Employment & Worker Protection · Delaware
Delaware Minimum Wage Act
19 Del.C. 902 - enacted in Delaware.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2023
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 59/100
- Delaware strictness
The bottom line
Delaware Minimum Wage Act is an enacted law in Delaware, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2025-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 59/100
- Delaware strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Delaware legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Delaware Minimum Wage Act
Delaware Minimum Wage Act (19 Del.C. 902) is an enacted law in Delaware under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2023-01-01 and becomes effective on 2025-01-01. Delaware currently reports 4 tracked regulations with 4 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 59/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Delaware within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in 19 Del.C. 902 itself.
Applicability under Delaware Minimum Wage Act: All employers in Delaware with 2+ employees. Penalty exposure is documented as: Dept of Labor back pay enforcement. Notable exemptions: Agriculture, private household employees, outside salespeople..
Summary
Delaware minimum wage $15.00/hr (2025). Reached $15 on Jan 1, 2025 via scheduled increases.
Key Requirements
$15.00/hr (2025). Tipped workers: $2.23/hr + tips if total reaches $15. Annual review after 2025.
Penalties
Dept of Labor back pay enforcement.
Applicability
All employers in Delaware with 2+ employees.
Exemptions
Agriculture, private household employees, outside salespeople.
How Delaware compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Delaware ranks #10 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware (this state) | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Delaware is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Delaware Minimum Wage Act enacted?
Delaware Minimum Wage Act was enacted on 2023-01-01 and became effective on 2025-01-01. It was introduced as 19 Del.C. 902.
What are the penalties for violating Delaware Minimum Wage Act?
Dept of Labor back pay enforcement. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Delaware Minimum Wage Act apply to small businesses?
All employers in Delaware with 2+ employees. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Delaware compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Delaware has a regulatory strictness score of 59/100, based on 4 enacted regulations out of 4 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Delaware Minimum Wage Act?
The official text of Delaware Minimum Wage Act (19 Del.C. 902) is available from the Delaware legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Delaware Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Delaware Minimum Wage Act is enacted in Delaware, effective 2025-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Delaware ranks #10 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Delaware tracks across all five policy areas. Delaware profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Delaware source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.