How Much Does an RN Make in Dover, DE in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Dover, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Delaware.
BLS OES May 2025 · Dover metro area
A typical RN in Dover, Delaware earns $44.05 per hour, or $91,620 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,635 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $76,320, and the top 10% of earners make over $120,990.
That pay is 8% below the Delaware figure of $99,520 and 6% below the national figure of $97,550. Dover ranks 2nd of 2 metro areas in Delaware for RN pay. About 1,700 RNs work in the Dover area.
RN pay in Dover at a glance
- Typical pay is $44.05 an hour, or $91,620 a year.
- That is 8% below the Delaware figure, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $76,320; the top 10% make over $120,990.
- Typical pay rose +42% from 2015 to 2025, against +40% for Delaware as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Dover?
Pay in Dover runs from entry-level positions at around $36.69 an hour to more than $58.17 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Delaware and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Dover
| Career stage | Dover | Delaware | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $76,320$36.69 an hour | $78,340$37.66 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $82,830$39.82 an hour | $85,900$41.30 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $91,620$44.05 an hour | $99,520$47.85 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $108,450$52.14 an hour | $111,720$53.71 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $120,990$58.17 an hour | $123,860$59.55 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Dover area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Dover
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Dover area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Dover was $64,500 a year. By 2025 it had reached $91,620, a change of +42%, compared with +40% for Delaware over the same years.
How Dover compares with other Delaware cities
Wilmington pays RNs the most in Delaware at $101,180 a year, $9,560 more than Dover. The lowest-paying area in the state is Dover at $91,620.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Dover | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington | $101,180 | $48.64 | +10% | 73,790 |
| 2 | Dover | $91,620 | $44.05 | this city | 1,700 |
Every metro area in Delaware with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Delaware typical pay $99,520
Is Dover a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Dover earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $91,620 a year, 6% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Dover area, about 25 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Dover, DE?
- A typical RN in Dover earns $91,620 a year, or $44.05 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $76,320 and the top 10% earn over $120,990.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Dover?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Dover is $44.05. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $36.69, and the top 10% earn over $58.17 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Dover?
- Entry-level RN positions in Dover typically offer around $36.69 an hour, or $76,320 a year.
- Is RN pay in Dover higher than in the rest of Delaware?
- Dover pay is 8% below the Delaware figure of $99,520 a year, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state. Wilmington pays the most in Delaware at $101,180.