Labor Rights in Nebraska
Nebraska reached a $15 minimum wage in 2026 and added statewide paid sick time for most workers, but still allows a $2.13 tipped cash wage and requires meal breaks only in certain industrial settings. It is a right-to-work state with no paid family leave program.
Data last verified 2026-10-12
Workplace rights in Nebraska at a glance
| Minimum wage (2026) | $15.00, the final step of voter-approved Initiative 433. From Jan 1, 2027 the rate rises 1.75% annually under LB 258. Youth wage of $13.50 for workers ages 14-15; training wage of $13.50 for new hires ages 16-19 in their first 90 days. |
|---|---|
| Tipped minimum wage (2026) | $2.13 cash wage. Tips plus wages must reach $15.00 per hour; the employer must cover any shortfall. |
| Overtime | 1.5x the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek under the FLSA; Nebraska has no separate state overtime rule. No daily overtime. |
| Paid sick leave | Yes. Nebraska Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (effective Oct 1, 2025, amended by LB 415): 1 hour of paid sick time per 30 hours worked after 80 hours of work. Employers with 20+ employees: up to 56 hours per year; employers with 11-19 employees: up to 40 hours per year. Employers with fewer than 11 employees are exempt. |
| Paid family and medical leave | No state program. |
| Meal breaks | A 30-minute meal break per 8-hour shift is required only in mechanical establishments, workshops, and assembling plants. No meal-break requirement in other industries. |
| Rest breaks | No state requirement beyond federal. |
| Right-to-work law | Yes |
| At-will employment | implied contract Confirm with your state labor department. |
| Final paycheck | Due on the next regular payday or within two weeks of separation, whichever is sooner (Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-1230). |
How Nebraska compares to federal law
Nebraska sets a minimum wage above the federal floor of $7.25 an hour, so the state rate is what most employers must pay. Overtime follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act: time-and-a-half after 40 hours in a workweek.
Neighboring states
- South Dakota$11.85 minimum wage, paid sick leave no, right-to-work yes.
- Iowa$7.25 minimum wage, paid sick leave no, right-to-work yes.
- Missouri$15.00 minimum wage, paid sick leave no, right-to-work no.
- Kansas$7.25 minimum wage, paid sick leave no, right-to-work yes.
Compare all 50 states and DC side by side
Workplace laws change. This summary reflects state law as verified on 2026-10-12; confirm details with your state labor department before acting on it.
Frequently asked questions
What is Nebraska's minimum wage in 2026?
$15.00 per hour, the final step of voter-approved Initiative 433. Starting in 2027 it rises 1.75% per year. Workers ages 14-15 can be paid $13.50, and new hires ages 16-19 can be paid a $13.50 training wage for their first 90 days.
Does Nebraska have paid sick leave?
Yes. Since October 1, 2025, the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act requires employers with 11 or more workers to provide 1 hour of paid sick time per 30 hours worked: up to 56 hours per year at employers with 20+ workers, 40 hours at employers with 11-19 workers.
Do Nebraska employers have to give meal breaks?
Only in some industries. A 30-minute meal break per 8-hour shift is required in mechanical establishments, workshops, and assembling plants. There is no meal or rest break requirement in other industries.
Is Nebraska a right-to-work state?
Yes.