Current minimum wage in Nebraska
Nebraska's minimum wage reached $15.00 an hour on January 1, 2026, the final step of a 2022 ballot measure. A 2026 state law replaced the measure's cost of living increases with a fixed 1.75 percent raise each January starting in 2027 and created a $13.50 youth wage. Tipped workers can still be paid a cash wage of $2.13 an hour as long as tips bring them up to the full minimum.
The rate rose from $13.50 (effective January 1, 2025) to $15.00 on January 1, 2026, an increase of $1.50 an hour or $3,120 a year for a full-time worker.
Next scheduled change
A 2026 law, LB 258, replaced the voter-approved cost of living increases with a fixed raise of 1.75 percent each January 1 starting in 2027. The Nebraska Department of Labor publishes the exact 2027 rate by October 15, 2026.
Tipped minimum wage
Employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $2.13 an hour and count tips toward the rest, as long as total pay reaches $15.00 an hour. The federal tipped cash wage is $2.13. Employers may pay tipped workers $2.13 an hour in cash as long as tips bring total pay to at least $15.00.
What minimum wage pays in Nebraska
| Hours per week | Weekly pay | Yearly pay |
|---|---|---|
| 20 hours | $300.00 | $15,600 |
| 25 hours | $375.00 | $19,500 |
| 30 hours | $450.00 | $23,400 |
| 35 hours | $525.00 | $27,300 |
| 40 hours | $600.00 | $31,200 |
After federal and Nebraska taxes, a full-time minimum wage worker who files single keeps about $26,684 a year, or $1,026 per biweekly check. Run your own numbers with the Nebraska paycheck calculator or see the full breakdown for $15 an hour.
Overtime rules
Follows the federal 40-hour weekly overtime rule.
City and county minimum wages
Lincoln and Omaha passed ordinances in 2026 to keep the voter-approved minimum wage terms, and the state sued both cities. A court has blocked Lincoln's ordinance, while most of Omaha's took effect on October 1, 2026 as the case continues.
Exceptions and special rates
The state minimum wage applies to employers with 4 or more employees. Under a 2026 law, employers may pay workers aged 14 and 15 a youth wage of $13.50 an hour, and new hires aged 16 to 19 a training wage of $13.50 an hour for their first 90 days.
How Nebraska compares
Nebraska ranks #13 of 51 for its minimum wage, tied with 6 other states at the same rate. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Nebraska in 2026?
The Nebraska minimum wage is $15.00 an hour as of January 1, 2026.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Nebraska?
Employers in Nebraska may pay tipped workers a cash wage of $2.13 an hour, as long as tips bring total pay to at least $15.00. Employers may pay tipped workers $2.13 an hour in cash as long as tips bring total pay to at least $15.00.
When does the Nebraska minimum wage go up next?
A 2026 law, LB 258, replaced the voter-approved cost of living increases with a fixed raise of 1.75 percent each January 1 starting in 2027. The Nebraska Department of Labor publishes the exact 2027 rate by October 15, 2026.
How much is minimum wage in Nebraska per year?
At $15.00 an hour, a 40-hour week pays $600 and a full year pays $31,200 before taxes. A single filer keeps about $26,684 after federal and Nebraska taxes.
How does overtime work in Nebraska?
Follows the federal 40-hour weekly overtime rule.
Sources
- Nebraska Legislature: LB 258 (2026), minimum wage changes
- Jackson Lewis: Nebraska's midyear minimum wage changes (LB 258 summary, Feb. 2026)
- Nebraska Examiner: Judge grants injunction in state lawsuit against Lincoln's minimum wage ordinance (July 17, 2026)
- WOWT: Omaha judge rules on attorney general's injunction request over minimum wage ordinance (Sept. 28, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (updated July 1, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wage