Average RN Salary in Delaware: See How Much DE Nurses Make
The average registered nurse (RN) salary in Delaware ranks in the top half of U.S. states, and a lower-than-average cost of living can stretch an RN’s paycheck.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists average RN wages in Wilmington (combined with Philadelphia and Camden) as having the fourth highest employment level among metro areas. Even so, Delaware faces a nursing shortage, fueling a projected 20% employment growth for RNs during 2020-2030.
- Average Delaware RN Salary: $77,760 (Ranks 20th among all states)
- Hourly Delaware RN Salary: $37.39
- Projected Delaware RN Employment Growth (2018-2028): 20%
Average RN Salaries in Delaware
Ranking 20th among U.S. states for RN earnings, the average RN salary in Delaware totals $77,760 per year, or $37.39 an hour. These wages fall below the national average of $82,750. As the table below illustrates, the range of average RN salaries in Delaware spans $59,000 for the lowest 10% of earners and $99,780 for the highest 10%.
Factors influencing average wages include Delaware’s cost of living, which is 2% lower than the national average, Delaware’s supply-and-demand issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and RN specializations and industries.
| Percentile | Average Annual RN Salary | Average Hourly RN Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| 25% | $61,530 | $29.58 |
| 50% (Median) | $75,380 | $36.24 |
| 75% | $92,770 | $44.60 |
| 90% | $99,780 | $47.97 |
Source: BLS
Delaware RN Salary, Adjusted for Cost of Living
Government statisticians adjust states’ cost of living (also called regional price parity) indexes based on the prices of things like clothing, food, education, housing, and medical services. Delaware ranks 22nd among U.S. states for cost of living.
The average RN salary in Delaware adjusted for cost of living, which falls 2.1% below the average for all U.S. states, increases to $79,393. These wages rank Delaware 21st among U.S. states, indicating consistency between the affordability metrics.
- Average RN Salary Adjusted for Cost of Living: $79,393 (Ranks 21st among all states)
- Cost of Living Index (RPP): 97.9 (2.1% lower than the U.S. average)
Highest-Paying Cities for RNs in Delaware
With tax benefits, shoreline access, and proximity to quality medical facilities, Delaware is an attractive option for RNs. The top-paying cities in Delaware and in the adjacent states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland include the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area, Dover, and Salisbury, Maryland. Wilmington and Dover are home to three Magnet hospitals, honored for nursing excellence.
Salisbury, Maryland, located just eight miles from the Delaware border, may also offer opportunities for employment, such as TidalHealth Peninsula Regional Hospital, ranked eighth among Maryland hospitals. As both states belong to the Nurse Licensure Compact, Delaware RNs can practice in Maryland with a Multistate Delaware license.
| City | Average RN Salary |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $81,860 |
| Salisbury, MD-DE | $77,400 |
| Dover, DE | $71,130 |
Source: BLS
Average Salaries for Other Nursing Roles in Delaware
Other nursing opportunities in Delaware include certified nursing assistants with salaries of $34,240. Licensed practical nurses earn $53,040 in Delaware and can practice under a Multistate license. The Bureau of Health Workforce projects a 7% shortage of LPNs by 2030. RNs interested in pursuing a graduate nursing degree can find employment as nurse practitioners and nurse midwives with average salaries in the six-figure range.
- Nursing Assistants: $34,240
- LPN/LVNs: $53,040
- Nurse Midwives: $106,730
- Nurse Practitioners: $116,230
Methodology and Sources
Registered nursing salary data by state is collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, released on March 31, 2022. Data reflects RN salaries as of May 2021. The highest-paying cities and states for RNs are ranked by average annual salary.
Cost-of-living data is collected from the U.S Bureau of Economic Analysis real personal income for states and metropolitan areas, released on December 14, 2021. RN salary adjusted for cost of living is calculated by multiplying each state’s RN salary by its regional price parity (RPP). RPP measures differences in the cost of goods and services in a region compared to national prices.
Projected employment growth data by state is collected from Projections Central.
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