How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Employee in Nebraska? (2026)
State-specific payroll taxes, workers' comp, and total employer costs in Nebraska.
Hiring a $60,000/year employee in Nebraska costs employers approximately $65,393 total in 2026, including $5,393 in mandatory payroll taxes and workers' comp. That's a 1.09x multiplier on base salary.
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Total Cost at $60K Salary
$65,393
Cost multiplier: 1.09x
SUTA Rate (Mid)
1.25%
Wage base: $9,000
Workers' Comp Rate
1.08%
Has state income tax
Key Insight
For a $60,000 salary in Nebraska, employers pay $5,393 in mandatory taxes — a 1.09x cost multiplier. Nebraska's SUTA rate (1.25%) is below the national average of 1.70%.
Model your specific hire
Use our interactive calculator pre-loaded with Nebraska's tax rates. Adjust salary, benefits, and overhead to get your true cost.
Nebraska Employer Tax Details
State-specific payroll obligations for employers
| SUTA Rate Range | 0.0% – 5.5% |
| SUTA New Employer Rate (typical) | 1.25% |
| SUTA Wage Base | $9,000 |
| Workers' Compensation (avg) | 1.08% of payroll |
| State Income Tax | Yes |
Example Employer Costs in Nebraska
Mandatory employer taxes only (no benefits or overhead)
| Component | $40,000 Salary | $60,000 Salary | $80,000 Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security (6.2%) | $2,480 | $3,720 | $4,960 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $580 | $870 | $1,160 |
| FUTA | $42 | $42 | $42 |
| SUTA (NE) | $113 | $113 | $113 |
| Workers' Comp | $432 | $648 | $864 |
| Total Employer Taxes | $3,647 | $5,393 | $7,139 |
| Total Cost (salary + taxes) | $43,647 (1.09x) | $65,393 (1.09x) | $87,139 (1.09x) |
These estimates include mandatory employer payroll taxes only. Add benefits ($7K-$17K) and overhead (~10% of salary) for full cost.
Tax rates sourced from IRS Publication 15, SSA COLA notices, and Nebraska Department of Labor. Social Security tax is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500. Medicare is 1.45% with no wage cap. FUTA is 0.6% on the first $7,000 after credit.
How Nebraska Compares
Nebraska's typical SUTA rate of 1.25% is below the national average of ~1.70%.
Workers' compensation at 1.08% of payroll is below the national average of ~1.20%.
Nebraska Employer Environment
Below-average employer costs- State income tax applies — factor into total compensation packages
- SUTA rate 1.25% (wage base $9,000) — in line with national average
- Workers' comp rate 1.08% — near national average, varies by industry classification
Nebraska's overall employer tax burden is broadly in line with the national average. Review SUTA and workers' comp rates relative to your industry classification for a more precise picture.
Nebraska Employment Profile
Nebraska maintains a low $9,000 SUTA wage base with no paid family leave requirements, supporting its large insurance and food processing employment sectors.
insurance (Mutual of Omaha), food processing (ConAgra), financial services
Omaha's financial services concentration means many employers benchmark against Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri for compensation; Berkshire Hathaway's headquarters effect elevates salary expectations.
Cost at Different Salary Levels in Nebraska
Total employer cost including all mandatory payroll taxes
Compare Nebraska With
Employee Costs in Other States
Hiring Cost by Industry in Nebraska
Workers' comp rates vary significantly by industry — restaurant and construction workers cost far more to insure than office staff.
Average Wages by Occupation in Nebraska
BLS OEWS 2024Median annual wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics — use these as your baseline salary when estimating total hiring cost.
| Occupation Group | Median Annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Management | $102,670 | 73,010 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $91,910 | 32,410 |
| Legal | $81,580 | 5,840 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $79,420 | 66,790 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $78,780 | 13,050 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $66,910 | 58,840 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $64,850 | 8,760 |
| Protective Service | $59,990 | 16,740 |
States With Similar Hiring Costs
These states have SUTA rates close to Nebraska's 1.25% — good for cost benchmarking.
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Simplify Payroll in Nebraska
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