United States · Delaware · Minimum wage
Delaware minimum wage 2027.
The Delaware minimum wage for 2027, whether it changes from 2026, and what it pays by the week, month and year.
Short answer: Delaware's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour and no change for 2027 is published as of November 9, 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Labor state table. The state adopts the federal minimum by reference if the federal rate is higher. Tipped employees have a $2.23 minimum cash wage and a $12.77 tip credit, so tips must bring the total to at least $15.00.
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Tipped worker top-up
The Delaware minimum wage in 2027
The U.S. Department of Labor state table, updated November 5, 2026, lists a basic minimum rate of $15.00 an hour for Delaware and says the state adopts the federal minimum wage rate by reference if the federal rate is greater than the state rate. The $15.00 figure is far above the federal $7.25, so the federal clause matters only if Congress ever sets the federal rate above the Delaware one.
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic minimum rate | $15.00 | $15.00 (no change published) |
| Tipped employees (cash wage) | $2.23 | $2.23 |
| Tip credit | $12.77 | $12.77 |
| If the federal rate is higher | Federal rate applies | Federal rate applies |
What changed from 2026
Nothing is published for 2027. The Department of Labor table lists $15.00 with no scheduled step and no indexing formula for Delaware. If the state raises the rate, the Department of Labor table will show it first. Until then, a 2027 pay plan in Delaware should use $15.00 as the floor.
How tipped pay works in Delaware
The tipped-wage table lists Delaware with a $2.23 minimum cash wage and a $12.77 tip credit against the $15.00 minimum, and a tip threshold of more than $30 a month. The cash wage is the lowest of the figures here and the credit the largest, so a tipped worker's tips have to cover almost $13 an hour on average for the employer to avoid paying a top-up.
Worked example (2027)
A full-time worker at $15.00 an hour, 40 hours a week, earns $600.00 a week, $1,200.00 every two weeks, $2,600.00 a month and $31,200.00 a year (2,080 hours) before tax. Part-time at 25 hours a week is $375.00 a week and $19,500.00 a year. For a tipped worker the direct cash wage is $2.23. With 30 hours a week and tips averaging $8.00 an hour, pay is $10.23 an hour against $15.00, so the employer owes a top-up of $4.77 an hour, $143.10 for the week.
Common mix-ups
- The tipped cash wage is $2.23, not $2.13. Delaware sets its own figure slightly above the federal cash wage.
- $12.77 is a tip credit, not a tip requirement. The employer pays any shortfall if tips plus the cash wage do not reach $15.00.
- The federal clause only matters if federal pay rises above $15.00. Until then Delaware's own rate governs.
- Local minimums can be higher. Some local governments set rates above their state minimum, and the Department of Labor table does not display them.
Method
The converter multiplies the hourly rate by your hours per week for weekly pay, doubles it for two weeks, multiplies by 52 weeks (2,080 hours at 40 a week) for annual pay and divides the annual figure by 12 for a month. It is gross pay before tax. The tipped-worker check adds the $2.23 cash wage and your average tips per hour and compares the total with $15.00. If it falls short, the shortfall times your hours is the weekly top-up. Everything runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere. Figures were read from the sources below on November 9, 2026.
What this does not cover
- Overtime rules, which the state table does not list for Delaware.
- Youth and training wage provisions.
- Taxes and deductions: pay here is gross pay before tax.
- County or city rules and employer agreements that pay more than the minimum.
Figures read from the sources below on November 9, 2026. Last updated November 9, 2026.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws (updated November 5, 2026) (retrieved November 9, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (retrieved November 9, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Delaware in 2027?
It is $15.00 an hour, and the U.S. Department of Labor state table shows no 2027 change as of November 9, 2026.
What is the Delaware tipped minimum wage?
The tipped-wage table lists a $2.23 cash wage and a $12.77 tip credit, so cash wage plus tips must equal at least $15.00 an hour.
Will Delaware raise its minimum wage in 2027?
No increase is listed on the Department of Labor table, which was updated November 5, 2026.
How much is $15.00 an hour a year?
At 40 hours a week for 52 weeks it is $31,200.00 before tax, or $600.00 a week.
What if the federal minimum wage goes above $15.00?
The table says Delaware adopts the federal minimum by reference if the federal rate is greater than the state rate.
What is the tip threshold in Delaware?
The tipped-wage table lists more than $30 a month for Delaware.
Where can I check the rate myself?
On the U.S. Department of Labor state minimum wage table, linked in the sources section.
Not legal advice
This page is general information from an unofficial guide, not legal, payroll or tax advice. Wage laws change and exemptions apply to some workers. Confirm the rate with the state labor agency before you set pay. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.