Dover Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Dover, DE: $22.45/hr median hourly wage, $46,690 median annual salary, cost of living index 96, and $15.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Delaware taxes.
Dover Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Dover, DE is $22.45/hr,and the median annual wage is $46,690. Entry-level pay estimates around $13.92/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $31.88/hr, and the local minimum wage is $15.00/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Dover, DE metropolitan statistical area (68,080 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Dover shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$46,690
$22.45/hr
Cost of Living
96
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$15.00
per hour
Unemployment
3.8%
rate
Dover, DE Overview
Population
39,403
Median Salary
$46,690
Average Salary
$59,450
Avg Commute
22 min
Median Home Price
$220,000
Median Rent
$1,050/mo
Job Growth
+0.8%
Sales Tax
0%
Dover is located in Delaware with a population of 39,403. The median annual wage across all occupations is $46,690 ($22.45/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Dover, DE metro), which is $4,290 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 22 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +0.8%.
Dover Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Dover, DE built around the $46,690 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Dover, DE metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $28,948 | $13.92/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $46,690 | $22.45/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $66,300 | $31.88/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $83,108 | $39.96/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Dover Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Dover, DE, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$37,671
$3,139.25/month · $1,448.88/biweekly · Effective Rate: 19.3%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,448.88 take-home per paycheck after estimated Delaware and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$46,690
Federal Tax
-$3,423
State Tax
-$2,024
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,572
Net Pay
$37,671
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,890.83 | $46,690.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$285.23 | -$3,422.80 |
| Delaware State Tax (4.34% eff.) | -$168.70 | -$2,024.42 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$241.23 | -$2,894.78 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$56.42 | -$677.01 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,139.25 | $37,671.00 |
Salary Comparison: Dover vs Other Cities
See how Dover's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | $46,690 | 96 | $48,635 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $46,700 | 88 | $53,068 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $46,670 | 103 | $45,311 |
| Henderson, NV | $46,670 | 108 | $43,213 |
| North Las Vegas, NV | $46,670 | 95 | $49,126 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Dover
Dover's cost of living index is 96 (national average = 100). Living in Dover is 4% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$220,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,050
Annual Rent Cost
$12,600
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $37,671 annual take-home pay in Dover has the purchasing power of approximately $39,241 in an average-cost US area. Your $46,690 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Dover
Dover's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $46,690.
Salary Tips for Dover Workers
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 6.6% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Dover's top industries include Government, Military, Education. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $46,690 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Dover salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Dover, DE metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Dover indexed at 96.
- Median salary: $46,690 annual, $22.45 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Dover, DE MSA (68,080 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $59,450 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Dover was $52,000.
- Tax burden reflects Delaware 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 6.6%) (no local income tax), sales tax (0%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Dover: 3.8%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Government, Military, Education, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 0.8% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Delaware.
- Housing context: median home price $220,000, median rent $1,050/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Dover, DE:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Dover unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Dover QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Delaware, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Dover's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Delaware labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Dover, DE?
The median hourly wage in Dover, DE is $22.45 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Dover, DE metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $46,690. Entry-level workers are estimated around $13.92/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $31.88/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Dover, DE?
The median salary in Dover, DE is $46,690 per year, or $22.45 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Dover, DE metro area). The BLS mean salary is $59,450. This is $4,290 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Dover, DE?
Dover's cost of living index is 96 (national average = 100), meaning it is 4% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $220,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,050.
What are the best industries in Dover?
The top industries in Dover, DE include Government, Military, Education. The city has a job growth rate of 0.8% and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $46,690.
How does Dover's salary compare to other cities?
Dover's median salary of $46,690 is 8.4% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 96), the real purchasing power is approximately $48,635.
What is the minimum wage in Dover, DE?
The minimum wage in Dover, DE is $15.00 per hour. This equals approximately $31,200 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $7.75 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.