Average and median wage in Nebraska
Half of the 1,024,370 workers in Nebraska earn less than $48,980 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $62,400, or $30.00 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $30,120 or less and the top 10% $103,110 or more. The average is 11% less than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median 4% less than the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $30K10th
- $37K25th
- $49KMedian
- $74K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Nebraska per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,400 | $30.00 | $69,770 |
| Median | $48,980 | $23.55 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $30,120 | $14.48 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $37,370 | $17.97 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $73,830 | $35.50 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $103,110 | $49.57 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in Nebraska
- Omaha$64,900
- Lincoln$62,980
- Grand Island$56,870
Map of Nebraska metro areas
Loading map…
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $64,900 | $49,660 | $52,254 | 92 | $310,337 |
| Lincoln | $62,980 | $49,800 | $50,798 | 92 | $304,242 |
| Grand Island | $56,870 | $49,410 | $46,167 | 87 | $260,422 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in Nebraska
- Cardiologists · Omaha$578,940
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric · Omaha$498,610
- Dermatologists · Omaha$390,580
- Anesthesiologists · Omaha$368,350
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric · Lincoln$343,960
- General Internal Medicine Physicians · Lincoln$336,490
- Physicians, All Other · Lincoln$327,320
- Surgeons, All Other · Omaha$319,820
- Emergency Medicine Physicians · Omaha$317,820
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists · Omaha$292,290
Most common jobs in Nebraska
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 30,060 | $30,910 | $29,000 | $31,290 |
| Registered Nurses | 24,720 | $88,330 | $84,730 | $90,860 |
| General and Operations Managers | 24,030 | $106,770 | $85,090 | $111,410 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 23,160 | $60,070 | $58,390 | $73,050 |
| Retail Salespersons | 22,780 | $35,220 | $31,870 | $35,610 |
| Cashiers | 20,650 | $31,750 | $30,250 | $32,640 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 17,980 | $37,060 | $35,920 | $37,460 |
| Nursing Assistants | 16,450 | $42,390 | $40,000 | $43,020 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 16,240 | $47,820 | $46,760 | $49,940 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 15,340 | $45,100 | $43,940 | $45,460 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in Nebraska
Nebraska income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply Nebraska's 2026 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare.
Nebraska at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in Nebraska: questions
What is the average salary in Nebraska?
$62,400 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 11% less than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in Nebraska?
$48,980 a year: half of Nebraska workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in Nebraska?
$30.00 an hour on average, and $23.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in Nebraska pays the most?
Omaha, with an average of $64,900 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is Nebraska expensive to live in?
BEA puts Nebraska prices 10% below the U.S. average (price parity 90.1). Within the state, Omaha 92, Lincoln 92, Grand Island 87 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in Nebraska.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.