How Much Does an RN Make in Lincoln, NE in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Lincoln, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Nebraska.
BLS OES May 2025 · Lincoln metro area
A typical RN in Lincoln, Nebraska earns $42.08 per hour, or $87,530 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,294 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,280, and the top 10% of earners make over $104,010.
That pay is 3% above the Nebraska figure of $84,730 and 10% below the national figure of $97,550. Lincoln ranks 1st of 3 metro areas in Nebraska for RN pay. About 4,200 RNs work in the Lincoln area.
RN pay in Lincoln at a glance
- Typical pay is $42.08 an hour, or $87,530 a year.
- That is 3% above the Nebraska figure, ranking 1st of 3 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,280; the top 10% make over $104,010.
- Typical pay rose +56% from 2015 to 2025, against +46% for Nebraska as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Lincoln?
Pay in Lincoln runs from entry-level positions at around $30.90 an hour to more than $50.00 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Nebraska and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Lincoln
| Career stage | Lincoln | Nebraska | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $64,280$30.90 an hour | $66,020$31.74 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $78,530$37.75 an hour | $79,240$38.09 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $87,530$42.08 an hour | $84,730$40.74 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $93,560$44.98 an hour | $99,640$47.90 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $104,010$50.00 an hour | $106,190$51.05 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Lincoln area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Lincoln
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Lincoln area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Lincoln was $56,230 a year. By 2025 it had reached $87,530, a change of +56%, compared with +46% for Nebraska over the same years.
How Lincoln compares with other Nebraska cities
Lincoln pays RNs the most of any metro area in Nebraska. The lowest-paying area in the state is Grand Island at $82,590.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lincoln | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln | $87,530 | $42.08 | this city | 4,200 |
| 2 | Omaha | $84,600 | $40.67 | -3% | 13,200 |
| 3 | Grand Island | $82,590 | $39.71 | -6% | 830 |
Every metro area in Nebraska with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Nebraska typical pay $84,730
Is Lincoln a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Lincoln earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $87,530 a year, 10% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Lincoln area, about 23 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. RN jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Lincoln, NE?
- A typical RN in Lincoln earns $87,530 a year, or $42.08 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $64,280 and the top 10% earn over $104,010.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Lincoln?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Lincoln is $42.08. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $30.90, and the top 10% earn over $50.00 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Lincoln?
- Entry-level RN positions in Lincoln typically offer around $30.90 an hour, or $64,280 a year.
- Is RN pay in Lincoln higher than in the rest of Nebraska?
- Lincoln pay is 3% above the Nebraska figure of $84,730 a year, ranking 1st of 3 metro areas in the state.