2025 Delaware Minimum Wage
The 2025 Delaware Minimum Wage is $15.
Effective 2025-01-01Source: Understanding the Minimum Wage Increases in Delaware (Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Industrial Affairs)Verified 2026-08-31
Compared with 2024
| Item | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $13.25 | $15 | +$1.75 (+13.2%) |
Who it applies to
Non-exempt employees working in the state of Delaware. Certain workers are exempt, including agriculture and domestic service employees, U.S. Government employees, commission-based outside salespeople, executives, administrators, and professional workers, fishing and fish processing employees at sea, volunteers and junior camp counselors at nonprofit organizations, and inmates in Department of Correction programs.
What changed this year, and why
Delaware's state minimum wage increased to $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2025, up from $13.25 per hour in 2024.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Delaware for 2025?
- The minimum wage in Delaware is $15.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2025.
- Are tipped employees subject to the full minimum wage?
- Tipped employees receive a lower cash wage set by state law, but employers must ensure that tips bring total earnings to at least the full minimum wage. Employers may not keep tips, and tip pooling is limited to 15 percent of actual tips received.
- What was the minimum wage in Delaware in 2024?
- The minimum wage in Delaware was $13.25 per hour in 2024.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Delaware does not authorize any special subminimum wage rate for minors, students, or workers in training. The state's minimum wage of $15 per hour that took effect on January 1, 2025, applies to covered employees across the board. While Delaware law does exempt certain categories of workers entirely—such as agriculture and domestic service employees, fishing industry workers at sea, inmates in Department of Correction programs, and volunteers or junior camp counselors at nonprofit organizations—these are full exemptions rather than reduced rates. This means that if a minor or student in Delaware is employed in a non-exempt position, the employer must pay them at least $15 per hour. Employers cannot pay a lower training wage or youth wage simply because the employee is young or still learning. Workers and employers in Delaware should confirm whether a specific job classification falls under one of the statutory exemptions listed in state law, but there is no separate lower tier for students or trainees.
Understanding these exemptions ensures that both employers and employees are aware of their rights and obligations under Delaware law.
Understanding the Minimum Wage Increases in Delaware (Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Industrial Affairs)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Workers in Delaware who have questions about minimum wage rates or who believe their rights have been violated should contact the state's Division of Industrial Affairs, which oversees wage and hour matters. Delaware's Department of Labor actively works to protect workers' rights, including collecting minimum wages owed. If you believe your rights have been violated, or if you have questions about the new wage standards, the Department is ready to assist. The Division can be reached by email at wages@delaware.gov or by fax at the number listed on the state's wage poster. This office handles complaints related to unpaid minimum wages, improper deductions, tip credit violations, and other wage-related issues. Employees do not need to hire a private attorney to file a complaint—the state agency will review the claim and may pursue recovery on the worker's behalf. Anyone working in Delaware who has concerns about their pay should reach out to this office with details about their employer and the wages they received.
Delaware's Department of Labor actively works to protect workers' rights, including collecting minimum wages owed. If you believe your rights have been violated, or if you have questions about the new wage standards, the Department is ready to assist.
Understanding the Minimum Wage Increases in Delaware (Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Industrial Affairs)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
Delaware law allows employers to pay tipped workers a lower direct cash wage of $2.23 per hour, as long as the employee's tips bring total hourly earnings up to at least the state minimum. Employers may not keep an employee's tips except where legally required. Tip pooling is permitted but may not exceed 15% of the actual tips the worker received. This means that in Delaware, a server or bartender must still walk away with at least $15 per hour once tips and the $2.23 cash wage are combined; if tips fall short in any workweek, the employer must make up the difference so the worker receives the full minimum wage for every hour worked.
Employees who earn tips have specific wage guidelines: • The minimum cash wage is set at $2.23 per hour.
Understanding the Minimum Wage Increases in Delaware (Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Industrial Affairs)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
Understanding the Minimum Wage Increases in Delaware (Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Industrial Affairs)
- Hourly
Mark your calendars! Future increases are as follows: • Reaching $15.00 by January 1, 2025
Other years
Every Delaware Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state