Use our Delaware Paycheck Calculator to quickly figure out how much you’ll take home after taxes. Just enter your salary, pay frequency, and deductions and get a detailed breakdown of your gross pay, taxes, and net pay in seconds.
How Your Delaware Paycheck is Calculated
We apply this basic formula:
Gross Pay − (Federal Taxes + State Taxes + Local Taxes + FICA) = Net Pay
Here are the definitions of each component:
- Gross Pay – Your total earnings before any deductions, including salary, wages, overtime, bonuses
- Federal Income Tax – What the IRS withholds based on your filing status, deductions, and taxable income
- FICA (Social Security & Medicare) – Payroll taxes deducted to fund national programs
- State Income Tax – Delaware’s withholding based on its graduated tax brackets
- Local Taxes – Any municipal or local taxes that may apply in your city or county
A Guide to Delaware State Payroll Taxes
Delaware State Income Tax
Delaware uses a graduated tax structure (i.e. tax brackets that rise with income).
Here is a simplified table for 2025 (based on currently published Delaware rates):
| Taxable Income Range | Marginal Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $2,000 | 0.0 % |
| $2,001 – $5,000 | 2.20 % |
| $5,001 – $10,000 | 3.90 % |
| $10,001 – $20,000 | 4.80 % |
| $20,001 – $25,000 | 5.20 % |
| $25,001 – $60,000 | 5.55 % |
| Over $60,000 | 6.60 % |
Delaware allows a standard deduction (for example, $5,700 for single filers) and uses exemptions or credits under state tax rules to reduce taxable income.
Because of the graduated structure, your marginal rate may be higher than the effective (average) rate depending on your income.
State-Specific Programs & Withholdings
Delaware does not require a state disability insurance (SDI) withholding from employees.
Delaware employers pay state unemployment insurance (SUI) taxes, but that is an employer cost and typically does not come directly from your paycheck.
In some cases, if you live or work in Wilmington, you may see a local wage tax (for example, 0.76 %) applied.
Understanding Federal & FICA Taxes
These taxes apply in every state and take a significant share of your gross income:
- Social Security tax: 6.2 % on wages up to the annual cap
- Medicare tax: 1.45 % on all wages (and an additional 0.9 % Medicare surtax for high earners)
- Federal Income Tax: Withheld based on IRS brackets, your W-4 elections, deductions, and credits
When you combine federal tax withholding and FICA, that forms the base tax burden before adding state and local withholdings.
Local Taxes in Delaware
Delaware generally has no statewide local income tax outside of special city wage taxes.
A few examples:
- Wilmington: Employees who live or work in Wilmington may pay a local wage tax (e.g. 0.76 %) on their earnings
- Other municipalities currently do not levy additional income tax in most cases
If you live in Dover, Newark, Middletown, or elsewhere outside Wilmington, you likely won’t see a “local tax” line on your pay stub.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Delaware Paychecks
What is the minimum wage in Delaware?
As of now, Delaware’s minimum wage is $13.25 per hour.
Cities generally cannot set their own higher minimum wages, so this is the floor across the state.
How often are paydays in Delaware?
Delaware does not impose a specific state law requiring a certain pay frequency. Most employers pay bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or weekly. The key is consistency and that the employer adhere to the established pay schedule.
What is the Delaware state tax rate for 2025?
Delaware’s state income tax rates for 2025 range from 0.0 % up to 6.60 %, applied through graduated tax brackets.
Are 1099 contractors subject to Delaware taxes?
Yes. If you are a 1099 contractor in Delaware, you pay state income tax on your net earnings according to the same graduated tax brackets. You also pay self-employment tax to cover Social Security and Medicare obligations that an employer would otherwise withhold.
What are the overtime laws in Delaware?
Delaware requires overtime pay at 1.5 times your regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a week. Exempt employees (such as certain salaried executives or professionals) are not eligible for overtime.
Tips for More Accurate Estimates
- Enter your correct filing status, number of dependents, and any pre-tax deductions (such as retirement contributions, health insurance premiums) to improve the accuracy of your net pay estimate
- If you live or work in Wilmington, include the applicable local wage tax to see the full effect on your take-home pay
- Review your pay stub regularly to confirm that federal, state, and local withholdings match your expectations
- Update your inputs whenever your salary, bonuses, or deductions change to maintain accurate estimates
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