Delaware paycheck taxes at a glance (2026)
| State income tax | 0% on the first $2,000 of taxable income, then six brackets from 2.2% to 6.6% on income over $60,000 |
|---|---|
| Deductions & credits | A standard deduction of $3,250 (single) or $6,500 (married filing jointly); A personal credit of $110 (single) or $220 (joint) subtracted from the tax |
| State payroll taxes | Paid Leave (up to 0.4% of wages up to $184,500, half of the 0.8% rate at employers with 25 or more workers) |
| Local income taxes | Wilmington levies a 1.25% earned income tax on residents and on nonresidents who work in the city. |
| Federal (every state) | 2026 brackets from 10% to 37%; Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500; Medicare 1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000 |
| Sales tax | No general sales tax — Delaware sales tax calculator |
How Delaware taxes your paycheck
0% on the first $2,000 of taxable income, then six brackets from 2.2% to 6.6% on income over $60,000. The calculation starts from federal adjusted gross income with Delaware modifications, and filers get a standard deduction of $3,250 (single) or $6,500 (married filing jointly) and a personal credit of $110 (single) or $220 (joint) subtracted from the tax. Employers withhold it each payday using the state's withholding formula, so a pay stub can differ a little from the annual tax estimated here; any difference settles when you file your Delaware return.
State payroll contributions
- Paid Leave: up to 0.4% of wages up to $184,500, half of the 0.8% rate at employers with 25 or more workers. Source: Delaware Code Title 19, §3705 (rates for 2025 and 2026).
The calculator applies these to gross pay minus Section 125 (pre-tax health) deductions. They fund benefits you can claim yourself, such as partial wage replacement during a disability or a family or medical leave.
Worked example: $65,000 salary in Delaware
A single filer paid every two weeks (26 paychecks), with no 401(k) or health deductions — the calculator's starting values:
| Line | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,500.00 | $65,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | −$216.15 | −$5,620.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$155.00 | −$4,030.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$36.25 | −$942.50 |
| Delaware income tax | −$113.42 | −$2,949.00 |
| DE Paid Leave | −$10.00 | −$260.00 |
| Take-home pay | $1,969.17 | $51,198.50 |
Federal: $65,000 − $16,100 standard deduction = $48,900 taxable, which the 2026 single brackets tax at $5,620.00.
Delaware: $65,000 − $3,250 standard deduction = $61,750 taxable; the brackets give $3,059.00 − $110.00 personal exemption credit = $2,949.00 (4.54% of pay).
Paid Leave $260.00.
All taxes together take 21.2% of gross pay, leaving $51,198.50.
Take-home pay at other salaries in Delaware
| Salary | Single, per year | Single, biweekly | DE income tax | Total tax rate | Married jointly, per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $32,617 | $1,254.50 | $1,543 | 18.5% | $34,747 |
| $50,000 | $40,057 | $1,540.65 | $2,098 | 19.9% | $42,387 |
| $65,000 | $51,199 | $1,969.17 | $2,949 | 21.2% | $53,687 |
| $80,000 | $60,851 | $2,340.42 | $3,939 | 23.9% | $64,706 |
| $100,000 | $73,521 | $2,827.73 | $5,259 | 26.5% | $79,376 |
| $150,000 | $104,632 | $4,024.31 | $8,559 | 30.2% | $114,351 |
Standard deduction only, with no pre-tax deductions or dependents and no local tax. The total tax rate (single) includes federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax and state payroll contributions.
Delaware compared with nearby states
On a $65,000 salary (single, biweekly), Delaware ranks 46 of 51 for take-home pay, where 1 keeps the most. Pennsylvania and New Jersey would leave you more each year; Maryland would leave less.
Local income taxes are left out, except Maryland's county tax, which every resident pays (3.20% used here).
| State | State & county income tax | State payroll taxes | Take-home per year | vs. Delaware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $2,949 | $260 | $51,199 | — |
| Maryland | $4,594 | $0 | $49,813 | −$1,385 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,996 | $46 | $52,367 | +$1,168 |
| New Jersey | $2,044 | $463 | $51,901 | +$702 |
Good to know about Delaware paychecks
- The first $2,000 of taxable income is taxed at 0%, and a $110 personal credit per filer reduces the tax.
- Delaware Paid Leave contributions began in 2025 and benefits in 2026; employers with 25 or more workers pay 0.8% of wages and may deduct up to half.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $65,000 a year after taxes in Delaware?
About $51,199 a year, or $1,969.17 per biweekly paycheck, for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions in 2026. That is after $5,620 of federal income tax, $4,973 of Social Security and Medicare, $2,949 of Delaware income tax and $260 of Paid Leave. A married couple filing jointly on the same salary keeps about $53,687.
Does Delaware have a state income tax?
Yes. 0% on the first $2,000 of taxable income, then six brackets from 2.2% to 6.6% on income over $60,000. On a $65,000 salary a single filer owes about $2,949 a year, 4.54% of pay.
What else is taken out of a paycheck in Delaware?
Besides federal taxes and state income tax, Delaware employees pay Paid Leave (up to 0.4% of wages up to $184,500, half of the 0.8% rate at employers with 25 or more workers). On a $65,000 salary that comes to about $260 a year.
Do cities or counties in Delaware tax wages?
Wilmington levies a 1.25% earned income tax on residents and on nonresidents who work in the city.
Is take-home pay higher in Delaware or nearby states?
On a $65,000 single salary, Delaware ranks 46 of 51 for take-home pay at $51,199. Pennsylvania ($52,367) and New Jersey ($51,901) leave more, while Maryland ($49,813) leaves less.
Estimates only — not tax advice. Actual withholding depends on your federal Form W-4, any Delaware withholding certificate, pre-tax benefits and year-to-date wages. Delaware income tax figures: Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (as of Jan. 1, 2026). Payroll contributions: sources listed above. Checked October 2026.