HOURLY WAGE INDEX
Let’s talk wages in Omaha
What is the minimum wage in Omaha?
The current minimum wage in Omaha, Nebraska is $10.50 per hour. This is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. The minimum wage in Omaha has increased steadily in recent years, and is expected to continue to increase in the future.
In November 2022, voters approved a ballot measure that increased the minimum wage in Omaha from $9 per hour to $10.50 per hour. The increase took effect on January 1, 2023. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were an estimated 30,000 workers in Omaha who made minimum wage in 2021. This represents about 4% of the total workforce in Omaha.
What is the living wage in Omaha?
A livable wage in Omaha is defined as the amount of money a worker needs to earn in order to meet their basic needs for housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and other essentials. A single adult in Omaha needs to earn at least $16.57 per hour to earn a livable wage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between gross wages and net wages?
It's important to remember that the Hourly Wage Index data above reflects gross wages, or the amount of money an employee earns before accounting for payroll deductions like taxes, benefits, or wage garnishments. Due to variability in tax rates across locations, slightly lower gross wages in a certain location might result in higher take home pay, or vice versa.
What is a good hourly wage?
This question is a difficult one to answer, as a "good hourly wage" is highly subjective according to experience, work responsibilities, cost of living, and other factors. We recommend using Hourly Wage Index data as a starting point. Once you have established a baseline for certain positions, do further research into similar businesses in your area. Lastly, consider surveying your employees. They're the best resource to help you know what is a good hourly wage, what competitive pay looks like in your location, and how competitive wages change in your industry over time.
Offering competitive pay is one of my top priorities—what other resources do you have that might help?
We know that getting applicants to pay attention to your business can be extremely challenging, and that offering competitive pay is a huge part of that. Wages aren’t everything, however! Applicant experience is another important factor that can help set you apart from your competition. A few examples include:
- Short, easy to understand job descriptions
- Mobile-friendliness
- Quick communication
- Streamlined interview stages
Resources
Become a hiring and onboarding expert.


