Employment laws, and particularly minimum wage laws in the United States are not clear or straightforward to follow, especially when you are looking at the tipped minimum wage, and tipped employees in Delaware.
Workers at restaurants, bars, hotels, cruise ships, and other service providers often expect to be paid a relatively small hourly wage supplemented heavily by tips (gratuities).
Many service industry workers in Delaware base their entire pay on tips and rely on them to cover their living expenses and lifestyle.
So, What is a Tipped Delaware Employee?
A tipped worker in Delaware is somebody who earns their wages through tips rather than a fixed salary or higher hourly rate that meets or exceeds the minimum wage in the state. Federal law establishes the rules of what is considered a tipped employee vs. a non-tipped employee.
For Delaware, if an employee receives more than $30 per month in tips, they are considered to be a tipped employee by federal standards.
These employees often include workers such as bartenders, servers in restaurants, hotel workers (like bellhops and porters), valet car parking attendants, and more. The laws surrounding the definition of a Delaware-tipped employee follow federal guidelines.
Tipped Employees and the Delaware Tipped Minimum Wage
To comply with Delaware minimum wage laws, employers must ensure that when including tips, their employees are being paid at the very least the state minimum wage rate set for Delaware tipped workers, also known as Delaware tipped minimum wage for employees.
If those employees are not making that minimum pay rate, it is then the employer’s responsibility to make up the difference.
Many factors contribute to the employment law in Delaware that will impact how employers handle tipped employees.
Understanding the standard minimum wage in Delaware, the federal laws controlling wages, and how pay and wages work for tipped employees is pivotal if you are considering starting a service-related business with tipped employees.
The tipped minimum wage in Delaware for 2024 is $2.23 per hour and the current minimum wage in Delaware for 2024 is $13.25 per hour for non-tipped employees.
Delaware law requires the Delaware Department of Labor to calculate a minimum wage increase each year.
The annual calculation is based on the percentage increase in the state’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) previous 12-month period from when the calculation occurred.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Tipped Employees
The Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, or the FLSA, is a federal law from the U.S. Department of Labor. This law establishes a national minimum wage, defines classifications for employees, and covers other essential standards and requirements for Delaware employers.
Federal law requires that employers make tipped employees aware of the cash wage paid. They must also let them know about the tip credit, and explain any tip pooling systems at the workplace. Currently, the national direct hourly salary is only $2.13 per hour.
Due to Delaware’s minimum wage rate being higher than the federal minimum wage rate, the state laws supersede the federal regulations.
Tipped Employees, Tip Credits – other Considerations for Employers in Delaware
Since the rules for tipped employees are different than non-tipped employees, there are other ways that employers can calculate the minimum amount earned by a tipped employee. One of these ways is through tip credits.
The Delaware tip credit is currently $11.02 per hour – this means that employers can claim a $11.02 hourly credit against the tipped employee’s cash minimum wage of $2.23 per hour.
This credit effectively turns the $13.25 per hour minimum wage into a $2.23 per hour minimum wage that employers must pay to tipped employees no matter how much they earn.
Let’s assume a tipped employee earned less than $2.23 per hour as their tipped wage (the minimum cash wage). In that case, the employer must pay the difference between what they made and the total $13.25 per hour.
A minimum cash wage ensures that tipped employees earn a wage, even if a slow workweek or other downturn occurs and they do not receive sufficient tips in a certain week or period.
This minimum wage rate ensures that servers and others in tipped roles in Delaware who do not make enough with tips can still earn a weekly wage when working full-time at $530 ($13.25 x 40 hours).
Delaware Tipped Minimum Wage History Table
The minimum wage in Delaware for tipped employees has been improving almost year on year, much the same as the regular minimum wage.
Below is a historical table that you can use as a reference for the tipped minimum wage in Delaware over the years.
| State | Tipped Wage | Tip Credit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware tipped minimum wage 2023 | $2.23 | $9.52 | $11.75 |
| Delaware tipped minimum wage 2022 | $2.23 | $8.27 | $10.50 |
| Delaware tipped minimum wage 2021 | $2.23 | $7.02 | $9.25 |
| Delaware tipped minimum wage 2020 | $2.23 | $7.02 | $9.25 |
| Delaware tipped minimum wage 2019 | $2.23 | $6.52 | $8.75 |
| Delaware tipped minimum wage 2018 | $2.23 | $6.02 | $8.25 |
| Delaware tipped minimum wage 2017 | $2.23 | $6.02 | $8.25 |
| Delaware tipped minimum wage 2016 | $2.23 | $6.02 | $8.25 |
| Delaware tipped minimum wage 2015 | $2.23 | $6.02 | $8.25 |
How Does This Affect My Business?
If you are planning to start (or purchase) a new business in Delaware due to the ever-growing opportunities presented by the state or simply considering Delaware as a place to live and work due to the abundant natural beauty of the state, you should certainly take this information about tipped employees and the state minimum wage into account.
While you may want to speak with an employment attorney or accounting firm for legal and tax advice about your business, understanding the minimum wage laws for tipped employees can help you make an informed decision on whether or not the state is right for you and your plans.
In Delaware, much the same as most other U.S. states, tipped jobs and the industries surrounding them are very important to the state’s economy.
Tipped Employees (Servers) in Delaware
Today there are just under 2,000 eating and drinking establishments in Delaware, and there are more than 46,000 restaurant and food service jobs in the state, which is impressive when you consider the small size of the state.
Servers are those who provide and serve their customers with food and beverages in a restaurant or similar type of business where food and drinks are brought to the table.
As part of this service, a server will typically receive tips (gratuities) for doing so. Delaware servers usually rely less on their hourly wage and more on the generosity of guests.
Delaware Department of Labor Contact Details
To learn more about the laws surrounding tipped employees from an employer and an employee perspective, you can contact the Delaware Department of Labor.
You can also file a complaint if you feel you are not being paid the correct minimum wage or overtime rate.
Here are the contact details:
Delaware Department of Labor
Blue Hen Corporate Center
655 S. Bay Road, Suite 2H
Dover, DE 19901
Telephone: 302-739-5473
Email: joanna.staib@delaware.gov
