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Machinists in Nebraska: what they earn
Machinists in Nebraska earned a median $55,860 a year in May 2025, $26.86 an hour. 1,810 people held the job, 1.8 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 5% below the national figure of $58,750, and Nebraska ranks 39 of 51 by pay for this trade.
The full wage spread in Nebraska
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $19.12 | $39,770 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $21.92 | $45,600 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $26.86 | $55,860 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $32.42 | $67,430 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $42.37 | $88,130 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $28.41 | $59,090 | The average. Pulled up by the top earners. |
Annual figures are the hourly rate times 2,080 hours, BLS's full-time year. Overtime is inside the survey's earnings but not separated out.
Pay by metro area in Nebraska
Lincoln, NE employs the most machinists of the 3 metro areas based in Nebraska that BLS publishes, 240, at a median $57,820 a year. The best-paid is Grand Island, NE at $67,430.
| Metro | Employed | Median annual | 10th pct | 90th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | 240 | $57,820 | $38,830 | $75,570 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 240 | $58,540 | $40,000 | $81,210 |
| Grand Island, NE | 90 | $67,430 | $48,720 | $67,430 |
Metropolitan statistical areas as BLS publishes them in the same May 2025 estimates. A metro that crosses a state line is listed only under its primary state, so part of a neighboring state's metro can sit outside this table. Areas outside any metro are not shown. Listed under another state but reaching into Nebraska: Sioux City, IA-NE-SD.
Nebraska against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Iowa | $57,540 | 2,880 |
| 37 | California | $57,190 | 18,950 |
| 38 | Florida | $57,140 | 8,400 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $55,860 | 1,810 |
| 40 | Alabama | $55,560 | 5,170 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $55,550 | 1,920 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $55,230 | 8,330 |
The complete ranking is on the Machinists page.
Against the national figure
| Figure | Nebraska | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $55,860 | $58,750 |
| Median hourly | $26.86 | $28.24 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $39,770 | $39,200 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $88,130 | $80,010 |
| Employed | 1,810 | 287,050 |
Other trades in Nebraska
Electricians ($60,820) · Plumbers and pipefitters ($60,970) · HVAC technicians ($59,850) · Welders ($52,220) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($58,390) · Lineworkers (power-line installers) ($92,150) · Elevator installers ($117,690) · Ironworkers ($65,470) · Sheet metal workers ($64,440) · Carpenters ($50,320) · Brickmasons and blockmasons ($61,200) · Auto service technicians ($50,560) · Diesel mechanics ($59,140) · Heavy equipment operators ($58,360)
See all 15 ranked by pay in Nebraska.
No state licensing records are sourced here for machinists. The steps into the trade are on the Machinists page. Numbers on this page are the May 2025 BLS estimates; see how the numbers are built.