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
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 #144 of 370 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 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 144 | 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 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Nebraska
- Grand Island, NE — $82,590
- 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 #144 of 370 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%.
Related jobs in Lincoln, NE
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $63,070
- Pharmacy Technician — $46,140