What does this measure?

The average annual salary paid to workers in each economic sector.

Why is this important?

Salaries are a gauge of overall economic health and a measure of the degree to which employees are sharing in the prosperity of a community or specific economic sector. They also indicate the vitality of specific sectors and the demand for workers in those sectors.

How is our state doing?

Yearly salaries in Delaware averaged $55,800 in 2017, slightly higher than the nation. The highest paid sectors in the state were Financial Activities ($92,300), Professional and Business Services ($80,400), and Information ($64,700). The lowest paid sector was Leisure and Hospitality ($20,000). The differences in average salary among sectors in Delaware were mirrored nationally.

Among Delaware counties, New Castle had the highest average salary, at $62,800, followed by Kent at $42,500 and Sussex at $39,500. In New Castle and Kent, the highest paid sector was Financial Activities ($96,300 and $68,000 respectively) while in Sussex it was Government ($64,000).

Notes about the data

Figures are in constant 2017 dollars. Industries in which most of the workforce is part-time (such as Leisure and Hospitality) may appear to pay even lower salaries than they do in comparison with sectors that have more full time workers. 2018 data for this indicator are expected to be released in the third quarter of 2019.