Registered Nurse Salary in Dover, DE
Registered Nurses in the Dover, DE metro area earn a median $91,620 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $68,579 take-home, or $5,715 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$11,326
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,680
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,328
- Delaware income tax$4,706
- Take-home pay$68,579
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.60% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Dover, DE
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,320 | $36.69 | $58,825 | $4,902 |
| 25th percentile | $82,830 | $39.82 | $62,975 | $5,248 |
| Median (50th) | $91,620 | $44.05 | $68,579 | $5,715 |
| 75th percentile | $108,450 | $52.14 | $79,308 | $6,609 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,990 | $58.17 | $87,302 | $7,275 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Delaware resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $91,620 buys in Dover, DE
Prices in Dover, DE are 2.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 4% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $68,579 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,332 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Dover, DE as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Dover, DE ranks #243 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 243 | Dover, DE | $91,620 | $68,579 | $70,332 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Dover, DE?
The median registered nurse salary in the Dover, DE metro area is $91,620 a year, or about $44.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,830 and $108,450.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Dover, DE?
On the median $91,620 salary, a single filer living in Delaware takes home about $68,579 a year ($5,715 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,706 in Delaware taxes in 2026.
Is Dover, DE a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 2.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,332 would in a typical U.S. city. Dover, DE ranks #243 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Dover, DE?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dover, DE is $1,165 a month ($1,470 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.