Delaware Minimum Wage Calculator 2026

Delaware's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour, more than double the federal floor of $7.25 that still governs states without their own higher standard. The state reached $15 through a series of scheduled annual increases, and it now applies to most hourly workers across private employers regardless of company size. Because the state rate is well above the federal one, Delaware employers must pay the $15 figure rather than the federal minimum.

Tipped workers operate under a separate rule. Delaware sets a tipped cash wage of $2.23 an hour, and employers may take a tip credit, the gap between that cash wage and the full minimum, only if the worker's tips bring total hourly earnings up to at least $15. If tips fall short, the employer has to make up the difference so the employee still clears the full minimum. Coverage and enforcement run through the Delaware Department of Labor, which handles wage complaints, and some local governments can adopt higher minimums than the state floor, so the applicable rate can occasionally depend on the city as well as the state.