Skilled Wages

Machinist salary in Nebraska

Median $26.86 an hour for 1,810 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$26.86/hrMedian hourly wageNebraska, May data
$55,860/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$19.12 – $42.3710th to 90th percentilehourly range
1,810Jobs countedemployer survey

Machinist pay in Nebraska: the full range

Wage percentiles, NebraskaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrNebraska: 10th $19.12 · 25th $21.92 · median $26.86 · 75th $32.42 · 90th $42.37Nebraska$26.86$19.12$42.37United States: 10th $18.85 · 25th $22.87 · median $28.24 · 75th $32.55 · 90th $38.47United States$28.24
Hourly wage percentiles for machinists: Nebraska vs United States, May 2025.

Nebraska ranks 39th of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 19th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.81). 1,810 machinists work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$19.12 – $21.92$39,770 – $45,600roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$21.92 – $32.42$45,600 – $67,430the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$32.42 – $42.37$67,430 – $88,130the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Machinist pay by metro in Nebraska

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrGrand Island: $32.42Grand Island$32.42Omaha: $28.14Omaha$28.14Lincoln: $27.80Lincoln$27.80Sioux City: $27.09Sioux City$27.09
Median hourly wage for machinists by metro area in Nebraska, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Grand Island$23.42$32.42$32.429021% above
Omaha$19.23$28.14$39.042405% above
Lincoln$18.67$27.80$36.332403% above
Sioux City$18.19$27.09$30.36801% above

Machinist wages in Nebraska over time

Nebraska, 1999-2025NebraskaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$10$20$30200020052010201520202025$28.24United States$26.86Nebraska
Median hourly wage for machinists, Nebraska vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNebraska $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$11.29$21.82$14.302,210
2000$13.39$25.03$14.782,220
2001$14.35$26.09$15.432,150
2002$14.40$25.77$15.662,130
2003$15.04$26.32$15.912,320
2004$14.72$25.09$16.332,190
2005$14.72$24.27$16.511,900
2006$14.87$23.75$16.711,890
2007$15.35$23.83$16.942,110
2008$15.64$23.39$17.412,080
2009$16.09$24.15$18.101,970
2010$17.87$26.38$18.522,480
2011$18.12$25.93$18.862,660
2012$18.15$25.45$18.992,830
2013$17.50$24.18$19.033,430
2014$18.33$24.93$19.223,800
2015$18.93$25.71$19.494,080
2016$18.92$25.38$20.054,000
2017$19.27$25.31$20.483,860
2018$20.28$26.00$20.974,130
2019$20.49$25.80$21.364,320
2020$21.53$26.78$22.043,750
2021$23.05$27.39$22.953,620
2022$23.55$25.91$23.321,840
2023$23.47$24.80$24.442,140
2024$27.91$28.64$27.002,210
2025$26.86$26.86$28.241,810

In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in Nebraska changed by +4.5% over the last ten years of data.

Is construction work growing in Nebraska?

71.2kConstruction jobsNebraska, 2026-08
+6.6%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k20k40k60k80k1990199520002005201020152020202571kAug 2026
Construction employment in Nebraska (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Machinist pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Nebraska

Questions this page answers

How much do machinists make in Nebraska?

The median machinist in Nebraska earned $26.86 an hour ($55,860 a year) in May 2025, 5% below the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $21.92–$32.42; the top 10% earn more than $42.37.

Where does Nebraska rank for machinist pay?

Nebraska ranks 39th of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $26.86 an hour, and 19th after adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.1, US = 100).

What is the union machinist rate in Nebraska?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a machinist classification for most Nebraska counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many machinists work in Nebraska?

BLS counted 1,810 machinists in Nebraska in May 2025, 1.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.96; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Nebraska and metro areas, SOC 51-4041.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.