Jobs that actually got a raise in Delaware

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in Delaware run 0.2% below the national average (2024), so a Delaware salary is worth about 1.00× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Delaware.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Delaware

OccupationMedian, Delaware · Real change since 2019

1Waiters and Waitresses$36,880
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $62,000+43.1%+80.2% nominal
2Commercial Pilots$163,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$83,180 – $264,590+41.6%+78.3% nominal
3Tire Repairers and Changers$46,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,360 – $48,550+40.6%+77.0% nominal
4Dishwashers$35,780
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $39,520+31.1%+65.0% nominal
5Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$31,880
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $38,450+30.1%+63.8% nominal
6Food Preparation Workers$35,930
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $43,070+29.5%+63.1% nominal
7Shampooers$32,150
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $35,890+29.0%+62.5% nominal
8Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$61,290
No formal educational credential
$38,700 – $74,590+28.9%+62.3% nominal
9Bartenders$36,840
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $60,420+25.6%+58.1% nominal
10Library Assistants, Clerical$37,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $39,700+25.2%+57.7% nominal
11Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$31,200
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $35,360+24.7%+57.0% nominal
12Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$47,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,060 – $66,450+23.5%+55.6% nominal
13Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,300
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $37,530+22.7%+54.5% nominal
14Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$33,730
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $41,980+22.6%+54.4% nominal
15Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$99,560
Bachelor's degree
$61,260 – $136,700+22.5%+54.2% nominal
16Cooks, Fast Food$31,840
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $48,870+21.4%+52.9% nominal
17Retail Salespersons$35,360
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $47,420+19.9%+51.0% nominal
18Cashiers$33,490
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $37,030+19.8%+50.9% nominal
19Stockers and Order Fillers$37,420
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $58,730+19.6%+50.6% nominal
20Childcare Workers$33,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $40,410+19.5%+50.5% nominal
21Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$36,530
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $43,680+19.2%+50.1% nominal
22Amusement and Recreation Attendants$31,200
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $35,900+19.0%+49.9% nominal
23Community Health Workers$55,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,810 – $74,530+18.6%+49.3% nominal
24Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$44,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,530 – $60,510+17.4%+47.9% nominal
25Animal Caretakers$33,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $42,500+17.1%+47.5% nominal
26Pharmacy Technicians$46,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,460 – $57,400+16.9%+47.3% nominal
27Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$87,640
Associate's degree
$39,980 – $111,240+16.7%+46.9% nominal
28Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$34,150
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $38,940+16.6%+46.9% nominal
29Home Health and Personal Care Aides$34,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $40,430+16.0%+46.0% nominal
30Microbiologists$82,770
Bachelor's degree
$59,040 – $128,480+16.0%+46.1% nominal
31Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$40,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,970 – $57,640+15.6%+45.5% nominal
32Photographers$50,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,980 – $71,170+15.1%+44.9% nominal
33Bakers$36,730
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $60,320+15.0%+44.8% nominal
34Office Clerks, General$42,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $59,550+14.9%+44.7% nominal
35Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$37,440
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $44,100+14.3%+43.9% nominal
36Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$48,370
Associate's degree
$37,250 – $61,890+14.2%+43.8% nominal
37Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$35,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $38,340+14.0%+43.6% nominal
38Roofers$59,440
No formal educational credential
$35,640 – $73,900+13.7%+43.1% nominal
39Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$31,930
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $33,700+13.0%+42.4% nominal
40Rehabilitation Counselors$48,840
Master's degree
$39,200 – $73,560+12.5%+41.6% nominal
41Computer Occupations, All Other$137,470
Bachelor's degree
$65,820 – $170,850+12.5%+41.7% nominal
42Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$57,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,570 – $80,650+12.5%+41.7% nominal
43Painters, Construction and Maintenance$58,530
No formal educational credential
$35,070 – $70,350+12.4%+41.6% nominal
44Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$37,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $51,110+12.2%+41.3% nominal
45Parking Attendants$34,230
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $35,830+12.1%+41.2% nominal
46Legal Support Workers, All Other$81,170
Associate's degree
$51,920 – $133,340+11.7%+40.6% nominal
47Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$31,200
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $36,920+11.6%+40.5% nominal
48Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$44,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,150 – $76,450+10.6%+39.3% nominal
49Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$57,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,710 – $68,640+10.5%+39.1% nominal
50Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$58,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,700 – $82,280+10.2%+38.7% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianDelaware	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$36,880	$31,200 – $62,000	+43.1%+80.2% nominal
2	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$163,600	$83,180 – $264,590	+41.6%+78.3% nominal
3	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,630	$37,360 – $48,550	+40.6%+77.0% nominal
4	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$35,780	$31,200 – $39,520	+31.1%+65.0% nominal
5	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$31,880	$31,200 – $38,450	+30.1%+63.8% nominal
6	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,930	$31,200 – $43,070	+29.5%+63.1% nominal
7	ShampooersNo formal educational credential	$32,150	$31,200 – $35,890	+29.0%+62.5% nominal
8	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$61,290	$38,700 – $74,590	+28.9%+62.3% nominal
9	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$36,840	$31,200 – $60,420	+25.6%+58.1% nominal
10	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,090	$31,200 – $39,700	+25.2%+57.7% nominal
11	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$31,200	$31,200 – $35,360	+24.7%+57.0% nominal
12	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,880	$33,060 – $66,450	+23.5%+55.6% nominal
13	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$31,300	$31,200 – $37,530	+22.7%+54.5% nominal
14	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$33,730	$31,200 – $41,980	+22.6%+54.4% nominal
15	Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$99,560	$61,260 – $136,700	+22.5%+54.2% nominal
16	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$31,840	$31,200 – $48,870	+21.4%+52.9% nominal
17	Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$35,360	$31,200 – $47,420	+19.9%+51.0% nominal
18	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$33,490	$31,200 – $37,030	+19.8%+50.9% nominal
19	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$37,420	$31,200 – $58,730	+19.6%+50.6% nominal
20	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,210	$31,200 – $40,410	+19.5%+50.5% nominal
21	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$36,530	$31,200 – $43,680	+19.2%+50.1% nominal
22	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$31,200	$31,200 – $35,900	+19.0%+49.9% nominal
23	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,850	$35,810 – $74,530	+18.6%+49.3% nominal
24	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,120	$34,530 – $60,510	+17.4%+47.9% nominal
25	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,910	$31,200 – $42,500	+17.1%+47.5% nominal
26	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,430	$35,460 – $57,400	+16.9%+47.3% nominal
27	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$87,640	$39,980 – $111,240	+16.7%+46.9% nominal
28	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$34,150	$31,200 – $38,940	+16.6%+46.9% nominal
29	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,320	$31,200 – $40,430	+16.0%+46.0% nominal
30	MicrobiologistsBachelor's degree	$82,770	$59,040 – $128,480	+16.0%+46.1% nominal
31	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,530	$31,970 – $57,640	+15.6%+45.5% nominal
32	PhotographersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,100	$32,980 – $71,170	+15.1%+44.9% nominal
33	BakersNo formal educational credential	$36,730	$31,200 – $60,320	+15.0%+44.8% nominal
34	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,740	$31,200 – $59,550	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
35	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$37,440	$31,200 – $44,100	+14.3%+43.9% nominal
36	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$48,370	$37,250 – $61,890	+14.2%+43.8% nominal
37	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,730	$31,200 – $38,340	+14.0%+43.6% nominal
38	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$59,440	$35,640 – $73,900	+13.7%+43.1% nominal
39	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$31,930	$31,200 – $33,700	+13.0%+42.4% nominal
40	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$48,840	$39,200 – $73,560	+12.5%+41.6% nominal
41	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$137,470	$65,820 – $170,850	+12.5%+41.7% nominal
42	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,190	$37,570 – $80,650	+12.5%+41.7% nominal
43	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$58,530	$35,070 – $70,350	+12.4%+41.6% nominal
44	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,710	$31,200 – $51,110	+12.2%+41.3% nominal
45	Parking AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$34,230	$31,200 – $35,830	+12.1%+41.2% nominal
46	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$81,170	$51,920 – $133,340	+11.7%+40.6% nominal
47	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$31,200	$31,200 – $36,920	+11.6%+40.5% nominal
48	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,340	$32,150 – $76,450	+10.6%+39.3% nominal
49	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,170	$37,710 – $68,640	+10.5%+39.1% nominal
50	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,410	$36,700 – $82,280	+10.2%+38.7% nominal

More for Delaware

Metro areas in Delaware

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Delaware

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Delaware to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Delaware

More for Delaware

Metro areas in Delaware

By field in Delaware

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state