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Registered Nurses salary in Lincoln, NE

Registered Nurses in the Lincoln, NE metropolitan area earn a median of $87,530 a year, an average of $86,730. About 4,200 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Registered Nurses pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$87,530
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$86,730
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$64,280
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$104,010
Top of the range
People employed
4,200
In Lincoln metro area
Rent share of median wage
14.3%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Lincoln

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,045
per month, in Lincoln, NE
Income needed for median rent
$41,800
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median registered nurses wage
$87,530
109.4% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
14.3%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$69,991
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Lincoln area. Read the Lincoln, NE cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Registered Nurses pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

St. Louis, MO
-5.0%
Median $83,180
Mean $88,310
Employed 35,200
Jersey City, NJ
+36.8%
Median $119,720
Mean $119,600
Employed 197,740
Anchorage, AK
+31.7%
Median $115,290
Mean $116,660
Employed 4,990
Greensboro, NC
-5.3%
Median $82,860
Mean $90,430
Employed 6,240
Pittsburgh, PA
-5.9%
Median $82,370
Mean $88,880
Employed 29,360
Chandler, AZ
+15.2%
Median $100,830
Mean $101,090
Employed 53,700
Newark, NJ
+36.8%
Median $119,720
Mean $119,600
Employed 197,740
Buffalo, NY
+13.2%
Median $99,060
Mean $98,560
Employed 13,830

See registered nurses pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $87,530 / year
$87,530
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Nebraska (NE)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
—
Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Registered Nurses salary in Lincoln, NE: FAQ

How much do registered nurses make in Lincoln, NE?

The median salary for registered nurses in the Lincoln, NE metro area is $87,530 a year (about $42 an hour for full-time work). The average is $86,730, pulled up by the top earners.

Is $87,530 a good salary for registered nurses in Lincoln, NE?

Yes. It is above the $41,800 needed to keep the median rent of $1,045 a month at 30% of gross income, and the median rent takes 14.3% of this wage.

What do the highest-paid registered nurses earn in Lincoln, NE?

The top 10% earn more than $104,010 a year, while the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $64,280.

How many registered nurses work in Lincoln, NE?

About 4,200 people work in this occupation in the Lincoln, NE metro area, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.