Delaware minimum wage 2026–2027: $15.00 now
Delaware's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour, in force since January 1, 2025 – $7.75 more than the federal $7.25. No increase is scheduled: Delaware's rate is fixed in state law and changes only when the legislature or voters act.
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Delaware minimum wage pay calculator
Delaware minimum wage rates
| Who | Rate | From | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most workers (state rate) | $15.00 | January 1, 2025 | official |
| Tipped workers (cash wage) | $2.23 | now | official |
When does the Delaware minimum wage go up?
No increase is scheduled: Delaware's rate is fixed in state law and changes only when the legislature or voters act. Fixed in the Delaware Code (19 Del. C. ch. 9); no automatic inflation adjustment.
Tipped workers in Delaware
Employers may pay tipped workers a cash wage of $2.23 an hour and count up to $12.77 of tips toward the minimum wage, as long as wages plus tips reach $15.00 for every hour; otherwise the employer pays the difference.
Delaware minimum wage history
On January 1, 2020 the Delaware minimum wage was $9.25; today it is $15.00 – up $5.75, or 62.2%.
| January 1 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $9.25 | $9.25 | $10.50 | $11.75 | $13.25 | $15.00 | $15.00 |
How Delaware compares
Delaware ranks tied 13th with 6 others of the 50 states and D.C. The average statewide minimum wage is $11.53; Delaware's $15.00 is $3.47 above it. Neighbors: Maryland $15.00, New Jersey $15.23–$15.92, Pennsylvania $7.25.
Overtime and pay rules
Overtime follows the federal rule: one and a half times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. A full-time week at the minimum wage pays $600.00; with 5 overtime hours it is $712.50.
Good to know
- Delaware's $15.00 has been in force since January 1, 2025 (19 Del. C. ch. 9).
Where to get help
The minimum wage in Delaware is enforced by the Delaware Division of Industrial Affairs; wage claims: industrialaffairs.delaware.gov. The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division takes complaints in every state at 1-866-487-9243, and your name is kept confidential.
Delaware minimum wage questions
What is the minimum wage in Delaware right now?
$15.00 an hour for most adult workers. Delaware's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour, in force since January 1, 2025 – $7.75 more than the federal $7.25.
What will the Delaware minimum wage be in 2027?
It stays at $15.00 – no change is scheduled for 2027.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Delaware?
Employers may pay tipped workers a cash wage of $2.23 an hour and count up to $12.77 of tips toward the minimum wage, as long as wages plus tips reach $15.00 for every hour; otherwise the employer pays the difference.
How much is the Delaware minimum wage per year?
At $15.00 an hour and 40 hours a week, $600.00 a week, about $2,600 a month and $31,200 a year before taxes.
Where do I report unpaid minimum wage in Delaware?
With the Delaware Division of Industrial Affairs – or with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (1-866-487-9243). Keep your pay stubs and a record of your hours.
Other states
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division – State Minimum Wage Laws, Consolidated Minimum Wage Table and Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (July 1, 2026 editions), the DOL's history table, and each state's and city's own labor department pages, linked on every state page. Checked October 16, 2026. Rates are for most adult, non-exempt workers; some jobs, industries and employers are exempt or have other rates. This is general information, not legal advice – the state labor department has the final word.