What share of people in Nebraska are working?

69.2% of residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force in September 2026, and 67.2% had a job; 2nd highest of 51 for labor force participation (50 states and DC combined: 61.6%).

Economy, jobs and prices in Nebraska, United States: official figures

The economy of Nebraska (gross domestic product) was worth $206.6 billion in 2025 at current prices, 0.7% of the US total of $30.86 trillion; 18th smallest of 51. In current dollars it was up 4.6% on 2024.

GDP (current dollars)

$206.6 billion

2025

GDP per resident

$102,386

2025

Personal income per person

$76,055

2025

Median household income

$76,376

2024

Unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted)

2.9%

September 2026

Average annual pay (QCEW)

$63,063

2025

Median household income

$76,578

2024

Median gross rent (monthly)

$1,102

2024

How fast is the economy of Nebraska growing?

After adjusting for inflation, real GDP in Nebraska grew 1.3% in 2025, against 2.3% for the United States; 11th slowest-growing of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the GDP per capita of Nebraska?

Dividing 2025 GDP by the Census Bureau's population estimate gives $102,386 of output per resident, against $90,294 for the US economy divided by the population of the 50 states and DC; 9th highest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Is the economy of Nebraska growing or shrinking?

In the second quarter of 2026, real GDP in Nebraska shrank at an annual rate of 0.1% (United States: 2.2%); 6th slowest-growing of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What are the main industries in Nebraska?

In 2025 the largest private industry in Nebraska's economy was finance and insurance (19.1% of GDP), followed by manufacturing (9.2%) and real estate, rental and leasing (8.5%). Government accounted for 10.2%; the manufacturing share was 26th highest of 51 (United States: 9.5%).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

How much do people in Nebraska spend?

Consumer spending (personal consumption expenditures) in Nebraska came to $56,840 per person in 2025 (United States: $61,062); 21st lowest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Is Nebraska expensive to live in?

Prices in Nebraska were 9.9% below the national average in 2024, by BEA's regional price parity of 90.1 (US = 100), which covers goods, services and housing; 11th least expensive of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the inflation rate in Nebraska?

Prices in Nebraska rose 2.4% in 2024, measured by BEA's implicit regional price deflator, against 2.6% nationally (PCE price index).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the per capita income in Nebraska?

Personal income per person in Nebraska was $76,055 in 2025, against $77,028 for the United States; 20th highest of 51. It was up 5.1% on 2024 and up 33.6% on 2020, before inflation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the disposable income per person in Nebraska?

After taxes, disposable personal income per person was $68,392 in 2025 (United States: $67,251); 17th highest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

How far does income go in Nebraska?

Adjusted for local price levels, real personal income per person in Nebraska was $65,297 in 2024 in 2017 dollars (United States: $59,195); 6th highest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the median household income in Nebraska?

Median household income in Nebraska was $76,376 in 2024 (margin of error ±$1,384), against $81,604 for the United States; 20th lowest of 51 by the point estimate. It was not statistically different from 2023 after adjusting for inflation (American Community Survey).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Nebraska?

The Gini index of household income inequality in Nebraska was 0.446 in 2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 means one household has everything; United States: 0.481); 7th least unequal of 51.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Nebraska?

The unemployment rate in Nebraska was 2.9% in September 2026 (seasonally adjusted, preliminary), unchanged from 2.9% a year earlier; 6th lowest of 51. The rate for the 50 states and DC combined was 4.2%.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

How many people are unemployed in Nebraska?

In September 2026, 31,250 people in Nebraska were unemployed and 1,064,128 employed, out of a labor force of 1,095,378.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What was the unemployment rate in Nebraska in 2025?

Over 2025 the unemployment rate in Nebraska averaged 3.0% (an 11-month average: October 2025 was not collected during the federal shutdown), against 2.7% in 2024; 6th lowest of 51. The lowest annual rate since 1976 was 2.2% in 2022.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the average salary in Nebraska?

Workers covered by unemployment insurance in Nebraska were paid $63,063 on average in 2025 ($1,213 a week), up 3.3% on 2024; the US average was $78,720. That is 9th lowest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

How many jobs are there in Nebraska?

Employers in Nebraska had an average of 1,021,306 jobs on their payrolls in 2025 across 77,604 establishments, up 0.3% on 2024 (United States: up 0.5%).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the median wage in Nebraska?

The median annual wage across all occupations in Nebraska was $48,980 in May 2025 (mean $62,400); 23rd lowest of 51. One in ten workers earned less than $30,120 and one in ten more than $103,110.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the most common job in Nebraska?

The most common occupation in Nebraska in May 2025 was fast food and counter workers, with 30,060 workers and a median annual wage of $29,000.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the median household income in Nebraska?

Median household income in Nebraska was $76,578 in 2024, 20th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $81,604). In 2019 it was $63,290, so it has risen 21.0% before allowing for inflation.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Nebraska?

The median gross rent in Nebraska, including utilities, was $1,102 a month in 2024, up 5.8% on 2023 ($1,042); 15th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $1,487).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the median home value in Nebraska?

Homeowners in Nebraska valued their homes at a median of $263,100 in 2024, up 7.3% on 2023 ($245,200); 14th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $360,600).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Nebraska?

The median home value in Nebraska was 3.4 times the median household income in 2024 ($263,100 against $76,578); 10th lowest ratio among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 4.4).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is rent affordable in Nebraska?

A household on the median income in Nebraska would spend 17.3% of its income on the median rent of $1,102 a month in 2024 (U.S.: 21.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Nebraska compares with other states

Gross domestic product, 2025 (current dollars) (2025)

Nebraska ranks 34 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross domestic product, 2025 (current dollars)
31	Oklahoma	$274.3 billion
32	Iowa	$271.9 billion
33	Kansas	$232.1 billion
34	Nebraska	$206.6 billion
35	Arkansas	$196.0 billion
36	District of Columbia	$193.0 billion
37	Mississippi	$162.8 billion

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

GDP per resident, 2025 (BEA GDP / Census population) (2025)

Nebraska ranks 9 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	GDP per resident, 2025 (BEA GDP / Census population)
6	California	$109,196
7	Connecticut	$103,727
8	North Dakota	$103,020
9	Nebraska	$102,386
10	Alaska	$99,875
11	Illinois	$97,568
12	Colorado	$95,610

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Real GDP growth, 2025 (2025)

Nebraska ranks 41 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real GDP growth, 2025
38	Oregon	1.4%
39	Massachusetts	1.3%
40	Mississippi	1.3%
41	Nebraska	1.3%
42	Missouri	1.2%
43	Kansas	1.0%
44	Arkansas	0.9%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Real GDP growth, 2026:Q2 (annual rate) (2026:Q2)

Nebraska ranks 46 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real GDP growth, 2026:Q2 (annual rate)
43	Oklahoma	0.3%
44	Louisiana	0.2%
45	Montana	0.1%
46	Nebraska	-0.1%
47	Kansas	-0.6%
48	North Dakota	-0.9%
49	Alaska	-1.3%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Personal income per person, 2025 (2025)

Nebraska ranks 20 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Personal income per person, 2025
17	Minnesota	$78,197
18	North Dakota	$77,438
19	Hawaii	$76,966
20	Nebraska	$76,055
21	Vermont	$75,723
22	Pennsylvania	$75,370
23	Rhode Island	$75,233

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Real personal income per person, 2024 (adjusted for local prices, 2017 dollars) (2024)

Nebraska ranks 6 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real personal income per person, 2024 (adjusted for local prices, 2017 dollars)
3	Connecticut	$74,254
4	Massachusetts	$71,629
5	South Dakota	$69,153
6	Nebraska	$65,297
7	North Dakota	$65,271
8	Colorado	$65,223
9	New Hampshire	$64,632

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Median household income, 2024 (ACS) (2024)

Nebraska ranks 32 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Median household income, 2024 (ACS)
29	Wisconsin	$77,488
30	South Dakota	$76,881
31	Maine	$76,442
32	Nebraska	$76,376
33	Wyoming	$75,532
34	Kansas	$75,514
35	Iowa	$75,501

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Regional price parity, 2024 (US = 100) (2024)

Nebraska ranks 41 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Regional price parity, 2024 (US = 100)
38	Tennessee	91.9
39	Missouri	90.8
40	Kentucky	90.2
41	Nebraska	90.1
42	Kansas	90.1
43	West Virginia	89.5
44	North Dakota	89.0

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Unemployment rate, September 2026 (seasonally adjusted) (September 2026)

Nebraska ranks 46 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate, September 2026 (seasonally adjusted)
43	Iowa	3.2%
44	Montana	3.1%
45	Wyoming	3.0%
46	Nebraska	2.9%
47	Hawaii	2.8%
48	New Hampshire	2.6%
49	Vermont	2.6%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Unemployment rate, 2025 annual average (2025)

Nebraska ranks 46 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate, 2025 annual average
43	Montana	3.3%
44	Wisconsin	3.2%
45	New Hampshire	3.2%
46	Nebraska	3.0%
47	Alabama	2.9%
48	Vermont	2.7%
49	North Dakota	2.6%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Labor force participation rate, September 2026 (September 2026)

Nebraska ranks 2 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Labor force participation rate, September 2026
1	District of Columbia	70.3%
2	Nebraska	69.2%
3	North Dakota	68.9%
4	Iowa	66.9%
5	Minnesota	66.7%
6	Utah	66.5%
7	Kansas	66.4%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Average annual pay, 2025 (QCEW) (2025)

Nebraska ranks 43 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Average annual pay, 2025 (QCEW)
40	Kansas	$63,212
41	New Mexico	$63,124
42	Louisiana	$63,090
43	Nebraska	$63,063
44	Montana	$62,882
45	Kentucky	$62,521
46	Idaho	$62,392

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Median annual wage, all occupations, May 2025 (OEWS) (May 2025)

Nebraska ranks 29 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Median annual wage, all occupations, May 2025 (OEWS)
26	Pennsylvania	$49,690
27	Ohio	$49,380
28	Michigan	$49,270
29	Nebraska	$48,980
30	Montana	$48,740
31	Texas	$48,620
32	Iowa	$48,540

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Median household income (2024)

Nebraska ranks 32 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates

Rank	Region	Median household income
29	Pennsylvania	$77,532
30	South Dakota	$77,494
31	Wyoming	$76,975
32	Nebraska	$76,578
33	Maine	$76,372
34	Iowa	$75,623
35	Montana	$75,520

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent (monthly) (2024)

Nebraska ranks 37 of 51, highest first. Renter-occupied units paying cash rent

Rank	Region	Median gross rent (monthly)
34	Wisconsin	$1,142
35	New Mexico	$1,117
36	Indiana	$1,104
37	Nebraska	$1,102
38	Ohio	$1,090
39	Kansas	$1,079
40	Alabama	$1,077

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2024)

Nebraska ranks 38 of 51, highest first. Owner-reported value

Rank	Region	Median value of owner-occupied homes
35	New Mexico	$279,900
36	Pennsylvania	$277,600
37	North Dakota	$266,100
38	Nebraska	$263,100
39	Missouri	$254,400
40	Michigan	$254,200
41	Indiana	$243,500

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Nebraska: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

U.S. Census Bureau: Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2024 (ACSBR-025), Appendix Table 1: median household income and Gini index by state, 2023 and 2024 American Community Survey, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5de1b0d5ec46…)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SASUMMARY: State annual summary statistics: personal income, GDP, consumer spending, price indexes, and employment (updated 30 September 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a3757d207c05…)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SAGDP: Annual GDP by state, 1997-2025 (table SAGDP2, GDP in current dollars by industry), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3d3c5bc7bd24…)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SQGDP: Quarterly GDP by state, 2005-2026 Q2 (table SQGDP11, percent change in real GDP at annual rate), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1649260cdceb…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, states, monthly, seasonally adjusted, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7bb6f18d4145…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, states, annual averages 1976-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 262aba7d00df…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates (state_M2025_dl.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 74d5be0e1df8…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages, all industries (open data CSV slice), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5a5f89142aae…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Median gross rent (B25064), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8624f9775add…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Median value of owner-occupied homes (B25077), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 27120d5d8a5f…)
U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)

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