Average Salaries in Delaware
Explore salaries across 539 occupations in Delaware. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $71.6K, +8.9% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 539 occupations and 466,740 total jobs in Delaware.
How the state compares
Delaware pays modestly above the national average. Most occupations here earn more than their national equivalents, but the gap is smaller than in top-tier markets.
Delaware has a smaller labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand or a narrower range of employers.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Dermatologists. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Delaware
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in Delaware
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Dermatologists | $442.1K | 40 |
| Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $324.1K | 190 |
| Physicians, All Other | $297.5K | 1,370 |
| Psychiatrists | $279.4K | 100 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $228K | 640 |
| Pediatricians, General | $219.2K | 180 |
| Chief Executives | $200K | 390 |
| Financial Managers | $181.6K | 2,810 |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | $181.2K | 560 |
| Lawyers | $173.5K | 2,920 |
Largest occupations in Delaware
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 14,290 | $99.5K |
| Retail Salespersons | 13,400 | $35.4K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 13,310 | $31.3K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 11,820 | $34.3K |
| Cashiers | 11,450 | $33.5K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 9,220 | $35.3K |
| Heavy And Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 9,040 | $57.6K |
| Waiters And Waitresses | 7,580 | $36.9K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 7,470 | $48.2K |
| Office Clerks, General | 7,230 | $42.7K |
What Delaware specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Delaware than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in Delaware
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Meat, Poultry, And Fish Cutters And Trimmers | 11.96 | $35.5K |
| Shampooers | 8.02 | $32.2K |
| Financial Risk Specialists | 5.83 | $139.4K |
| Chemical Engineers | 5.59 | $133.7K |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | 5.19 | $60.3K |
| Chemists | 4.65 | $129.9K |
| Biochemists And Biophysicists | 4.62 | $101.9K |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | 4.31 | $44.9K |
| Miscellaneous Construction And Related Workers | 3.74 | $43.1K |
| Mail Clerks And Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service | 3.68 | $36.5K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
Metros inside Delaware
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Major metros in Delaware
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | $64.4K | 60,560 |
Common salary questions for Delaware
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.