Registered Nurse Salary in Lincoln, NE
Registered Nurses in the Lincoln, NE metro area earn a median $87,530 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $67,304 take-home, or $5,609 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Lincoln, NE. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,427
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,427
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,269
- Nebraska income tax$3,103
- Take-home pay$67,304
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.55% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Lincoln, NE
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,280 | $30.90 | $51,784 | $4,315 |
| 25th percentile | $78,530 | $37.75 | $61,382 | $5,115 |
| Median (50th) | $87,530 | $42.08 | $67,304 | $5,609 |
| 75th percentile | $93,560 | $44.98 | $71,272 | $5,939 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,010 | $50.00 | $78,148 | $6,512 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Nebraska resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $87,530 buys in Lincoln, NE
Prices in Lincoln, NE are 8.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 16% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $67,304 take-home pay has the buying power of $73,492 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Lincoln, NE as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Lincoln, NE ranks #80 of 206 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $135,010 | $92,480 | $89,260 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,810 | $89,883 | $89,094 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $128,260 | $98,932 | $89,021 |
| 80 | Lincoln, NE | $87,530 | $67,304 | $73,492 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 206 metros →
About the job: registered nurses
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.6% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Nebraska
- Omaha, NE — $84,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Lincoln, NE?
The median registered nurse salary in the Lincoln, NE metro area is $87,530 a year, or about $42.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,530 and $93,560.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Lincoln, NE?
On the median $87,530 salary, a single filer living in Nebraska takes home about $67,304 a year ($5,609 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,103 in Nebraska taxes in 2026.
Is Lincoln, NE a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $73,492 would in a typical U.S. city. Lincoln, NE ranks #80 of 206 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Lincoln, NE?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lincoln, NE is $917 a month ($1,132 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.