How Much Does a Home Health Aide Make in Delaware in 2026?

A typical Home Health Aide in Delaware earns about $16.50 per hour ($34,320 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). This annual total translates to an estimated $2,860 per month for full-time caregiving. On a shorter schedule, that equals approximately $660 per week, as calculated from the annual figure. These baseline numbers establish a clear starting point for evaluating local caregiving compensation.

Statewide earnings sit 4% below the national rate, where caregivers typically make $17.21 per hour ($35,800 annually). That positioning puts Delaware at rank 32 out of 51 ranked jurisdictions. The state supports an active community of 11,820 employed aides. Slightly lower pay usually tracks lower living costs found across Delaware communities.

Entry-level positions in Delaware typically offer around $15.00 per hour, which equals $31,200 annually. New caregivers stepping into their first home care assignments usually start near these figures. With demonstrated reliability and core clinical skills, pay moves toward the typical figure of $34,320 within a few years. This initial progression reflects greater comfort with client routines and personalized care plans.

Experienced Home Health Aides often earn upwards of $17.96 hourly, or $37,350 per year. Meanwhile, the top 10% of earners make over $19.44 per hour, or $40,430 annually. That creates an entry-to-top spread of $9,230 between early-career workers and senior staff. Work setting, accumulated experience, and city location tend to separate these earning brackets.

Between 2019 and 2025, typical annual compensation for Delaware aides expanded from $23,500 to $34,320. This upward path delivered an overall dollar gain of $10,820 across those recorded years. While the state profile does not list a separate percentage rate, the dollar gain reflects steady upward expansion. Caregivers across Delaware have seen baseline compensation climb consistently year after year.

Nationwide, home health aide compensation experienced a 42% rise over the decade. Delaware's wage trajectory kept close company with that broader national expansion. For someone entering the field now, pay has moved up over time, though past trends do not guarantee future wage adjustments. These sustained historical gains indicate a stable foundation for long-term care workers.

Dover reports the highest compensation among tracked metropolitan areas, offering typical annual earnings of $32,130 ($15.45 hourly) across 2,070 local positions. City figures cover each city's full metro area, capturing surrounding suburban and rural communities. Earnings in Dover sit 6% below the broader state figure. Because the state lists only two cities in wage surveys, pay is fairly uniform across the state instead.

Wilmington records the lowest metropolitan rate at $29,800 per year ($14.33 hourly). That difference establishes a city spread of $2,330 between tracked urban centers. Wilmington also represents the city with the largest Home Health Aide workforce, supporting 158,280 caregiving roles. Variations in wage levels between these areas generally track differing neighborhood living costs.

Delaware holds a middle position when compared against surrounding regional healthcare markets. To the west and south, Maryland leads with typical annual earnings of $38,040, which sits 11% above Delaware. New Jersey also pays higher at $37,090 annually (8% higher), whereas Pennsylvania sits lower at $29,420, trailing Delaware by 14%. Licensure in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby one through standard reciprocity procedures. Commuting across state borders may provide additional employment opportunities depending on where a worker resides.

Home Health Aides in Delaware earn a typical annual wage of $34,320 ($16.50 hourly) under current market conditions. Earnings have expanded steadily, delivering an overall gain of $10,820 since 2019 alongside a national decade rise of 42%. Individuals preparing for this career should review the state licensing or registry page for requirements regarding training and background checks. In addition, consulting individual city pages provides deeper insight into local hiring rates and community settings.