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 $54,000 in 2015. The highest paid sectors in the state were Financial Activities ($87,000), Professional and Business Services ($76,500), and Manufacturing ($64,000). The lowest paid sector was Leisure and Hospitality ($19,300).

Among Delaware counties, New Castle had the highest average salary, at $60,600, followed by Kent at $41,100 and Sussex at $37,700. In New Castle and Kent, the highest paid sector was Financial Activities ($90,500 and $70,400 respectively) while in Sussex it was Government ($58,500).

How do we compare to the nation and similar states or regions?

Average yearly salaries in Delaware were similar to the nation ($53,000), and a bit higher than Rhode Island and the Richmond metro area (both about $50,000), and the Jacksonville metro area ($47,100). The differences in average salary among sectors in Delaware were mirrored in the nation and in comparison geographies.

Notes about the data

Figures are in constant 2015 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. 2016 data for this indicator are expected to be released in the third quarter of 2017.