How does Delaware work out the income tax taken from my paycheck?

The Division of Revenue's annualized wage method has six steps. Your employer multiplies the paycheck by the pay periods, takes off a $3,250 standard deduction ($6,500 for a married couple filing jointly), looks the rest up in the tax table, takes $110 off the tax for each exemption and divides back across the paychecks. For a $60,000 salary with one exemption that is $60,000 less $3,250, $56,750 of income, $2,763.13 of tax, $2,653.13 after the credit and $102.04 a paycheck.

How much is $60,000 a year after tax in Delaware?

For a single employee paid every two weeks with one exemption, a $60,000 salary takes home $1,826.80 a paycheck, or $47,496.86 a year. The year's deductions are $5,020.08 of federal income tax, $2,653.04 of Delaware income tax, $3,720.08 of Social Security, $869.96 of Medicare and $239.98 for Delaware Paid Leave.

How much is $20 an hour after tax in Delaware?

At 40 hours a week and weekly pay, $20 an hour is $800.00 gross and $650.14 take-home a week for a single employee with one exemption. That is $54.08 of federal income tax, $31.38 of Delaware income tax, $49.60 of Social Security, $11.60 of Medicare and $3.20 of Paid Leave. Switch to hourly in the calculator to type your own hours, including overtime.

How many exemptions should I claim in Delaware?

The Division's guide says an employee is entitled to the same number as for federal withholding, which is one for you and one for each person you may claim. Each is a $110 credit against the year's tax, worth $4.23 a paycheck here: $106.27 withheld with none, $102.04 with one, $97.81 with two, $93.58 with three and $85.12 with five. If you give no certificate, the employer withholds as if you were single with no allowances.

Can I change my Delaware withholding for state purposes only?

Yes. The guide gives a rule of thumb: take one more allowance for each $2,000 by which your itemized deductions, after state income tax, exceed the $3,250 standard deduction, and one fewer for each $2,000 of income that is not wages. The employee marks the allowances for Delaware on the withholding certificate or on the optional state worksheet, which employers do not have to keep.

Why does a married couple with two jobs have more withheld?

A married employee whose spouse does not work gets the $6,500 joint standard deduction, so $95.11 is withheld on the $60,000 example. A married employee with a working spouse (the Step 2 box on the Form W-4) is taken as filing separately, with the $3,250 deduction, so $102.04 is withheld, the same as a single employee. A head of household has the single treatment too.

How does Delaware tax a bonus?

When a bonus or commission is paid with regular wages, the employer withholds on the total as one payment for the regular period. When it is paid separately, the Division's method is to annualize the regular wages and compute the tax, add the bonus and compute it again, and withhold the difference on the bonus. This calculator treats all pay as regular pay, and the bonus tax calculator works out the bonus case.

What is Delaware Paid Leave, and how much is taken from my pay?

The program pays leave for a new child, a serious health condition and family caregiving, and the combined contribution is 0.8% of wages up to the Social Security wage limit of $184,500. An employer may take up to half of it, 0.4%, from pay, which is $9.23 a paycheck on a $60,000 salary and $239.98 a year, and at most $738.00. Employers with fewer than 10 eligible employees do not have to take part.

What does a 401(k) do to my Delaware paycheck?

It lowers the tax, because the calculator takes a 401(k) deferral out of the pay before it annualizes the paycheck. Putting 6% of a $60,000 salary into a 401(k) ($138.46 a paycheck) cuts Delaware withholding by $7.68 and take-home pay by only $114.16. Social Security, Medicare and Paid Leave are still figured on the full pay.

Who pays unemployment tax in Delaware, and how much is it?

The employer does, to the Division of Unemployment Insurance, and nothing comes out of your paycheck for it. A new employer pays 1% in 2026 on the first $14,500 of each employee's pay, which is $145.00 for an employee paid $60,000. The employer also pays its half of Paid Leave when it has 25 or more employees, $240.00 on that salary. Delaware has no reciprocity agreements, so a Pennsylvania or Maryland resident working in Delaware is withheld on too.

Delaware Paycheck Calculator

Last updated October 22, 2026FreeNo signupFormula shown

Enter your pay, how often you are paid, the exemptions you claim and the answers on your Form W-4, and this Delaware paycheck calculator shows your 2026 take-home pay. It follows the Division of Revenue's annualized wage method, a $3,250 standard deduction, rates from 2.2% to 6.6% and a $110 credit for each exemption, and works out the employer's side of the bill under it.

State

Delaware

Another state? Pick any of the 50 states and DC.

I'm paid

Yearly salary (USD)

Pay frequency

Filing status on Form W-4

Delaware withholding

Exemptions on the employee's withholding certificate

1 for you and 1 for each person you may claim; each takes $110 off the year's tax.

Form W-4 steps 2 to 4

Step 2 box is checked

Two jobs with similar pay, or both spouses work. Delaware takes this as a separate return for a married employee, with the $3,250 standard deduction instead of $6,500.

Children under 17

Step 3: $2,200 each.

Other dependents

Step 3: $500 each.

Other income per year

Step 4(a).

Deductions per year

Step 4(b).

Extra withholding each paycheck (USD)

Step 4(c).

401(k), % of pay

2026 limit $24,500.

Health premiums per paycheck

Pre-tax.

HSA per paycheck

2026 limit $8,750.

Take-home pay per paycheck

$1,826.80

$2,307.69 gross · $480.89 withheld (20.8%)

Where this paycheck goes

Gross pay: $2,307.69
Federal income tax: - $193.08
Social Security6.2%: - $143.08
Medicare1.45%: - $33.46
Additional Medicare0.9%: - $0.00
Delaware income tax: - $102.04
Delaware Paid Leave0.4%: - $9.23
401(k): - $0.00
Health premiums: - $0.00
HSA: - $0.00

Take-home pay$1,826.80

Over the year, 26 paychecks

Gross pay: $60,000
Taxes: - $12,503
Pre-tax deductions: - $0
Share kept: 79.2%

Take-home pay$47,497

Of every $100 of gross pay, $79 is take-home.

Federal income tax$5,020 · 8.4%
Social Security$3,720 · 6.2%
Medicare$870 · 1.4%
Delaware income tax$2,653 · 4.4%
Delaware Paid Leave$240 · 0.4%
Take-home pay$47,497 · 79.2%

Take-home pay rises with every extra dollar of salary.

Gross payTake-home pay

This pay costs the employer $65,017 a year, $2,500.65 each pay period.

What the employer adds, per year

Employer Social Security6.2% to $184,500: $3,720
Employer Medicare1.45%: $870
Federal unemployment (FUTA)0.6% of the first $7,000: $42
Delaware unemployment1% of the first $14,500: $145
Delaware Paid Leave (employer share)0.4% of the first $184,500: $240

Employer taxes$5,017

Total cost of the employee

Gross pay: $60,000
Employer taxes: + $5,017
Per pay period: $2,500.65

Per year$65,017

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Delaware takes a $3,250 standard deduction off a year of pay, taxes the rest at 2.2% to 6.6%, then subtracts $110 for each exemption.

The tax table is 0% on the first $2,000 of taxable income, 2.2% to $5,000, 3.9% to $10,000, 4.8% to $20,000, 5.2% to $25,000, 5.55% to $60,000 and 6.6% above that. The $110 for each exemption comes off the tax, not off the income, and the answer is divided back across the paychecks without rounding to the dollar. The Division's table has not changed since 2014, and the guide still shows these figures in 2026.

A $60,000 Delaware salary takes home $1,826.80 every two weeks.

The calculator opens on this case: a single employee with one exemption, on a standard Form W-4, paid every two weeks, with no pre-tax deductions.

Gross pay: $60,000 ÷ 26 = $2,307.69
Federal income tax: $193.08
Delaware income tax: $60,000 − $3,250 = $56,750; $1,001 + 5.55% × ($56,750 − $25,000) = $2,763.13; − $110 = $2,653.13; ÷ 26 = $102.04
Social Security: 6.2% × $2,307.69 = $143.08; Medicare: 1.45% = $33.46; Paid Leave: 0.4% × $2,307.69 = $9.23
Take-home pay: $1,826.80 a paycheck, $47,496.86 a year

Of $60,000 gross, $47,497 reaches the bank account.

Federal income tax$5,020 · 8.4%
Social Security$3,720 · 6.2%
Medicare$870 · 1.4%
Delaware income tax$2,653 · 4.4%
Delaware Paid Leave$240 · 0.4%
Take-home pay$47,497 · 79.2%

Each paycheck: $1,826.80Kept: 79.2%

A single employee on a $60,000 salary, paid every two weeks. Invented example. Each tax is rounded to the cent in every paycheck, as payroll does.

Each exemption lowers the Delaware tax of this paycheck by $4.23.

The $110 credit is the same at every income, so it saves $4.23 a paycheck on a biweekly schedule. An employee gets the same number of allowances as for federal withholding, and may add one for each $2,000 of itemized deductions above the standard deduction, or take one fewer for each $2,000 of income that is not wages.

Each exemption takes about $4.23 off the Delaware tax of a biweekly paycheck.

0 allowances$106.27
1 allowance$102.04
2 allowances$97.81
3 allowances$93.58
5 allowances$85.12

Invented example: a $60,000 salary, single, paid every two weeks. The tax is withheld to the cent.

A married couple with one earner has $95.11 withheld, because the joint standard deduction is twice as large.

A married employee whose spouse does not work uses the $6,500 joint deduction. When the spouse also works, the Step 2 box on the Form W-4 takes the paycheck as a separate return, with the $3,250 deduction, and the amount returns to $102.04, the same as a single employee.

The standard deduction sets the Delaware tax of a biweekly paycheck, from $95.11 to $102.04.

Single or head of household$102.04
Married, spouse does not work$95.11
Married, spouse works$102.04

Invented example: a $60,000 salary, one exemption, paid every two weeks, no pre-tax deductions. The federal Form W-4 status changes along with the choice.

Delaware withholding climbs from 2.38% of pay on $20,000 to 6.06% on $250,000.

With the 0% step and the exemption credit the lowest pay has little withheld. A $100,000 salary has $5,259.02 withheld over the year, a $150,000 salary $8,558.94 and a $250,000 salary $15,159.04. Delaware has no reciprocity agreement with any other state.

The share of pay Delaware withholds climbs from 2.38% on $20,000 to 6.06% on $250,000.

$20,000 a year2.38% of pay, $475
$40,000 a year3.86% of pay, $1,543
$60,000 a year4.42% of pay, $2,653
$100,000 a year5.26% of pay, $5,259
$150,000 a year5.71% of pay, $8,559
$250,000 a year6.06% of pay, $15,159

Invented salaries, single, one exemption, paid every two weeks, no pre-tax deductions.

Paid Leave takes up to 0.4% of pay, up to $184,500 of it.

The deduction is $9.23 a paycheck on the $60,000 example, $239.98 a year. It stops once the year's wages reach the Social Security limit, so the most it takes in a year is $738.00, from any salary of $184,500 or more. The contribution is 0.8% in all and an employer may have the employee pay up to half.

Paid Leave stops at the Social Security limit, so its share of pay falls above $184,500.

$60,000 a year8.05% of pay
Social Security $3,720, Medicare $870, Delaware Paid Leave $240
$150,000 a year8.05% of pay
Social Security $9,300, Medicare $2,175, Delaware Paid Leave $600
$250,000 a year6.50% of pay
Social Security $11,439, Medicare $3,625, Additional Medicare $450, Delaware Paid Leave $738
$500,000 a year4.43% of pay
Social Security $11,439, Medicare $7,250, Additional Medicare $2,700, Delaware Paid Leave $738

Social SecurityMedicareAdditional MedicareDelaware Paid Leave

Invented salaries, single, paid every two weeks. Additional Medicare Tax is 0.9% of pay above $200,000.

A 401(k) lowers Delaware withholding by $7.68 a paycheck.

A 401(k) deferral of 6% on the $60,000 example is $138.46 a paycheck. The calculator takes it out of the pay before annualizing, so federal and Delaware withholding both fall and take-home pay falls by only $114.16. Social Security, Medicare and Paid Leave still apply to the deferral.

A 6% 401(k) lowers federal tax by $16.62 and Delaware tax by $7.68 a paycheck.

Federal tax, no 401(k)$193.08
Federal tax, 6% 401(k)$176.46
Delaware tax, no 401(k)$102.04
Delaware tax, 6% 401(k)$94.36

Invented example: a $60,000 salary, single, paid every two weeks. 6% of pay is $138.46 a paycheck.

Hiring that employee costs $65,017 a year in Delaware.

On top of the $60,000, the employer matches Social Security and Medicare at 6.2% and 1.45%, which is $4,590. It pays federal unemployment tax of 0.6% on the first $7,000, which is $42. A new Delaware employer pays unemployment tax at 1% on the first $14,500 of pay, which is $145.00, and an employer with 25 or more employees pays its half of Paid Leave, $240.00. The employee pays none of these.

On $60,000 of pay, the employer owes $5,017 more in taxes.

Employer Social Security$3,720
Employer Medicare$870
Delaware unemployment$145
Delaware Paid Leave (employer share)$240
Federal unemployment (FUTA)$42

An employee on a $60,000 salary. Delaware unemployment is the 2026 new-employer rate of 1% on the first $14,500.

Take-home pay in Delaware runs from $32,617 on $40,000 to $104,632 on $150,000.

For a single employee with one exemption, paid every two weeks. At $100,000 the year's take-home is $73,521. For the neighbor to the north, see the Pennsylvania paycheck calculator.

Take-home pay in Delaware for a single employee on a standard Form W-4, paid every two weeks, with no pre-tax deductions. Delaware taxes are its income tax and Paid Leave.
Salary	Federal tax	Social Security and Medicare	Delaware taxes	Take-home a year	Every two weeks
$40,000	$2,620	$3,060	$1,703	$32,617	$1,254.50
$50,000	$3,820	$3,825	$2,298	$40,057	$1,540.66
$60,000	$5,020	$4,590	$2,893	$47,497	$1,826.80
$75,000	$7,670	$5,738	$3,909	$57,683	$2,218.59
$100,000	$13,170	$7,650	$5,659	$73,521	$2,827.73
$150,000	$24,734	$11,475	$9,159	$104,632	$4,024.31

Methodology & sources

The formula this calculator uses is shown in full above, and every assumption is an input you control. There are no hidden industry presets. All math runs in your browser; nothing you enter is stored or sent to a server. For the reasoning behind the formula and its edge cases, see:

Frequently asked questions

How does Delaware work out the income tax taken from my paycheck?: The Division of Revenue's annualized wage method has six steps. Your employer multiplies the paycheck by the pay periods, takes off a $3,250 standard deduction ($6,500 for a married couple filing jointly), looks the rest up in the tax table, takes $110 off the tax for each exemption and divides back across the paychecks. For a $60,000 salary with one exemption that is $60,000 less $3,250, $56,750 of income, $2,763.13 of tax, $2,653.13 after the credit and $102.04 a paycheck.
How much is $60,000 a year after tax in Delaware?: For a single employee paid every two weeks with one exemption, a $60,000 salary takes home $1,826.80 a paycheck, or $47,496.86 a year. The year's deductions are $5,020.08 of federal income tax, $2,653.04 of Delaware income tax, $3,720.08 of Social Security, $869.96 of Medicare and $239.98 for Delaware Paid Leave.
How much is $20 an hour after tax in Delaware?: At 40 hours a week and weekly pay, $20 an hour is $800.00 gross and $650.14 take-home a week for a single employee with one exemption. That is $54.08 of federal income tax, $31.38 of Delaware income tax, $49.60 of Social Security, $11.60 of Medicare and $3.20 of Paid Leave. Switch to hourly in the calculator to type your own hours, including overtime.
How many exemptions should I claim in Delaware?: The Division's guide says an employee is entitled to the same number as for federal withholding, which is one for you and one for each person you may claim. Each is a $110 credit against the year's tax, worth $4.23 a paycheck here: $106.27 withheld with none, $102.04 with one, $97.81 with two, $93.58 with three and $85.12 with five. If you give no certificate, the employer withholds as if you were single with no allowances.
Can I change my Delaware withholding for state purposes only?: Yes. The guide gives a rule of thumb: take one more allowance for each $2,000 by which your itemized deductions, after state income tax, exceed the $3,250 standard deduction, and one fewer for each $2,000 of income that is not wages. The employee marks the allowances for Delaware on the withholding certificate or on the optional state worksheet, which employers do not have to keep.
Why does a married couple with two jobs have more withheld?: A married employee whose spouse does not work gets the $6,500 joint standard deduction, so $95.11 is withheld on the $60,000 example. A married employee with a working spouse (the Step 2 box on the Form W-4) is taken as filing separately, with the $3,250 deduction, so $102.04 is withheld, the same as a single employee. A head of household has the single treatment too.
How does Delaware tax a bonus?: When a bonus or commission is paid with regular wages, the employer withholds on the total as one payment for the regular period. When it is paid separately, the Division's method is to annualize the regular wages and compute the tax, add the bonus and compute it again, and withhold the difference on the bonus. This calculator treats all pay as regular pay, and the bonus tax calculator works out the bonus case.
What is Delaware Paid Leave, and how much is taken from my pay?: The program pays leave for a new child, a serious health condition and family caregiving, and the combined contribution is 0.8% of wages up to the Social Security wage limit of $184,500. An employer may take up to half of it, 0.4%, from pay, which is $9.23 a paycheck on a $60,000 salary and $239.98 a year, and at most $738.00. Employers with fewer than 10 eligible employees do not have to take part.
What does a 401(k) do to my Delaware paycheck?: It lowers the tax, because the calculator takes a 401(k) deferral out of the pay before it annualizes the paycheck. Putting 6% of a $60,000 salary into a 401(k) ($138.46 a paycheck) cuts Delaware withholding by $7.68 and take-home pay by only $114.16. Social Security, Medicare and Paid Leave are still figured on the full pay.
Who pays unemployment tax in Delaware, and how much is it?: The employer does, to the Division of Unemployment Insurance, and nothing comes out of your paycheck for it. A new employer pays 1% in 2026 on the first $14,500 of each employee's pay, which is $145.00 for an employee paid $60,000. The employer also pays its half of Paid Leave when it has 25 or more employees, $240.00 on that salary. Delaware has no reciprocity agreements, so a Pennsylvania or Maryland resident working in Delaware is withheld on too.

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