Working full time at $16 an hour ($33,280 a year) in Delaware, a single filer takes home about $27,750 a year, $2,313 a month or $13.34 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,170 Delaware income tax.
#45 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $33,280 | $2,773 |
| Federal income tax | $1,814 | $151 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $2,063 | $172 |
| Medicare | $483 | $40 |
| Delaware income tax | $1,170 | $98 |
| Take-home | $27,750 | $2,313 |
| Federal marginal rate | 12% | |
| Delaware marginal rate | 5.55% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Wisconsin. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $17,180 (after the $16,100 standard deduction), which puts the top slice of your pay in the 12% bracket ($12,400 to $50,400). You have about $33,220 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 5.4%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 16.6% of gross pay. A $1,000 raise would add about $748 to your take-home.
| Federal bracket | Your income in it | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10% on $0–$12,400 | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| 12% on $12,400–$50,400 | $4,780 | $574 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 25.2% |
| Effective (average) | 5.4% | 16.6% |
Compared with the Delaware median
$33,280 is 39% of the Delaware median household income of $84,954 (Census ACS 2020–2024 median; households can have more than one earner, so a single salary is not directly comparable).
Affordability snapshot
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Rent budget (30% of gross) | $832/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $120,000 |
| Delaware median home value | $352,000 (Census 2020–2024) |
Rule of thumb only: housing at 30% of gross monthly pay. Home price assumes a 30-year fixed at the Freddie Mac average of 7.40% (week of 2026-10-15), 10% down, the Delaware median effective property tax rate and about 0.35% a year for insurance. Lenders also weigh debts, credit and PMI.
401(k) and HSA effect
| Contribution | Saved | Take-home cut | Tax saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6% to a 401(k) ($1,997/yr) | $1,997 | $1,647 | $350 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $3,291 | $1,109 |
Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals cut federal and Delaware income tax but not Social Security or Medicare; payroll HSA contributions also skip FICA. 2026 limits: 401(k) $24,500 (under 50), HSA $4,400 self-only (IRS). Some states tax HSA contributions; this estimate assumes they follow federal rules.
What applies at this income
- You are under the 2026 Roth IRA income limit for single filers ($153,000 of modified AGI), so you can contribute the full amount.
- Maxing out a 401(k) ($24,500) would take more than half your gross pay at this level, so most people here contribute a percentage instead.
Delaware jobs that typically pay about $33,280
$33,280 is above the median pay of 6 of the 96 common occupations we track in Delaware (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a Delaware median between $32,240 and $34,320:
| Occupation | Delaware median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Workers | $33,210 | −$70 |
| Cashiers | $33,490 | +$210 |
| Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $34,150 | +$870 |
Where $33,280 lands inside other Delaware jobs
For 2 of these occupations, $33,280 is what experienced or top earners make (75th–90th percentile); for 7, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Delaware pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guards | 10th | $32,450 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | 25th | $32,790 |
| Hand Packers and Packagers | 10th | $32,830 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 10th | $32,910 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | 10th | $33,080 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | 75th | $33,150 |
| Construction Laborers | 10th | $33,240 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | 75th | $33,690 |
| General Office Clerks | 25th | $33,840 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $15 an hour in Delaware$2,183/mo
- $17 an hour in Delaware$2,442/mo
- $18 an hour in Delaware$2,572/mo
- Delaware income tax brackets2026
- Minimum wage in Delaware2026
- Delaware property taxby county
Single filer, W-2 wages only; 2026 IRS brackets and $16,100 standard deduction, FICA (Social Security to $184,500, Medicare +0.9% over $200,000) and state rules per the Tax Foundation (Jan 1, 2026). Local taxes and payroll deductions are excluded. Sources: IRS, SSA, Tax Foundation. Not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $16 an hour after taxes in Delaware?
Working full time at $16 an hour ($33,280 a year) in Delaware, a single filer takes home about $27,750 a year, $2,313 a month or $13.34 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,170 Delaware income tax.
How much is $16 an hour per month after taxes in Delaware?
About $2,313 a month, or $1,067 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $16 an hour in Delaware?
About $1,170 a year (marginal rate 5.55%).