Travel Nurse Pay in Nebraska (2026)
Nebraska pairs a solid two-city hospital market with an income tax that has fallen every year since 2023. Here are the verified BLS numbers, hedged package ranges, compact licensure, and the Omaha-versus-Lincoln pay picture.
By the NursePayLab editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Nebraska) | 24,720 | Small but dense staff market (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $84,730/yr ($40.74/hr) | Staff baseline that anchors hospital bill rates |
| Mean RN wage | $88,330/yr ($42.47/hr) | Includes the experienced-nurse band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $66,020/yr | Floor of the market |
Travel nurse pay in Nebraska: the numbers
Nebraska employed 24,720 registered nurses as of May 2025, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey — about 24.1 RN jobs per 1,000, one of the denser shares in this batch. The median RN wage was $84,730/year ($40.74/hr) with a mean of $88,330 ($42.47/hr), a 10th percentile of $66,020 and a 90th percentile of $106,190.
Nebraska's wage structure is steadier than its reputation: a median of $84,730 sits within a few thousand dollars of much larger Midwest markets, and the 25th percentile at $79,240 shows how quickly pay reaches solid territory (per BLS, May 2025). The experienced band — $99,640 at the 75th percentile to $106,190 at the 90th — is where Omaha's academic and mega-system campuses (Nebraska Medicine, CHI Health Creighton) compete, and it is the band travel bill rates are anchored to. Demand concentrates where those systems run big specialty units, plus the wide rural web of critical-access hospitals that use travelers to bridge leave gaps their benches cannot cover.
The hedged range below reflects the two-metro premium. Verify live offers with your recruiter — Omaha quotes run above the state average, Lincoln close to it.
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Nebraska) | 24,720 | Small but dense staff market (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $84,730/yr ($40.74/hr) | Staff baseline that anchors hospital bill rates |
| Mean RN wage | $88,330/yr ($42.47/hr) | Includes the experienced-nurse band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $66,020/yr | Floor of the market |
| Experienced RN (75th–90th pct) | $99,640–$106,190/yr | Where bill rates cluster |
| Typical travel package (hedged) | roughly $1,900–$2,600/week gross | Taxable wage + stipends; varies by specialty and season — verify with recruiters |
| State income tax (2026) | Graduated, top 4.55% (3.99% in 2027) | Applies to taxable wages only, not stipends |
| Nurse Licensure Compact | Yes — member since Jan. 19, 2018 | Multistate license works; fast starts possible |
All BLS figures on this page: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release (bls.gov/oes). Wage figures are for staff registered nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries — travel packages are quoted separately and are inherently variable. See the full list on our travel nurse pay by state hub.
How stipends change the math in Nebraska
Stipend caps follow the federal GSA per-diem tables, and Nebraska is friendly territory: Omaha and Lincoln lodging caps are moderate and both metros rent for markedly less than comparable coastal cities (current tables at gsa.gov/perdiem). That produces one of the better stipend-to-rent ratios in this series — a mid-range housing stipend genuinely covers an apartment near the med center, which quietly lifts effective savings versus a bigger gross in an expensive city.
Illustrative math: $25/hr × 36 guaranteed hours = $900/week taxable. Subtract roughly $103 federal and $69 FICA, then about $33 for Nebraska tax at a hedged 3.5–4% effective rate within the new three-bracket structure, leaving about $695. Add $1,100 housing plus $400 M&IE — $1,500 tax-free — for a take-home near $2,195/week, about $61/hour blended, roughly $28,500 over 13 weeks. It is not a headline number; it is a number that survives contact with Omaha rents. Run your actual offer through the take-home calculator and compare by blended rate.
The standing rule holds in cheap housing markets too — cheap assignment housing does not excuse you from duplicated expenses at home: stipends are tax-free only with a valid tax home. The tax home guide covers the three IRS factors.
Nebraska income tax: falling on a statutory schedule
Nebraska is in the middle of a multi-year income tax cut. Under LB 754 the top individual rate has stepped down each year — 5.84% for 2024, 5.20% for 2025, 4.55% for 2026, with 3.99% scheduled for 2027 — on a graduated schedule that consolidated to three brackets, per the Nebraska Department of Revenue. For a traveler, that means a moderate and shrinking state bite on taxable wages; stipends remain outside state tax under the federal accountable-plan rules. Nebraska also holds reciprocity with neighboring Iowa, Missouri and Oklahoma among others — residents of those states working in Nebraska generally keep paying home-state tax. Verify your filing position with the department and a CPA who handles multistate healthcare workers.
Tax figures here are 2026 planning rates from official state sources — confirm your own filing position with the relevant state revenue department or a CPA; this page is not tax advice.
Licensure in Nebraska: compact member since 2018
Nebraska is a full member of the Nurse Licensure Compact — implemented January 19, 2018, per the NCSBN map. A multistate RN license from your compact home state covers Nebraska assignments with no separate application, which keeps Omaha offers quick to start — useful in a market where Nebraska Medicine and CHI lines can open on short notice. All six neighboring states — Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota and Wyoming — are compact members too, so multi-state Upper Plains itineraries are licensure-easy (watch the tax filings instead). If Nebraska becomes your primary residence mid-contract, apply for your Nebraska multistate license within 60 days. Verify current status at nursecompact.com.
Where the demand is in Nebraska
Omaha is the anchor: Nebraska Medicine (the University of Nebraska's academic medical center), CHI Health Creighton and Methodist Health System between them run the state's deepest ICU, NICU, ED and oncology traveler lines. Lincoln's Bryan Health adds a strong second market in a college-town rental climate. Beyond the two metros, Grand Island's Saint Francis and the critical-access hospitals across the Sandhills and Panhandle use travelers for leave coverage and seasonal gaps — lower quotes, but the cost of living follows. For metro assignments the housing stipend versus agency housing choice usually favors the stipend; in small towns, agency housing or an extended-stay can be the only realistic option.
Stipend ceilings everywhere follow the federal per-diem tables for your assignment location — gsa.gov/perdiem.
FAQ
How much do travel nurses make in Nebraska?
Per BLS OEWS (May 2025), the median staff RN in Nebraska earns $84,730/year. Travel packages typically quote $1,900–$2,600/week gross, with Omaha's Nebraska Medicine and CHI Health campuses at the top — verify offers with recruiters.
Is Nebraska a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes — Nebraska has been a compact member since January 19, 2018, per NCSBN. A multistate license from your compact home state covers Nebraska assignments with no separate application.
What is Nebraska's income tax for travelers?
Graduated rates with a 4.55% top rate for 2026, scheduled to reach 3.99% in 2027 under LB 754, per the Nebraska Department of Revenue. The rate has fallen every year since 2023.
Are stipends taxed in Nebraska?
No — stipends are tax-free when you maintain a valid tax home and duplicated living expenses. Nebraska's income tax applies only to your taxable hourly wages.
What is a good blended rate in Nebraska?
An illustrative $2,200/week take-home over 36 hours is about $61/hour blended. Omaha rents stay reasonable for a metro its size, so stipends cover real apartments — a quiet advantage over coastal markets.
Does Nebraska hold reciprocity with neighboring states?
Yes — Nebraska maintains reciprocity with Iowa, Missouri and Oklahoma among others, so residents of those states working in Nebraska generally keep paying their home state instead. Kansas residents should verify their position.