,880 | $33.60 | $69,770 |
| Median | $52,190 | $25.09 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $31,650 | $15.22 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $37,300 | $17.93 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $81,560 | $39.21 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $127,690 | $61.39 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in Delaware
- Dover$59,450
Map of Delaware metro areas
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $59,450 | $46,690 | $47,215 | 98 | $372,156 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in Delaware
- Family Medicine Physicians · Dover$232,160
- Computer and Information Systems Managers · Dover$198,480
- Financial Managers · Dover$183,440
- Marketing Managers · Dover$177,170
- Sales Managers · Dover$174,310
- Architectural and Engineering Managers · Dover$167,340
- Optometrists · Dover$155,270
- Pharmacists · Dover$148,290
- Managers, All Other · Dover$146,660
- Medical and Health Services Managers · Dover$139,360
Most common jobs in Delaware
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 14,290 | $99,460 | $99,520 | $95,830 |
| Retail Salespersons | 13,400 | $37,390 | $35,360 | $36,140 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 13,310 | $33,650 | $31,300 | $33,120 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 11,820 | $35,300 | $34,320 | $33,460 |
| Cashiers | 11,450 | $33,880 | $33,490 | $32,920 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 9,220 | $37,870 | $35,320 | $37,130 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 9,040 | $57,380 | $57,590 | $53,900 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 7,580 | $43,070 | $36,880 | $41,400 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 7,470 | $51,700 | $48,190 | $44,130 |
| Office Clerks, General | 7,230 | $44,210 | $42,740 | $40,610 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in Delaware
Delaware income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply Delaware's 2025 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare.
Delaware at a glance
Average salary in other states
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- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
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Salary in Delaware: questions
What is the average salary in Delaware?
$69,880 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is about the same as the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in Delaware?
$52,190 a year: half of Delaware workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in Delaware?
$33.60 an hour on average, and $25.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in Delaware pays the most?
Dover, with an average of $59,450 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is Delaware expensive to live in?
BEA puts Delaware prices in line with the U.S. average (price parity 99.8). Within the state, Dover 98 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in Delaware.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
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