Nebraska minimum wage 2027: $15.26 an hour

Nebraska minimum wage 2027: $15.26 per hour from January 1, 2027 (Nebraska AG Opinion No. 26-003; Nebraska DOL minimum wage notice). Verified Oct 8, 2026 on two official pages.

“But under L.B. 258, passed in the most recent legislative session, the Act's inflation percentage will be a fixed annual rate of 1. 75%. L.B. 258. § 1, 109th Leg., 2d Sess. (2026) (enacted). Under this formula, the 2027 statewide minimum wage will be $15.26,”

Second official source: “State of Nebraska Minimum Wage Effective Date Minimum Hourly Wage Rate Youth Minimum Hourly Wage Rate 14-15 years of age $15.00* $15.26 $15.53 $15.80 $16.08 $13.50 $13.50 $13.50 $13.50 $13.70 July 18, 2026 January 1, 2027 January 1, 2028 January 1, 2029 January 1, 2030” (Nebraska DOL minimum wage notice).

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What changes for Nebraska employers in 2027

Rate in force now: Nebraska minimum wage is $15.00 per hour from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. (Nebraska minimum wage (U.S. DOL WHD, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated July 1, 2026); Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-1203(1)(e) (via Internet Archive snapshot of 2026-08-31); verified Aug 31, 2026).

Other Nebraska minimum rates

• Youth minimum wage (ages 14-15): “Beginning July 18, 2026, an employer may pay a youth minimum wage of $13.50 per hour to employees who are 14 or 15 years of age. The youth minimum wage will increase to $13.70 per hour effective January 1, 2030, and will increase 1.5% every fifth year thereafter.” (Nebraska DOL minimum wage notice)
• Training wage (new employees 16-19, 90 days): “Effective Date Training Hourly Wage Rate (90 days) 16-19 years of age July 18, 2026 $13.50 January 1, 2027 $13.70 January 1, 2028 $13.91 January 1, 2029 $14.12 January 1, 2030 $14.33” (Nebraska DOL minimum wage notice)
• Tipped employees: “(3) For persons compensated by way of gratuities such as waitresses, waiters, hotel bellhops, porters, and shoeshine persons, the employer shall pay wages at the minimum rate of two dollars and thirteen cents per hour, plus all gratuities given to them for services rendered.” (Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-1203 (Legislature))
• Student-learners: “(4) Any employer employing student-learners as part of a bona fide vocational training program shall pay such student-learners' wages at a rate of at least seventy-five percent of the minimum wage rate which would otherwise be applicable under this section.” (Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-1203 (Legislature))

How we checked the 2027 rate

• The statute as published by the Nebraska Legislature (snapshot of November 3, 2026; Laws 2026, LB258, effective July 18, 2026) raises the $15.00 rate by 1.75% on January 1, 2027 and has the Department of Labor publish the figure; $15.00 x 1.0175 = $15.26 (Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-1203 (Legislature)).
• Nebraska's November 3, 2026 ballot had four statewide measures: Proposed Amendment No. 1 (legislative terms) and Initiative Measures 440 and 441 (online sports wagering), all defeated, and 442 (school sports by biological sex), approved; none was about the minimum wage (unofficial results) (Nebraska SOS election results).

Paying the minimum wage in Nebraska: paydays, final pay and breaks

• Paydays: Wages must be paid on regular days designated by the employer or agreed upon by the employer and employee. (Nebraska payday (U.S. DOL WHD, State Payday Requirements, footnote 14); U.S. District Court, D. Neb., No. 4:19-cv-03012, quoting Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-1230(1); verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Meal breaks (assembly plant workshop mechanical): In assembly plants, workshops and mechanical establishments, employees get at least 30 consecutive minutes for lunch, off premises, in each 8-hour shift, unless covered by a collective bargaining or other written agreement. (Nebraska statute (U.S. DOL WHD, Meal Period Requirements table); Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-212 (via Internet Archive snapshot of 2026-08-31); verified Aug 31, 2026)

Every verified rule for the state, with the law cited: Nebraska employer rulebook.

Exempt salary threshold in 2027: Federal $684 a week ($35,568 a year); no higher state threshold found (U.S. DOL thresholds page; eCFR 29 CFR 541.600) Verified Oct 21, 2026

Each change with its official text: Nebraska rules.

Nebraska minimum wage rates: now, 2027 and next

Earlier rates, as the official page lists them: “(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section and section 48-1203.01, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees a minimum wage of: (a) Nine dollars per hour through December 31, 2022; (b) Ten dollars and fifty cents per hour on and after January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023; (c) Twelve dollars per hour on and after January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024; (d) Thirteen dollars and fifty cents per hour on and after January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025; and (e) Fifteen dollars per hour on and after January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.” (Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-1203 (Legislature)).

How the next Nebraska rate is set

“(2) The minimum wage established in subdivision (1)(e) of this section shall be increased on January 1, 2027, and on January 1 of successive years, by one and three-quarters percent. No later than October 15 of each year, commencing October 15, 2026, the Nebraska Department of Labor shall calculate and publish the minimum wage rate that will take effect the following January 1.” (Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-1203 (as amended by LB 258, 2026))

2027 minimum wage: Nebraska and neighboring states

Each state links to its rulebook, and to its own 2027 minimum wage page where we have one. The same rows, for every state, are in the 2027 table by state.

How to act on it

Full-time pay at the 2027 rate (computed: hourly rate × 40 hours a week and × 2,080 hours a year, before taxes): $15.26 = $610.40 a week, $31,741 a year.

Questions about the Nebraska minimum wage in 2027

Sources (18)

• Nebraska AG Opinion No. 26-003
• Nebraska DOL minimum wage notice
• Nebraska minimum wage (U.S. DOL WHD, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated July 1, 2026)
• U.S. DOL thresholds page
• eCFR 29 CFR 541.600
• Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-1203 (Legislature)
• Nebraska SOS election results
• Nebraska payday (U.S. DOL WHD, State Payday Requirements, footnote 14)
• U.S. District Court, D. Neb., No. 4:19-cv-03012, quoting Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-1230(1)
• Nebraska statute (U.S. DOL WHD, Meal Period Requirements table)
• Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-212 (via Internet Archive snapshot of 2026-08-31)
• U.S. DOL minimum wage page
• 29 U.S.C. §206 (govinfo)
• South Dakota DLR minimum wage page
• Iowa Code § 91D.1 (Iowa Legislature)
• RSMo 290.502 (MO Revisor)
• K.S.A. 44-1203 (Kansas Revisor)
• CDLE press release, Aug. 13, 2026

Checked Oct 8, 2026 · How we verify every rule · Report an error

Where this goes next

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