Delaware State Minimum Wage

The Delaware state minimum wage for 2023 is sitting at $11.75 per hour, a $1.00 increase from the previous year of 2022. It is important to keep an eye on the Delaware minimum wage due to the state often increases the minimum wage rate multiple times a year.

It is deemed unusual for states to change their minimum wage more than once in a calendar year, however, it seems to be becoming a more common occurrence with the same happening to the Minimum Wage in Connecticut, as it also changed more than once in a calendar year, so keeping up to date is with Delaware’s minimum wage is important.

If you are a full-time worker on minimum wage in Delaware, your earnings could be as follows:

• Daily Minimum Wage: $94.00 (based on an 8-hour working day).
• Weekly Minimum Wage: $470.00 (based on a 40-hour week).
• Yearly Minimum Wage: $24,440 (based on being paid 52 weeks per year).

Delaware has a history of keeping the same minimum wage over long periods of time, between 2009 and 2014 the Delaware state minimum wage remained a consistent $7.25 per hour (federal minimum wage).

Since staying at $8.25 for 4 consecutive years, 2019 saw the minimum wage increase, not once, but twice, increasing by a whole dollar per hour in less than a year. The graphic below highlights the Delaware minimum wage over the past several years. The minimum wage increased in 2023 from $10.50 per hour 2022 to $11.75 in 2023.

You can view and download the Delaware minimum wage labor law poster for 2022-2023 here at no charge. Employers must display an official poster outlining the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), ensuring that accurate employee time and pay records are kept.

You can find out more about Delaware’s wage laws, workers’ rights, and other issues you may have at the official Delaware Department of Labor website.

Delaware Minimum Wage Exemptions 2023

With the latest minimum wage rate being released, it is important to be aware of the exceptions to the minimum wage in case you are affiliated with one of the following industries or job roles:

• Employees working in Agriculture.
• Employees in domestic service or working for private homes.
• U.S. Government employees.
• Outside commission-paid salespeople.
• Bonafide executives, administrators, and professionals.
• Employees involved in fishing and fish processing.
• Volunteer workers.
• Delaware tipped employees (those who earn tips as part of their wage).
• Summer camp or Junior camp employees.

Below are the various minimum wage exemptions with some situational examples.

Delaware Student Minimum Wage

The minimum wage for student employees in Delaware is 85% of the Delaware state minimum wage, making their hourly pay $9.99 per hour in 2023.

This hourly rate is for any hours worked up to 20 hours per week. As a student employee, once you surpass 20 hours per week, you will be eligible to be paid the Delaware minimum wage rate of $11.75 per hour.

Being a student can be financially challenging, leading many students to pick up part-time jobs to make extra money while studying. Despite a student minimum wage rate, many Delaware employers will not necessarily follow it and pay you equal to or more than the statewide minimum wage.

Many work-study programs are available at universities, which is a route many students go down. Still, coffee shop, cafe, bar, and restaurant jobs are commonly taken by students as they can work them into their class schedule.

Delaware Under 20 Minimum Wage

If you are under 20 years old in Delaware, federal law allows your employer to pay you as little as $4.25 per hour for your first 90 days of employment.

Once the 90-day period is over, you will be eligible to be paid the 2023 Delaware minimum wage of $11.75 per hour or potentially even more.

Fortunately for young workers, this is 90 calendar days and not 90 working days; therefore, it can be completed relatively quickly and within about three months.

Delaware Tipped Minimum Wage

If you are a tipped employee in Delaware (someone who receives regular tips as a part of their job) then you are eligible to be paid a minimum wage of $2.23 per hour, with a tip credit of $9.52 per hour, ensuring that you reach the statewide minimum wage regardless if you make enough hourly tips.

Delaware Overtime Minimum Wage

Once you work over 40 hours a week, you are eligible to be paid an overtime rate of 1.5 times your hourly wage for every hour you work past 40. So, the overtime minimum wage in Delaware is $17.63 per hour, 1.5 times the minimum wage of $11.75 per hour.

Delaware Minimum Wage History

The table below provides the current rate and history of Delaware’s minimum wage over the past 40+ years since 1983. You can see when there were increases in the minimum wage, how much they were, and what percentage increase it represents each year.