Average Salaries in Nebraska
Explore salaries across 672 occupations in Nebraska. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $68.5K, +4.2% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 672 occupations and 1,012,230 total jobs in Nebraska.
How the state compares
Wages in Nebraska track close to the national average. Pay for most occupations here is similar to what workers earn nationally.
Nebraska has a mid-sized labor market, with strong representation in some occupations but thinner coverage in niche roles.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Cardiologists. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Nebraska
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in Nebraska
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiologists | $646.3K | 170 |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $507.8K | 200 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $371.9K | 390 |
| Dermatologists | $359.6K | N/A |
| Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $342.6K | 180 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $341.4K | 180 |
| Anesthesiologists | $334.2K | 260 |
| Physicians, All Other | $290.5K | 1,170 |
| Neurologists | $269.3K | 80 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $246.7K | 430 |
Largest occupations in Nebraska
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 30,060 | $29K |
| Registered Nurses | 24,720 | $84.7K |
| General And Operations Managers | 24,030 | $85.1K |
| Heavy And Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 23,160 | $58.4K |
| Retail Salespersons | 22,780 | $31.9K |
| Cashiers | 20,650 | $30.3K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 17,980 | $35.9K |
| Nursing Assistants | 16,450 | $40K |
| Secretaries And Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, And Executive | 16,240 | $46.8K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 15,340 | $43.9K |
What Nebraska specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Nebraska than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in Nebraska
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Slaughterers And Meat Packers | 11.89 | $48.9K |
| Animal Scientists | 10.49 | $55.3K |
| Meat, Poultry, And Fish Cutters And Trimmers | 8.69 | $47.6K |
| Rail Car Repairers | 8.07 | N/A |
| Conveyor Operators And Tenders | 7.81 | $43.4K |
| Farm Equipment Mechanics And Service Technicians | 7.09 | $49.8K |
| Electrical And Electronics Installers And Repairers, Transportation Equipment | 6.64 | N/A |
| Soil And Plant Scientists | 6.18 | $77.5K |
| Gambling And Sports Book Writers And Runners | 6.14 | $29.7K |
| Agricultural Technicians | 5.85 | $47.4K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
Metros inside Nebraska
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Major metros in Nebraska
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $70.6K | 488,480 |
| Lincoln, NE | $65.9K | 175,050 |
| Grand Island, NE | $60K | 31,810 |
Common salary questions for Nebraska
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.