How Delaware taxes your paycheck
Delaware has progressive income tax rates from 0% to 6.6% for tax year 2026, in 7 brackets. Before the rate applies, the calculator subtracts a standard deduction of $3,250 for single filers, $6,500 for married couples filing jointly and a personal exemption credit of $110 ($220 for a married couple) that reduces the tax itself.
Traditional 401(k) contributions are excluded from Delaware taxable wages, and Section 125 health premiums are excluded.
Figures are from Delaware Declaration of Estimated Income Tax for Individuals 2026: instructions (tax year 2026).
Take-home pay examples in Delaware
A single filer earning $60,000 in Delaware, paid every two weeks, takes home about $1,826.80 per paycheck, or $47,497 a year. Of the $60,000, $5,020 goes to federal income tax, $4,590 to Social Security and Medicare, and $2,653 to Delaware income tax, plus $240 of state payroll contributions.
At $100,000, take-home pay is about $73,521 a year ($2,827.73 per paycheck), with $5,259 of Delaware income tax. A married couple filing jointly on one $100,000 salary keeps about $79,376, because of the larger standard deduction and wider brackets. The table below shows more salaries.
Delaware payroll contributions
Delaware Paid Leave (full coverage employee share): 0.4% of wages up to $184,500 a year (tax year 2026; official source). This is deducted from your pay in addition to income tax and is included in the calculator.
Local income taxes in Delaware
Wilmington imposes a city wage/earned income tax. Local taxes are not included in the calculator, so subtract them separately if they apply to you.
Hourly pay in Delaware
A full-time worker earning $20 an hour (40 hours a week, $41,600 a year) in Delaware takes home about $1,300.28 every two weeks, or $650.14 a week on average, as a single filer. Delaware income tax takes $1,632 of that pay a year, an effective state rate of 3.923%. Choose Hourly wage in the calculator to enter your own rate and hours.
Delaware compared with neighboring states
On a $75,000 salary (single, no pre-tax deductions), take-home pay in Delaware is about $57,684 a year. It is higher in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. The comparison table below shows the difference in dollars. Where you live usually decides which state taxes your wages, but people who live in one state and work in another should check both states' rules on residency and credits.
What else to know about Delaware taxes
There is no separate head-of-household schedule; married couples use the same schedule and may lower tax by filing separately.
Delaware Paid Leave contributions started January 1, 2025 and benefits started January 1, 2026. Full coverage costs 0.8% of wages, and employers may deduct up to half (0.4%) from your pay. Smaller employers may cover only parental leave or be exempt.
Wilmington charges a city wage tax that is not included here.
What this estimate does not include
Tax credits, itemized deductions, other income, overtime, bonuses, local income taxes and post-tax deductions are not included, and actual withholding follows your Form W-4 and Delaware's own withholding rules. Use it as a planning estimate. For the method and the federal rules, see the main paycheck calculator.