Minimum wage in Nebraska in 2026
The minimum wage in Nebraska is $15.00 an hour in 2026. It rises to $15.26 on January 1, 2027, as announced by the state.
Checked against official sources.
Nebraska minimum wage at a glance
- An hour
- $15.00
- A week, 40 hours
- $600.00
- A year, 2,080 hours
- $31,200
- Tipped cash wage
- $2.13before tips
In effect since . A year means 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, before taxes.
Upcoming raises
- $15.26 an hour, $31,741 a year (announced by the state)
- $15.53 an hour, $32,302 a year (set in state law)
- $15.80 an hour, $32,864 a year (set in state law)
- $16.08 an hour, $33,446 a year (set in state law)
Tipped workers
Employers in Nebraska can pay tipped workers as little as $2.13 an hour in cash and count up to $12.87 an hour in tips toward the $15.00 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. Nebraska's tipped cash wage is fixed at $2.13 in state law.
Who gets a different rate
Nebraska's minimum wage covers employers with 4 or more employees.
- Workers aged 14 and 15: $13.50 an hour. An optional youth wage since July 18, 2026, rising to $13.70 on January 1, 2030
- New workers aged 16 to 19: $13.50 an hour. Training wage for the first 90 days since July 18, 2026, $13.70 from January 1, 2027
Nebraska minimum wage by year
| Year | Rate on January 1 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $9.00 |
| 2023 | $10.50 |
| 2024 | $12.00 |
| 2025 | $13.50 |
| 2026 | $15.00 |
A 2026 law (LB 258) replaced inflation raises with a fixed 1.75% raise every January 1, starting in 2027.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in Nebraska in 2026?
The minimum wage in Nebraska is $15.00 an hour in 2026. It rises to $15.26 on January 1, 2027, as announced by the state.
How much is minimum wage a year in Nebraska?
At $15.00 an hour, a full-time worker on 40 hours a week earns $600.00 a week and $31,200 a year before taxes.
What is the minimum wage for tipped workers in Nebraska?
Employers in Nebraska can pay tipped workers as little as $2.13 an hour in cash and count up to $12.87 an hour in tips toward the $15.00 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. Nebraska's tipped cash wage is fixed at $2.13 in state law.
When does the minimum wage go up in Nebraska?
It rises to $15.26 on January 1, 2027, $15.53 on January 1, 2028, $15.80 on January 1, 2029 and $16.08 on January 1, 2030. A 2026 law (LB 258) replaced inflation raises with a fixed 1.75% raise every January 1, starting in 2027.
Is there a different minimum wage for some workers in Nebraska?
Workers aged 14 and 15: $13.50 an hour (an optional youth wage since July 18, 2026, rising to $13.70 on January 1, 2030). New workers aged 16 to 19: $13.50 an hour (training wage for the first 90 days since July 18, 2026, $13.70 from January 1, 2027).
Minimum wage in other Midwestern states
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the official pages below. Checked .
- Labor Standards: $15.26 minimum wage effective January 1, 2027, Nebraska Department of Labor
- State of Nebraska Minimum Wage schedule, Nebraska Department of Labor, updated
- LB258, approved by the Governor February 9, 2026, Nebraska Legislature, updated
- State Minimum Wage Laws, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law, 1968 to 2024, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
Laws change. If your pay is below these rates, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243.