Registered Nurses Salary in Delaware
The median for registered nurses in Delaware is $99,520 a year, somewhat above the national $97,550 (+2%); the state ranks 17th of 51 states by median. Registered Nurses earn 91% more than the median across all occupations in Delaware ($52,190). Among neighbouring states, New Jersey and Maryland pay more (up to $106,500 in New Jersey) and Pennsylvania pays less (down to $96,430 in Pennsylvania). Delaware employs 14,290 registered nurses, 29.5 per 1,000 jobs, the 43rd largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.36 means the occupation is more concentrated in Delaware than nationally.
Delaware vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Delaware | Hourly | $37.66 | $41.30 | $47.85 | $53.71 | $59.55 | $47.82 | 14,290 | 29.48 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $78,340 | $85,900 | $99,520 | $111,720 | $123,860 | $99,460 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $33.14 | $38.62 | $46.90 | $54.02 | $66.09 | $48.76 | 3,379,720 | – | – |
| Annual | $68,940 | $80,330 | $97,550 | $112,350 | $137,470 | $101,420 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 17th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 43rd of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.36
- Jobs per 1,000
- 29.48
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Delaware's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Delaware
2 metropolitan areas and 1 nonmetropolitan area touching Delaware publish a row for registered nurses, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $48.64 | $101,180 | $79,160 | $121,900 | 73,790 | 25.46 | 1.17 |
| Dover, DE | $44.05 | $91,620 | $76,320 | $120,990 | 1,700 | 24.96 | 1.15 |
| Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $46.77 | $97,270 | $75,400 | $123,860 | 2,490 | 25.52 | 1.17 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $47.85 | $99,520 | 14,290 | 1.36 |
| Maryland | $47.98 | $99,790 | 52,910 | 0.88 |
| New Jersey | $51.20 | $106,500 | 92,680 | 0.99 |
| Pennsylvania | $46.36 | $96,430 | 146,520 | 1.11 |
See the national page for Registered Nurses (every state ranked) and the Delaware wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Delaware estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.