Is Delaware a good state for your salary to go far?

Delaware ranks #26 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 99.5 across 361 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 99.8 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in Delaware?

Delaware's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 99.8, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Delaware

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in Delaware

Delaware ranks #26 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 99.5, base = 100). Cost of living 99.8 (US = 100); top income tax 6.60%.

Does a salary go further in Delaware? (cost of living + state tax)

In Delaware, the cost of living is 99.8 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 99.5 across 361 occupations, ranking it #26 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Delaware ranks #26 of 51 states. Mean across 361 occupations; 100 = the average state, 99.5 means pay goes -0.5% less far after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

99.5

Real pay by occupation in Delaware (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other	$78,650	$74,944	143.1
Chemists	$129,860	$122,866	134.5
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists	$101,270	$96,112	133.0
Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$130,370	$123,343	130.5
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary	$103,320	$98,030	130.0
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$122,050	$115,558	129.4
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists	$99,560	$94,512	129.3
Financial Risk Specialists	$139,440	$131,831	129.3
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors	$78,600	$74,897	128.3
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers	$145,000	$137,034	127.0
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers	$93,850	$89,168	126.0
Chemical Technicians	$78,620	$74,916	124.8
Lawyers	$173,510	$163,714	123.5
Training and Development Specialists	$88,570	$84,227	123.3
Computer Occupations, All Other	$137,470	$129,988	123.1
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	$131,080	$124,008	122.7
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary	$97,100	$92,209	122.7
General and Operations Managers	$137,220	$129,754	121.4
Personal Financial Advisors	$125,050	$118,365	121.0
Biological Scientists, All Other	$113,400	$107,463	120.5
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$92,970	$88,345	120.4
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters	$60,090	$57,542	120.4
Managers, All Other	$168,060	$158,614	120.3
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers	$74,340	$70,911	119.9
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary	$102,340	$97,113	119.8
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants	$66,130	$63,228	119.4
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators	$60,350	$57,788	118.6
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services	$59,790	$57,258	118.5
Project Management Specialists	$122,190	$115,689	118.1
Administrative Services Managers	$139,910	$132,271	117.8
Industrial Production Managers	$153,000	$144,520	117.0
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors	$61,290	$58,678	116.4
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other	$57,760	$55,337	116.2
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary	$98,170	$93,211	116.0
Facilities Managers	$129,260	$122,305	115.8
Financial Managers	$181,580	$171,266	115.1
Education Administrators, Postsecondary	$128,570	$121,659	115.0
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary	$132,710	$125,533	114.8
Tire Repairers and Changers	$46,630	$44,805	114.3
Mechanical Engineers	$125,130	$118,440	113.1

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 361 BLS publishes for Delaware. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (99.8, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Delaware, a $85,000 salary is worth about $79,543 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $5,610 (≈ top marginal 6.60% (upper bound)) · take-home $79,390 · BEA cost of living 99.8 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $16,409 gain over Delaware.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Delaware real pay — FAQ

Is Delaware a good state for your salary to go far?: Delaware ranks #26 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 99.5 across 361 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 99.8 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in Delaware?: Delaware's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 99.8, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for Delaware is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.