Delaware Minimum Wage 2026: What Changed

Delaware's 2026 minimum wage is $15.00 per hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The bigger 2026 change for Delaware employers is not the wage rate; it is the launch of state paid family and medical leave benefits, a new payroll withholding and compliance obligation employers need to build into their processes now.

Delaware Minimum Wage Rate Table

Overtime Rules in Delaware

Delaware follows federal FLSA overtime rules. Non-exempt employees earn 1.5x their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, with no separate state daily overtime trigger.

Paid Sick Leave and Family Leave

Delaware does not mandate paid sick leave for private employers. However, state paid family and medical leave benefits begin in 2026, a meaningful new compliance requirement. Employers should confirm current contribution rates and effective dates with the Delaware Department of Labor as this program rolls out.

Tipped Wages and Local Ordinances

Delaware allows a tip credit against the state minimum wage for tipped employees. Confirm current tipped-wage rates and any local ordinance questions with the state labor office contacts before setting pay practices.

What This Means for Payroll Compliance

Delaware's new paid family and medical leave program means payroll systems need updated withholding calculations and reporting starting in 2026. Multi-state employers rolling this out alongside other state PFML programs, sick leave laws, and minimum wage rates face real complexity, and missing a required withholding creates penalty exposure.

BEG's managed payroll service builds new state programs like Delaware's PFML into your payroll automatically, so you are compliant from day one without manually researching every rule change.

Frequently Asked Questions