Minimum wage in Delaware in 2027
$15.00 per hour1
per hourGeneral rate from January 1, 2025
Year 2027
Rates in force during 2027
| Applies to | Rate | Effective | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
StandardSource: 19 Del. C. § 902(a) Except as may otherwise be provided under this chapter, every employer shall pay to every employee in any occupation wages of a rate: (1) Not less than $9.25 per hour until January 1, 2022; (2) Not less than $10.50 per hour effective January 1, 2022; (3) Not less than $11.75 per hour effective January 1, 2023; (4) Not less than $13.25 per hour effective January 1, 2024; (5) Not less than $15.00 per hour effective January 1, 2025.
Verified September 26, 2026 | $15.00January 1, 2025 – current | January 1, 2025 | current |
1 rate in force
Rates by worker type, industry and employer size
The highest rate that fits the job applies.
| Applies to | Rate | Cash wage | Max tip credit | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tipped employees · employee who customarily and regularly receives more than $30 per month in tipsSourceCurrent Minimum Wage: $15.00 as of January 1, 2025 Tipped Employees: Minimum cash wage of $2.23/hour, with rules ensuring total earnings meet minimum wage.
Verified September 26, 2026 | $15.00January 1, 2025 | $2.23 | — | January 1, 2025 |
2022 to 2026
History
Each step is a rate row with its own quoted source.
Show the history as a table
| Applies to | Rate | Effective | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
StandardSource: 19 Del. C. § 902(a) Except as may otherwise be provided under this chapter, every employer shall pay to every employee in any occupation wages of a rate: (1) Not less than $9.25 per hour until January 1, 2022; (2) Not less than $10.50 per hour effective January 1, 2022; (3) Not less than $11.75 per hour effective January 1, 2023; (4) Not less than $13.25 per hour effective January 1, 2024;
Verified September 26, 2026 | $13.25January 1, 2024 – January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2024 | January 1, 2025 |
StandardSource: 19 Del. C. § 902(a) Except as may otherwise be provided under this chapter, every employer shall pay to every employee in any occupation wages of a rate: (1) Not less than $9.25 per hour until January 1, 2022; (2) Not less than $10.50 per hour effective January 1, 2022; (3) Not less than $11.75 per hour effective January 1, 2023;
Verified September 26, 2026 | $11.75January 1, 2023 – January 1, 2024 | January 1, 2023 | January 1, 2024 |
StandardSource: 19 Del. C. § 902(a) Except as may otherwise be provided under this chapter, every employer shall pay to every employee in any occupation wages of a rate: (1) Not less than $9.25 per hour until January 1, 2022; (2) Not less than $10.50 per hour effective January 1, 2022;
Verified September 26, 2026 | $10.50January 1, 2022 – January 1, 2023 | January 1, 2022 | January 1, 2023 |
BLS · May 2025
How the minimum compares with typical pay in Delaware
60%of the median hourly wage
The median hourly wage across all occupations in Delaware is $25.09 and the mean is $33.60 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates). The minimum wage of $15.00 is 60% of the median; the 10th-percentile wage is $15.22, so roughly the lowest-paid tenth of workers earn within $0.22 of the minimum. BLS
| Applies to | Rate |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $15.00 |
| 10th percentile | $15.22 |
| 25th percentile | $17.93 |
| Median | $25.09 |
| Mean | $33.60 |
9 rules · September 27, 2026
Labor law basics in Delaware
What the law adds on top of the hourly rate. Follow the citation for exceptions.
Meal breaks
Employers must give a 30-minute meal break after 5 consecutive hours of work, unless the employee is exempt by occupation.
Source
Delaware law also requires a 30-minute meal break after five consecutive hours of work, unless the employee is exempt by occupation.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
- Notes
- 19 Del. C. § 707.
Verified September 27, 2026
Pay frequency
Employers must pay all wages on regular paydays designated in advance, at least once a month, and within 7 days after the close of the pay period.
Source: 19 Del. C. ch. 11 (§§ 1101-1115)
(a) Every employer shall pay all wages due to the employer’s employees on regular paydays designated in advance by the employer, which shall be at least once during each calendar month, and in lawful money of the United States or checks provided suitable arrangements are made by the employer for cashing such checks for the full amount of the wages due at a bank or other business establishment convenient to the place of employment. But upon written request of an employee, an employer may pay such employee all wages due by credit to a bank account designated by the employee. (b) Every employer shall pay all wages due within 7 days from the close of the pay period in which the wages were earned; provided, that if the regular payday falls on a nonwork day, payment shall be made on the preceding workday.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Final paycheck
When an employee quits, resigns, is discharged, suspended or laid off, final wages are due on the later of the next regular payday for the last day worked or 3 business days after the last day worked.
Source: 19 Del. C. ch. 11 (§§ 1101-1115)
(a) (1) Whenever an employee quits, resigns, is discharged, suspended, or laid off, the wages earned by the employee become due and payable by the employer on the later of the following: a. The next date the wages would be paid through the last day worked under the employer’s regular pay cycle as if the employment had not stopped. b. Three business days after the last day worked.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Tips
Tips belong to the primary direct service employee and the employer may never take any portion; employees may set up their own tip pool, and an employer may require pooling only among direct service employees serving the same customer, capped at 15% of the primary server's tips. (employees in customarily tipped occupations)
Source: 19 Del. C. § 902
(d) (1) Any gratuity received by an employee, indicated on any receipt as a gratuity, or deposited in or about a place of business for direct services rendered by an employee is the sole property of the primary direct service employee and may not be taken or retained by the employer except as required by state or federal law. (2) Employees may establish a system for the sharing or pooling of gratuities among direct service employees, provided that the employer shall not in any fashion require or coerce employees to agree upon such a system. Where more than 1 direct service employee provides personal service to the same customer from whom gratuities are received, the employer may require that such employees establish a tip pooling or sharing system not to exceed 15% of the primary direct service employee’s gratuities. The employer shall not, under any circumstances, receive any portion of the gratuities received by the employees.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
- Notes
- 19 Del. C. § 902(d). The tip credit allowed under § 902(b) leaves a cash wage of at least $2.23 an hour.
Verified September 27, 2026
Young workers' hours
Minors under 16 may work at most 4 hours on a school day, 8 hours on a non-school day, 18 hours in a 5-day school week, 40 hours in a non-school week and 6 days a week. (minors under 16)
Source: 19 Del. C. ch. 5 (§§ 501-515)
(d) A minor under 16 years of age shall not be employed or permitted to work more than: (1) Four hours on any day when school is in session; (2) Eight hours on any day when school is not in session; (3) Eighteen hours in any week when school is in session for 5 days; (4) Forty hours in any week when school is not in session; and (5) Six days in any week.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
- Notes
- Minors under 18 may not combine more than 12 hours of school and work a day and need a half-hour break after 5 continuous hours (19 Del. C. ch. 5).
Verified September 27, 2026
Required poster
Every employer must keep a Department-approved summary of the minimum wage law and its regulations posted in a conspicuous, accessible place where employees normally pass; copies are free on request.
Source: 19 Del. C. § 902
Every employer shall keep a summary of this chapter, approved by the Department, and of any applicable regulations published thereunder or a summary thereof, approved by the Department, posted in a conspicuous and accessible location in or about the premises or place of employment and where employees normally pass. Employers shall be furnished copies thereof by the Department on request without charge.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
- Notes
- 19 Del. C. § 908; § 1108 also requires posting a summary of the Wage Payment and Collection Act.
Verified September 27, 2026
Recovering unpaid wages
Employees can sue in any competent court for unpaid wages plus liquidated damages, with costs and attorney's fees awarded, and the Delaware Department of Labor can bring the action and settle the claim for them.
Source: 19 Del. C. ch. 11 (§§ 1101-1115)
(a) A civil action to recover unpaid wages and liquidated damages may be maintained in any court of competent jurisdiction. (b) Whenever the Department determines that wages, as required under this chapter, have not been paid, the Department may bring any legal action necessary to collect such claim. With the consent of the aggrieved employee, the Department shall have the power to settle and adjust any such claim to the same extent as might the assigning employee.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Overtime
Covered non-exempt employees must be paid at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek; federal law sets no daily overtime and no weekend or holiday premium. (non-exempt employees covered by the FLSA)
Source: 29 U.S.C. § 207
Unless specifically exempted, employees covered by the Act must receive overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek at a rate not less than time and one-half their regular rates of pay. There is no limit in the Act on the number of hours employees aged 16 and older may work in any workweek. The Act does not require overtime pay for work on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or regular days of rest, as such.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
Verified September 26, 2026
Overtime-exempt salary threshold
Executive, administrative and professional employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime only if they meet the duties tests and are paid a salary of at least $684 per week ($35,568 a year). (executive, administrative, professional and outside sales employees)
Source: 29 C.F.R. Part 541
To qualify for exemption, employees generally must meet certain tests regarding their job duties and be paid on a salary basis at not less than $684 per week.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
- Notes
- The 2024 rule raising the level to $844/$1,128 was vacated in November 2024; DOL enforces the 2019 level of $684.
Verified September 26, 2026
$15.00 / hour
Calculators
Estimates before tax at this rate. Nothing you type leaves this page.
What this wage pays
| Weekly | $600.00 |
|---|---|
| Monthly52 weeks ÷ 12 | $2,600.00 |
| Annual52 weeks | $31,200.00 |
| Overtime rate1.5× where overtime applies | $22.50 |
4 questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Delaware in 2027?
$15.00 per hour since January 1, 2025. For a 40-hour week that is about $600.00 a week or $31,200.00 a year before tax.
Is the minimum wage in Delaware increasing?
No increase is scheduled on record as of October 1, 2026. Inflation-indexed jurisdictions announce the next figure a few months before it takes effect.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Delaware?
Employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $2.23 per hour as long as tips bring them to $15.00.
How does Delaware compare with other states?
Delaware's $15.00 ranks 12 of 51 state general rates, against a federal floor of $7.25.
2 levels of law
How this rate is resolved
The highest minimum that covers the work location applies.
Employers must pay the highest minimum that covers the work location. WageTable checks each level in turn:
- United States
- Delaware
Delaware sets 2 rules of its own.
Notes on this jurisdiction's rules and sources
19 Del. C. § 902 set steps to $15.00 on January 1, 2025; no indexing after that (federal rate applies if higher). Tipped cash wage per § 902(b). History before 2022 not yet sourced.
Delaware
Enforcement
Enforced by Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Industrial Affairs (Wage and Hour). Employers must display the official minimum wage poster.
Underpaid?File a wage claim