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Average Salary in Nebraska
This page shows what jobs actually pay in Nebraska, occupation by occupation, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for May 2024. BLS publishes wage estimates for 644 occupations in Nebraska. For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage in May 2024 was $67,920, the median wage was $23.80 an hour, and total U.S. employment covered by the survey was 154,187,380 jobs. Use the tables below to see Nebraska's highest-paying occupations, its largest occupations, and which Nebraska jobs pay more — or less — than the same job nationally.
Highest-paying occupations in Nebraska
The highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for Nebraska is cardiologists, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ — 623.4% higher than the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920 — and a median wage of $239,200+ across 200 jobs. Compared with the same occupation nationally (mean $239,200+), Nebraska pays 13.6% higher for this work. Next on the list are anesthesiologists at a mean of $239,200+ and pediatric surgeons at $239,200+. These top-paying fields are small: together the top three employ 420 people in Nebraska, so they describe the top of the Nebraska wage ladder rather than the typical worker's experience.
| Occupation | Employment | Median hourly | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiologists | 200 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Anesthesiologists | 190 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Pediatric Surgeons | 30 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 160 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | 360 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Physicians, Pathologists | 120 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 730 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Neurologists | 100 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Physicians, All Other | 1,070 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Chief Executives | 2,790 | $99.08 | $206,080 | $239,200+ |
| Podiatrists | 50 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $233,810 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 290 | $111.07 | $231,020 | $224,900 |
| Pediatricians, General | 410 | $89.75 | $186,680 | $217,040 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | 740 | $85.88 | $178,620 | $201,330 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | 160 | $94.42 | $196,390 | $188,500 |
Largest occupations in Nebraska
The occupation with the most jobs in Nebraska is fast food and counter workers, employing an estimated 28,360 people at a median annual wage of $29,420 and a mean of $30,300. Nationally the same occupation pays a median of $30,480, so Nebraska's typical pay for this work runs 3.5% lower. The next-largest occupations are registered nurses (24,180 jobs, median $81,020) and heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (24,160 jobs, median $57,940). Because these occupations are so large, their wages move the overall picture of Nebraska pay far more than the small, highly paid fields above.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 28,360 | $29,420 | $30,300 |
| Registered Nurses | 24,180 | $81,020 | $82,890 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 24,160 | $57,940 | $60,150 |
| General and Operations Managers | 23,050 | $82,570 | $101,660 |
| Retail Salespersons | 22,820 | $30,350 | $34,570 |
| Cashiers | 20,410 | $29,420 | $30,020 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 18,800 | $36,200 | $36,620 |
| Nursing Assistants | 16,490 | $38,620 | $40,830 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 15,950 | $40,640 | $41,620 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 15,930 | $40,790 | $43,300 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 15,920 | $44,600 | $45,230 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 13,740 | $35,820 | $36,730 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 12,930 | $34,000 | $39,660 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 11,390 | $34,330 | $34,790 |
| Office Clerks, General | 10,870 | $36,890 | $38,240 |
Where Nebraska pays a premium — and where it lags
Comparing each occupation's Nebraska median with its own national median shows where Nebraska's labor market is strong. Among occupations with at least 1,000 Nebraska jobs, the largest premium is for preschool teachers, except special education: a median of $50,270 in Nebraska versus $37,120 nationally, 35.4% higher. The largest discount is for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors, at $30,540 in Nebraska versus $46,180 nationally, 33.9% lower. In total, 42 of the 213 occupations with 1,000 or more Nebraska jobs pay a median above their national median. Separately, 189 of the 644 occupations published for Nebraska have a median annual wage above the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920, which underlines how much of Nebraska's job base sits in lower-wage service work even in a state with high-paying headline jobs.
| Occupation | Nebraska median | U.S. median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,270 | $37,120 | +35.4% |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $47,900 | $37,700 | +27.1% |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $48,080 | $39,790 | +20.8% |
| Parts Salespersons | $44,280 | $37,440 | +18.3% |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $44,980 | $38,420 | +17.1% |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $55,630 | $76,950 | -27.7% |
| Lawyers | $104,970 | $151,160 | -30.6% |
| Marketing Managers | $108,200 | $161,030 | -32.8% |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $30,570 | $46,040 | -33.6% |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $30,540 | $46,180 | -33.9% |
Nebraska salary FAQ
What is the highest-paying job in Nebraska?
By average pay, cardiologists is the highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for Nebraska, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ and a median of $239,200+ in May 2024.
What is the average salary in Nebraska?
For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage was $67,920 in May 2024. In Nebraska, the largest occupation, fast food and counter workers, paid a median of $29,420 across 28,360 jobs, and the tables on this page show mean and median pay for all 644 published occupations.
How many jobs does the largest occupation in Nebraska have?
Fast Food and Counter Workers is the largest occupation published for Nebraska, with an estimated 28,360 jobs in May 2024 and a mean annual wage of $30,300.
Which occupations pay more in Nebraska than in the U.S. overall?
Among occupations with at least 1,000 Nebraska jobs, preschool teachers, except special education shows the largest premium: a median of $50,270 in Nebraska versus $37,120 nationally, 35.4% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.