Short answer. Nebraska DOL schedule: $15.26 from January 1, 2027.
$15.26
Nebraska minimum wage from January 1, 2027 (+$0.26, 1.7%)
Nebraska minimum wage at a glance
- 2027 rate
- $15.26 from January 1, 2027
- 2026 rate
- $15.00 (Nebraska DOL schedule, updated July 31, 2026).
- Change
- +$0.26 an hour (1.7%)
- Tipped employees
- Cash wage $2.13 → $2.13; maximum tip credit $13.13
- Local rates
- Not confirmed on a state page
- Coverage note
- Nebraska's minimum wage applies to employers of four or more persons at any one time (Nebraska DOL).
Nebraska tipped employees in 2027
Nebraska DOL: the cash wage paid to a tipped employee must be at least $2.13 an hour. A server on $2.13 who works 30 hours needs at least $393.90 in tips that week to reach $15.26 an hour; the employer covers any shortfall.
Other Nebraska rates
| Who | 2026 | 2027 | Where it's from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth rate, ages 14 and 15 | $13.50 | $13.50 | Nebraska DOL schedule: from July 18, 2026. |
What the Nebraska change costs: an example
Each row compares a pay rate with the Nebraska 2027 floor. Weekly cost is the raise times hours, with overtime at time and a half; the last column runs from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2027 (52.14 weeks). Employer taxes aren't included.
| Employee | Rate now | Hours | Raise | Weekly | Rest of 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At the 2026 minimum | $15.00 | 40 | +$0.26 | $10.40 | $542.26 |
| Between the two rates | $15.13 | 30 | +$0.13 | $3.90 | $203.35 |
| Full time plus 5 hours overtime | $15.00 | 45 | +$0.26 | $12.35 | $643.93 |
| Already above 2027 | $15.76 | 40 | None | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Tipped, at the 2026 cash wage | $2.13 | 30 | None | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Run your own staff list in the payroll change calculator set to Nebraska.
Updating Nebraska payroll
- Before January 1, 2027, list everyone paid under $15.26 an hour (or under $2.13 cash for tipped staff), including part-timers and seasonal staff.
- Decide which Nebraska rate applies to each person: youth rate, ages 14 and 15.
- Change the rates in payroll with an effective date of January 1, 2027, and split any pay period that crosses it.
- For tipped staff, update the cash wage and keep checking each week that cash wage plus tips reaches $15.26.
- Replace the Nebraska minimum wage poster with the 2027 version from the state labor department.
Official Nebraska sources
- Nebraska DOL: State of Nebraska minimum wage (updated 7/31/2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws (updated November 5, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (revised July 1, 2026)
General information, not legal advice, checked November 2026 against the official Nebraska pages above. A state can change a rate after we check, cities and counties can set higher rates, and exemptions depend on the job and the employer. Before you change payroll, confirm the rate on the state labor department's site or with your payroll provider or employment attorney. MCC Solutions isn't affiliated with any government agency.
Nebraska 2027 minimum wage questions
What is the Nebraska minimum wage in 2027?
$15.26 an hour from January 1, 2027, up from $15.00. Nebraska DOL schedule: $15.26 from January 1, 2027.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Nebraska for 2027?
$2.13 an hour in cash wages ($2.13 before the change), with tips making up the rest of $15.26. Nebraska DOL: the cash wage paid to a tipped employee must be at least $2.13 an hour.
Is there a different Nebraska rate for youth rate, ages 14 and 15?
Yes: $13.50 in 2027 ($13.50 in 2026). Source: Nebraska DOL schedule: from July 18, 2026. It applies only to workers who fit that description; everyone else gets $15.26.
Does the Nebraska minimum wage cover every employer?
Nebraska's minimum wage applies to employers of four or more persons at any one time (Nebraska DOL). The state's labor department decides coverage questions.
How much more does a full-time Nebraska minimum wage worker cost each week in 2027?
$0.26 an hour more, so $10.40 for a 40-hour week before employer taxes, or about $542.26 over the rest of 2027. Overtime hours add the raise at time and a half.
Compare every state: minimum wage by state 2027 · Montana 2027 · Ohio 2027