Delaware Minimum Wage 2026
Last updated: · Source: Delaware Department of Labor
Delaware · Minimum Wage 2026
Effective 2025-01-01
Data last verified: 2026-07-09
Tipped Rate
$2.23/hr
Tip Credit
$12.77/hr
Exempt Salary
$684/wk
Effective Date
2025-01-01
Delaware Wage Calculator
Current Delaware Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Delaware is $15.00 per hour in 2026, effective 2025-01-01. This is above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers must pay the higher of the two rates, so the Delaware rate applies. See the federal minimum wage page for how the FLSA floor applies nationwide.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must pay the highest minimum wage that legally applies to a work location, whether set federally, by the state, or by a city or county ordinance.
Delaware Tipped Minimum Wage
In Delaware, tipped employees may be paid a direct cash wage of $2.23/hr. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $12.77/hr, but the employee's total hourly earnings (direct wages + tips) must equal at least the full minimum wage of $15.00/hr. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
| Component | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cash wage | $2.23/hr | Minimum employer must pay directly |
| Tip credit | $12.77/hr | Maximum credit employer may claim |
| Total required | $15.00/hr | Wages + tips must reach this floor |
Delaware Exempt Employee Salary Threshold (2026)
An "exempt" employee is a salaried worker who, by law, isn't entitled to overtime pay (time-and-a-half) for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. Whether a salaried employee actually qualifies as exempt depends on both their pay and their job duties. Delaware follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. To qualify for the white-collar (executive, administrative, or professional) overtime exemption, salaried employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) in 2026.
City & County Minimum Wages in Delaware
Delaware permits cities and counties to set higher local minimum wage rates. The following major cities follow the state rate:
| City / County | 2026 Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $15.00/hr (state rate) | Follows Delaware state rate; no local minimum wage ordinance exists. |
| Dover | $15.00/hr (state rate) | Follows Delaware state rate; no local minimum wage ordinance exists. |
| Newark | $15.00/hr (state rate) | Follows Delaware state rate; no local minimum wage ordinance exists. |
Delaware Minimum Wage History
The following table shows minimum wage rates in Delaware over the past several years.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $15.00/hr | 2025-01-01 | |
| 2024 | $13.25/hr | 2024-01-01 | |
| 2023 | $11.75/hr | 2023-01-01 | |
| 2022 | $10.50/hr | 2022-01-01 | |
| 2020 | $9.25/hr | 2019-10-01 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum wage in Delaware is $15.00 per hour in 2026, effective 2025-01-01. Tipped employees may be paid $2.23 per hour provided tips bring total earnings to at least $15.00/hr.
Delaware's minimum wage remains $15.00/hr in 2026, having completed its scheduled increases under Senate Bill 15 (2021) on January 1, 2025. State law provides for a further increase only if the federal minimum wage surpasses $15.00/hr.
In Delaware, tipped employees must be paid at least $2.23 per hour directly. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $12.77/hr, but total compensation including tips must reach $15.00/hr.
Delaware follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. Salaried exempt employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) to qualify for the white-collar overtime exemption in 2026.
Delaware does not prohibit local minimum wage ordinances, but no cities currently have a rate higher than the state minimum of $15.00/hr.