Nebraska Income Statistics
Nebraska Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
B
Nebraska Around averageWealthier than 75% of states in US
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in Nebraska
- Sarpy County (118% of U.S. avg)
- Cass County (113% of U.S. avg)
- Washington County (112% of U.S. avg)
- Hooker County (84% of U.S. avg)
- Johnson County (84% of U.S. avg)
- Thurston County (84% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Nebraska | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $76,615 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $56,814 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Nebraska is about 5% lower than in US. Income has been growing slower in Nebraska (4.3%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Nebraska earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Nebraska grew by 59.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $76,615 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Nebraska
| Metric | Nebraska | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.515 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,618 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.5% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Nebraska, it is 0.515, lower than US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 24% more than women's income in Nebraska. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $446,740 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Nebraska has narrowed from about 23% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,443 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Nebraska | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 32,072 people are unemployed in Nebraska.
The average commute time in Nebraska is 16 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Nebraska has fallen from 5.4% to 3.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.0% in 2023.
Nebraska Wealth Compared With Nearby States
Nebraska is the 4th largest of the 6 states compared here, 1,978,686 residents against a local median of 2,945,842. The measure that sets Nebraska apart most is unemployment: 3.0%, 16% below the local median of 3.6%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The states themselves spread 1.8% on unemployment, so Nebraska sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Nebraska has the 3rd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 1,978,686 | $76,615 #3/6 | 4.3%/yr #3/6 | 3.0% #3/6 | 0.515 #4/6 |
| South Dakota | 907,403 | $75,087 | 4.6%/yr | 2.9% | 0.504 |
| Kansas | 2,945,842 | $74,287 | 4.1%/yr | 3.8% | 0.525 |
| North Dakota | 784,730 | $76,862 | 3.3%/yr | 2.7% | 0.506 |
| Colorado | 5,842,429 | $95,803 | 5.4%/yr | 4.6% | 0.524 |
| Iowa | 3,204,793 | $75,133 | 4.0%/yr | 3.6% | 0.510 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Nebraska has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Nebraska.
How Rich Is Nebraska?
Nebraska has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $76,615, about 5% lower than the US average of $80,455.
How has median household income changed in Nebraska?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Nebraska rose 60%, from $47,993 to $76,615. Over the same years, income here outpaced the U.S. as a whole: +60% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Nebraska in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Nebraska was $74,986, up 4% from $71,907 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in Nebraska in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Nebraska was $63,169. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $76,615.
How strong is the job market in Nebraska?
Unemployment in Nebraska is only 3.0%, well below the US rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Nebraska?
The Gini coefficient in Nebraska is 0.515. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Nebraska?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Nebraska has narrowed from about 23% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,443 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →