Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Delaware

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Insulation Workers, Mechanical$44,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,460 – $77,300-36.3%-19.8% nominal
2Medical Equipment Repairers$62,260
Associate's degree
$56,190 – $99,610-34.6%-17.6% nominal
3Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$100,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,520 – $214,040-26.9%-8.0% nominal
4Insurance Sales Agents$46,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,950 – $100,050-25.4%-6.1% nominal
5Sheet Metal Workers$61,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,290 – $85,790-24.1%-4.4% nominal
6Health Education Specialists$63,300
Bachelor's degree
$37,400 – $99,360-23.8%-4.1% nominal
7Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$63,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,460 – $82,100-23.6%-3.8% nominal
8Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,280-23.6%-3.7% nominal
9Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$49,020
Bachelor's degree
$34,330 – $79,870-22.8%-2.7% nominal
10Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$83,750
Bachelor's degree
$48,420 – $184,960-22.5%-2.4% nominal
11Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$107,830
Bachelor's degree
$58,550 – $146,460-22.3%-2.1% nominal
12Food Service Managers$74,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,820 – $107,200-20.6%0.0% nominal
13Postal Service Clerks$61,710
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030-19.3%+1.6% nominal
14Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$81,120
Bachelor's degree
$54,990 – $133,320-19.0%+2.1% nominal
15Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,420 – $123,260-18.7%+2.3% nominal
16Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$57,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,550 – $75,560-17.6%+3.7% nominal
17Computer Network Support Specialists$60,580
Associate's degree
$44,650 – $101,350-17.6%+3.8% nominal
18Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$67,780
Bachelor's degree
$48,310 – $94,760-16.8%+4.8% nominal
19Chefs and Head Cooks$61,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,920 – $84,680-16.7%+4.9% nominal
20Mechanical Drafters$57,110
Associate's degree
$49,000 – $84,750-15.6%+6.3% nominal
21First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,480 – $97,770-15.6%+6.3% nominal
22Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,990 – $95,520-15.4%+6.5% nominal
23Physical Therapists$102,050
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,930 – $136,350-14.8%+7.2% nominal
24Chemical Engineers$133,670
Bachelor's degree
$86,810 – $176,650-14.7%+7.4% nominal
25Logisticians$96,090
Bachelor's degree
$67,380 – $139,590-14.5%+7.7% nominal
26Environmental Engineers$95,720
Bachelor's degree
$70,100 – $151,890-14.4%+7.8% nominal
27Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$58,230
Bachelor's degree
$43,910 – $92,630-14.4%+7.8% nominal
28Urban and Regional Planners$67,110
Master's degree
$52,120 – $101,680-14.2%+8.1% nominal
29Machinists$62,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,710 – $95,660-14.0%+8.3% nominal
30Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$74,070
Master's degree
$47,750 – $96,140-13.9%+8.4% nominal
31General and Operations Managers$137,220
Bachelor's degree
$73,430 – $310,700-13.9%+8.5% nominal
32Computer User Support Specialists$62,160
Some college, no degree
$40,940 – $96,330-13.8%+8.6% nominal
33Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$68,630
Bachelor's degree
$46,650 – $98,420-13.6%+8.8% nominal
34Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$59,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,300 – $77,290-13.6%+8.8% nominal
35Real Estate Sales Agents$47,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,220 – $103,140-13.4%+9.1% nominal
36Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$34,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,200 – $75,950-13.4%+9.0% nominal
37First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$50,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,400 – $72,810-13.4%+9.1% nominal
38Construction Managers$132,150
Bachelor's degree
$95,730 – $209,400-13.0%+9.5% nominal
39Pest Control Workers$45,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $74,090-13.0%+9.5% nominal
40Civil Engineers$100,220
Bachelor's degree
$74,560 – $153,100-12.9%+9.7% nominal
41Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$49,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,170 – $77,150-12.6%+10.1% nominal
42Computer and Information Systems Managers$168,500
Bachelor's degree
$124,290 – $310,250-12.2%+10.5% nominal
43Parts Salespersons$38,050
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $63,990-12.2%+10.5% nominal
44Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$51,550
Some college, no degree
$36,990 – $66,560-11.9%+11.0% nominal
45First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$81,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,630 – $116,670-11.2%+11.8% nominal
46Healthcare Social Workers$64,620
Master's degree
$47,550 – $88,760-11.0%+12.1% nominal
47Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$64,690
Bachelor's degree
$50,220 – $106,060-10.8%+12.3% nominal
48Crane and Tower Operators$60,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,940 – $77,730-10.6%+12.6% nominal
49Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers$43,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,530 – $59,740-10.4%+12.8% nominal
50Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$62,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,230 – $92,440-10.3%+12.9% 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	Insulation Workers, MechanicalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,850	$38,460 – $77,300	-36.3%-19.8% nominal
2	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$62,260	$56,190 – $99,610	-34.6%-17.6% nominal
3	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$100,190	$65,520 – $214,040	-26.9%-8.0% nominal
4	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,710	$35,950 – $100,050	-25.4%-6.1% nominal
5	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,460	$37,290 – $85,790	-24.1%-4.4% nominal
6	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$63,300	$37,400 – $99,360	-23.8%-4.1% nominal
7	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,200	$50,460 – $82,100	-23.6%-3.8% nominal
8	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$47,440 – $75,280	-23.6%-3.7% nominal
9	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$49,020	$34,330 – $79,870	-22.8%-2.7% nominal
10	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$83,750	$48,420 – $184,960	-22.5%-2.4% nominal
11	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$107,830	$58,550 – $146,460	-22.3%-2.1% nominal
12	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,430	$57,820 – $107,200	-20.6%0.0% nominal
13	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,710	$42,600 – $75,030	-19.3%+1.6% nominal
14	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$81,120	$54,990 – $133,320	-19.0%+2.1% nominal
15	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,280	$43,420 – $123,260	-18.7%+2.3% nominal
16	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,270	$45,550 – $75,560	-17.6%+3.7% nominal
17	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$60,580	$44,650 – $101,350	-17.6%+3.8% nominal
18	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$67,780	$48,310 – $94,760	-16.8%+4.8% nominal
19	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,440	$49,920 – $84,680	-16.7%+4.9% nominal
20	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$57,110	$49,000 – $84,750	-15.6%+6.3% nominal
21	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,510	$45,480 – $97,770	-15.6%+6.3% nominal
22	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,720	$40,990 – $95,520	-15.4%+6.5% nominal
23	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$102,050	$79,930 – $136,350	-14.8%+7.2% nominal
24	Chemical EngineersBachelor's degree	$133,670	$86,810 – $176,650	-14.7%+7.4% nominal
25	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$96,090	$67,380 – $139,590	-14.5%+7.7% nominal
26	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$95,720	$70,100 – $151,890	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
27	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$58,230	$43,910 – $92,630	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
28	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$67,110	$52,120 – $101,680	-14.2%+8.1% nominal
29	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,650	$41,710 – $95,660	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
30	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$74,070	$47,750 – $96,140	-13.9%+8.4% nominal
31	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$137,220	$73,430 – $310,700	-13.9%+8.5% nominal
32	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,160	$40,940 – $96,330	-13.8%+8.6% nominal
33	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$68,630	$46,650 – $98,420	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
34	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,680	$39,300 – $77,290	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
35	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,180	$34,220 – $103,140	-13.4%+9.1% nominal
36	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$34,350	$31,200 – $75,950	-13.4%+9.0% nominal
37	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,750	$35,400 – $72,810	-13.4%+9.1% nominal
38	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$132,150	$95,730 – $209,400	-13.0%+9.5% nominal
39	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,300	$31,200 – $74,090	-13.0%+9.5% nominal
40	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,220	$74,560 – $153,100	-12.9%+9.7% nominal
41	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,620	$32,170 – $77,150	-12.6%+10.1% nominal
42	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$168,500	$124,290 – $310,250	-12.2%+10.5% nominal
43	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$38,050	$31,200 – $63,990	-12.2%+10.5% nominal
44	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$51,550	$36,990 – $66,560	-11.9%+11.0% nominal
45	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,100	$59,630 – $116,670	-11.2%+11.8% nominal
46	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$64,620	$47,550 – $88,760	-11.0%+12.1% nominal
47	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$64,690	$50,220 – $106,060	-10.8%+12.3% nominal
48	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,160	$53,940 – $77,730	-10.6%+12.6% nominal
49	Miscellaneous Construction and Related WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,060	$34,530 – $59,740	-10.4%+12.8% nominal
50	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,700	$44,230 – $92,440	-10.3%+12.9% 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 lost the most to inflation in Delaware

More for Delaware

Metro areas in Delaware

By field in Delaware

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state