Nebraska minimum wage rates
| Category | Rate (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (workers 16+) | $15.00/hr | Effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 |
| Tipped employees (direct wage) | $2.13/hr | Tips must bring total to $15.00/hr; employer pays the shortfall |
| Youth workers (ages 14–15) | $13.50/hr | Effective July 17, 2026; confirmed from dol.nebraska.gov |
How Nebraska reached $15.00
Nebraska voters approved a minimum wage initiative in November 2022, setting a $1.50 per year incremental schedule: $10.50/hr in 2023, $12.00/hr in 2024, $13.50/hr in 2025, and $15.00/hr in 2026. This was one of several state ballot measures in the 2022 cycle that pushed minimum wages to $15. Beginning January 1, 2027, Nebraska will shift to CPI-based annual adjustments — meaning future increases will track inflation rather than a fixed schedule. The Nebraska Department of Labor (dol.nebraska.gov) publishes current rates.
Tipped employee rules
Nebraska's tipped employee direct wage is $2.13/hr — the same as the federal FLSA tipped minimum. Employers must ensure that wages plus tips equal at least $15.00/hr for each hour worked. If tips fall short in any workweek, the employer must pay the difference. The employer cannot pocket the surplus when tips exceed the minimum wage.
Youth minimum wage (ages 14–15)
Nebraska has a separate minimum wage for workers aged 14 and 15 years old: $13.50 per hour as of July 17, 2026, confirmed from the Nebraska Department of Labor press release at dol.nebraska.gov. Workers aged 16 and older receive the standard $15.00/hr rate. This youth rate is time-limited and subject to change — verify current rates from dol.nebraska.gov before applying to young worker payroll.
Worked examples
Example 1: adult worker at minimum wage
Example 2: tipped employee shortfall scenario
What this does not determine
- The 2027 CPI-adjusted rate — Nebraska will announce this before December 31, 2026; verify from dol.nebraska.gov.
- Whether Nebraska has a state overtime law — Nebraska relies on the federal FLSA for overtime (no independent state overtime statute).
- Nebraska Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (sick leave) details — a three-tier employer-size structure effective October 1, 2025; see dol.nebraska.gov for details.
Nebraska statute and enforcement
Nebraska's minimum wage is established through the November 2022 voter initiative (codified in Nebraska statutes). The Nebraska Department of Labor (dol.nebraska.gov) enforces wage and hour laws. Employees who believe they have been underpaid may file a wage complaint with the NDOL at dol.nebraska.gov. Nebraska has no independent state overtime law — overtime follows FLSA's 40-hour threshold.
Nebraska vs. neighboring Kansas
Nebraska's 2026 minimum wage of $15.00/hr — enacted by a 2022 voter initiative — significantly exceeds neighboring Kansas, which has remained at $7.25/hr under Kan. Stat. § 44-1203 since 2010 with no indexing or scheduled increases. The $7.75/hr gap is one of the largest between adjacent states in the Great Plains, despite both states having similar agricultural economies.
Sources and verification
The rate, effective date, through date, tipped rate, and youth rate were verified from the Nebraska Department of Labor press release at dol.nebraska.gov. The rollover schedule (CPI-based starting 2027) is confirmed from the same source. See the site's methodology for how rates are verified before publication.