Delaware Minimum Wage 2026: $15.00 per Hour, Tipped $2.23
Delaware's minimum wage is $15.00 per hour in 2026, reached on January 1, 2025 after a four-year phase-in from $9.25. The $2.23 tipped cash wage, the increase schedule, coverage and exemptions, overtime, meal break rules, and what a full-time minimum wage worker earns.
Delaware's minimum wage is $15.00 per hour in 2026. It reached that level on January 1, 2025, the last step of a phase-in that started at $9.25 in 2021. Tipped employees can be paid a cash wage of $2.23 per hour plus tips, one of the largest tip credits in the country. No further increase is scheduled and the rate is not indexed to inflation.
- Delaware's minimum wage is $15.00 per hour, in effect since January 1, 2025
- Tipped employees can be paid $2.23 in cash wages with a tip credit of up to $12.77
- The rate rose from $9.25 in 2021 to $15.00 in 2025 under Senate Bill 15 (2021)
- No increase is scheduled; Delaware does not index its minimum wage to inflation
- Delaware requires a 30-minute meal break after five consecutive hours of work
Current Delaware Minimum Wage
Delaware's minimum wage is $15.00 per hour, the rate in effect since January 1, 2025. The Delaware Department of Labor's Division of Industrial Affairs states the rate on its wage and hour page as "$15.00 as of January 1, 2025," and the US Department of Labor lists Delaware at $15.00 in its state minimum wage table.
The rate comes from Senate Bill 15, signed in July 2021, which raised the minimum wage in four steps: $10.50 on January 1, 2022, $11.75 in 2023, $13.25 in 2024, and $15.00 in 2025. Delaware law also provides that if the federal minimum wage rises above the state rate, the federal rate applies. With the phase-in complete, 2026 is the first full year without a scheduled change.
Delaware Minimum Wage vs Federal Minimum Wage
| Rate | Delaware | Federal (FLSA) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $15.00 per hour | $7.25 per hour |
| Tipped cash wage | $2.23 | $2.13 |
| Difference | $7.75 above federal | Baseline |
| Last changed | See schedule below | July 24, 2009 |
When state and federal rates differ, the employer must pay the higher one for any employee covered by both laws. In Delaware the state rate is higher, so it governs for every covered employee, and the federal $7.25 is irrelevant except as a floor for the few workers the state law exempts. The federal rate has been $7.25 since July 24, 2009, and there is no scheduled federal increase. Our minimum wage by state guide compares every state.
Tipped Minimum Wage in Delaware
Delaware allows a tip credit, and it is one of the largest in the country. The minimum cash wage for tipped employees is $2.23 per hour, which means the employer may claim a tip credit of up to $12.77 per hour against the $15.00 minimum wage. The Division of Industrial Affairs' tip FAQ is explicit: if hourly wages plus tips do not equal at least the state minimum wage for all hours worked in a pay period, the employer must pay the difference.
Because the credit is so large, shortfalls are common in slow weeks. Employers should track tips by pay period, not by month, and reconcile each period. Delaware defines a tipped employee as one who receives more than $30 a month in tips.
| Item | Delaware (2026) | Federal |
|---|---|---|
| Full minimum wage | $15.00 | $7.25 |
| Minimum cash wage for tipped employees | $2.23 | $2.13 |
| Maximum tip credit | $12.77 | $5.12 |
Delaware Minimum Wage Increase Schedule
| Effective date | Minimum wage |
|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2021 | $9.25 |
| Jan 1, 2022 | $10.50 |
| Jan 1, 2023 | $11.75 |
| Jan 1, 2024 | $13.25 |
| Jan 1, 2025 | $15.00 |
| Jan 1, 2026 | $15.00 |
No increase is scheduled. Delaware does not index its minimum wage, so any change requires the General Assembly to pass a new bill. Legislative issue briefs in 2025 examined the tipped subminimum wage, but no change to the $2.23 cash wage has been enacted as of September 2026.
Local Minimum Wages in Delaware
No Delaware city or county sets a local minimum wage. Wilmington, Dover, and Newark follow the statewide $15.00 rate.
How Delaware Compares to Neighboring States
Employers that hire across state lines, or compete for workers with employers over the border, should know how Delaware compares. Rates below are the US Department of Labor's figures as of July 1, 2026.
| State | 2026 minimum wage | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $15.00 | $3.63 |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | $2.83 |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $6.05 |
| Delaware | $15.00 | $2.23 |
Delaware sits in the middle of its region: New Jersey pays more, while Pennsylvania pays less. Remote employees are generally owed the minimum wage of the state where they physically work, not where the employer is based, so a Delaware company with staff in a neighboring state must apply that state's rate to those employees.
Who Is Covered and Who Is Exempt
Delaware's minimum wage law (19 Del. C. Chapter 9) covers most employers in the state. Exemptions from the state minimum wage include:
- Agricultural and domestic service employees
- Employees of the United States government
- Outside commission sales employees
- Bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees
- Employees in fishing and fish processing at sea
- Volunteer workers for educational, charitable, religious, or nonprofit organizations
- Junior camp counselors employed by nonprofit summer camps
Delaware previously allowed a lower youth wage and training wage; those were repealed in 2021 alongside the phase-in to $15, so all covered employees must receive the full rate. Employees exempt under state law may still be covered by the federal FLSA. Our exempt vs non-exempt guide explains the federal tests.
Overtime and the Minimum Wage
Delaware has no state overtime statute, so the federal FLSA applies: time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek for non-exempt employees. Delaware does require a 30-minute unpaid meal break for employees who work seven and a half or more consecutive hours, taken after the first two hours and before the last two, unless an exemption applies.
Here is what a 45-hour week costs at the Delaware minimum wage under the 40-hour rule:
| Line | Hours | Rate | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular hours | 40 | $15.00 | $600.00 |
| Overtime hours | 5 | $22.50 (1.5x) | $112.50 |
| Gross pay for the week | 45 | $712.50 |
Overtime must be calculated on the employee's regular rate, which includes shift differentials and non-discretionary bonuses, not just the base wage. See our guide to overtime pay laws in the US and use the overtime calculator to check a specific week.
What a Minimum Wage Worker Earns in Delaware
| Basis | Hourly | Weekly (40 hours) | Monthly (173.33 hours) | Annual (2,080 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full minimum wage | $15.00 | $600.00 | $2,599.95 | $31,200.00 |
| Tipped cash wage only | $2.23 | $89.20 | $386.53 | $4,638.40 |
These are gross figures before taxes and deductions, and they assume a full 40-hour week with no unpaid time off. A tipped employee's total pay must reach at least the full minimum wage row once tips are added. To convert a different hourly rate, use the salary to hourly calculator, and see our explainer on gross pay for what is included before deductions.
Employer Compliance Checklist
- Pay at least $15.00 per hour for every hour worked, including training, meetings, and time spent waiting or on call at the workplace
- If you take a tip credit, give written notice, track tips by pay period, and make up any shortfall to $15.00
- Display the required state and federal minimum wage posters where employees can see them
- Pay overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek, and never average hours across weeks
- Keep accurate time records for at least three years; a time card calculator helps verify weekly totals before payroll runs
- Review exempt classifications against the salary and duties tests; a job title alone does not make an employee exempt
- Cross-check breaks, leave, and overtime rules in our Delaware labor law guide
- Check the labor law compliance hub for related state rules on breaks, leave, and final pay
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Delaware in 2026?
$15.00 per hour. The rate reached $15.00 on January 1, 2025 and is unchanged for 2026.
Is Delaware raising the minimum wage again?
No increase is scheduled as of September 2026. Delaware does not index its rate to inflation, so a change would require new legislation.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Delaware?
$2.23 per hour in cash wages. The employer may take a tip credit of up to $12.77, but tips must bring the employee to at least $15.00 per hour.
Does Delaware have a youth or training wage?
No. Delaware repealed its youth and training wages in 2021. Under the federal FLSA, a $4.25 youth wage exists for the first 90 days, but Delaware's higher state rate governs.
Does Wilmington have its own minimum wage?
No. Delaware cities and counties follow the statewide rate.
Does Delaware require meal breaks?
Yes. Employees who work seven and a half consecutive hours or more must receive a 30-minute meal break, subject to some exemptions.
How much does a full-time minimum wage worker earn in Delaware?
$600 a week and $31,200 a year before taxes at $15.00 per hour, based on 2,080 hours.
Sources
- Delaware Division of Industrial Affairs, Wage and Hour
- Delaware Division of Industrial Affairs, tip shortfall FAQ
- Delaware General Assembly, Senate Bill 15 (2021)
- US DOL, State Minimum Wage Laws (July 1, 2026)
- US Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees
Reviewed September 2026
Rates and rules on this page were checked against the US Department of Labor's state minimum wage tables (effective July 1, 2026) and the Delaware sources listed above. Minimum wage laws change through legislation, ballot measures, indexing, and court decisions. Confirm the current rate with the state labor agency before setting pay, and see our labor law compliance guides for related rules.
Track Every Hour at the Right Rate
HiveDesk records clock-in and clock-out times, breaks, and overtime automatically so timesheets match the minimum wage and overtime rules that apply to each employee. $5/user/month, all features included, 14-day free trial.