At a glance
- Minimum wage: $15.00 an hour, rising to $15.26 on January 1, 2027.
- Tipped cash wage: $2.13.
- Overtime: after 40 hours in a workweek.
- Final paycheck if fired: by the next regular payday or within 2 weeks, whichever comes first.
- Paid sick leave: Yes. Paid family leave program: No.
What Nebraska employers need to know
Nebraska voters raised the minimum wage to $15.00 by 2026 and added inflation adjustments from 2027. In 2024 they also approved paid sick leave, which the legislature narrowed in 2025 to employers with 11 or more employees before it took effect. Nebraska still allows a large tip credit, with a $2.13 cash wage, and requires earned vacation to be paid out when employment ends.
Nebraska minimum wage
| Minimum wage | $15.00 |
|---|---|
| Tipped cash wage | $2.13 |
| Next change | $15.26 (inflation adjustment; confirm with the Nebraska Department of Labor) on January 1, 2027 |
Pay the highest rate that applies where the employee works: federal, state, or local. For comparison, neighboring states pay South Dakota ($11.85), Iowa ($7.25), Missouri ($15.00), Kansas ($7.25), Colorado ($15.16), Wyoming ($7.25). See every state side by side in our minimum wage by state table, and convert between hourly and annual pay with the salary to hourly calculator.
Nebraska overtime rules
The federal FLSA rule applies: overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. There is no daily overtime rule.
Exempt salary test: the federal minimum of $684 a week ($35,568 a year) applies. Duties tests apply too, so job titles alone don't make someone exempt.
Work out overtime owed with our overtime calculator, compare states in overtime laws by state, and check classification with our guide to exempt vs non-exempt employees.
Nebraska meal and rest break laws
Meal breaks: A 30-minute lunch period off the premises in each 8-hour shift, but only in assembly plants, workshops, and mechanical establishments.
Rest breaks: No state rest break law for adults. Under federal law, short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid.
Many states have stricter break rules for minors. Compare adult rules nationwide in break laws by state, and total up shifts with the time card calculator.
Nebraska final paycheck law
| If you fire or lay off the employee | By the next regular payday or within 2 weeks, whichever comes first. |
|---|---|
| If the employee quits | By the next regular payday or within 2 weeks, whichever comes first. |
| Unused vacation or PTO | Required. Earned, unused vacation must be paid at separation. |
Build the deadline into your offboarding checklist. Our offboarding guide covers the full process, the PTO payout calculator works out the amount, and the final paycheck laws by state table compares every state.
Nebraska paid sick leave and family leave
Paid sick leave: Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, effective October 1, 2025, as amended: employers with 11 or more employees provide 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. Employers with 11 to 19 employees allow up to 40 hours a year; employers with 20 or more, up to 56 hours.
Paid family and medical leave: No state paid family leave program. The federal FMLA gives eligible employees of employers with 50 or more employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave.
Federal FMLA: employers with 50 or more employees within 75 miles must also give eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. Read our FMLA guide, and compare states in paid leave laws by state.
Hiring, pay transparency, and payroll setup
Pay transparency: No statewide pay transparency law requiring pay ranges in job postings.
New hire reporting: Report each new hire within 20 days of the hire date, the federal deadline.
State income tax withholding: Yes. Register with the state tax agency before the first payroll.
Our pay transparency laws guide explains posting rules in more depth, and our job description templates include pay data for 50 common roles.
What trips up Nebraska employers
- Paid sick leave covers employers with 11 or more employees, with a higher cap at 20 or more.
- Earned vacation must be paid at separation.
- The minimum wage begins annual inflation adjustments on January 1, 2027.
Sources and the agency to contact
- Nebraska Department of Labor (state labor agency)
- US Department of Labor: state minimum wage laws
- US Department of Labor: minimum wages for tipped employees by state
- US Department of Labor: state meal period requirements
General information for US employers, not legal advice. Laws change and have exceptions by industry, employer size, and city. Confirm current rules with the state agency or employment counsel before you rely on them.
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Suggested citation: HRTally Research Team. "Nebraska labor laws for employers (2026)." HRTally, updated October 20, 2026. https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/nebraska/
Frequently asked questions
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Written by the HRTally Research Team
Our guides are written and reviewed by people with hands-on US HR, payroll, and HR technology experience. Legal and tax facts are checked against primary sources, such as the Department of Labor, IRS, EEOC, and USCIS, and linked at the end of each guide. Vendors never review or pay for our editorial content.