Fastest growing jobs in Nebraska, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Nebraska. Percent growth favours small occupations, so the openings column is often the more useful number — a fast-growing job with few openings is harder to enter than a flat one with many.

State projections are produced by Nebraska's own workforce agency and collected by Projections Central — the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes projections only at the national level. Methodology varies by state, so these are not directly comparable with the national figures. Wages remain BLS OEWS.

Cost of living: prices in Nebraska run 9.9% below the national average (2024), so a Nebraska salary is worth about 1.11× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Nebraska.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Nebraska

OccupationMedian, Nebraska · Growth 2024–34

1Nurse Practitioners$132,130
Master's degree
$103,820 – $161,990+30.1%
2Data Scientists$98,230
Bachelor's degree
$66,230 – $133,140+28.7%
3Physical Therapist Assistants$61,370
Associate's degree
$48,100 – $77,690+24.5%
4Information Security Analysts$92,550
Bachelor's degree
$66,630 – $147,150+24.2%
5Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$45,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,330 – $53,350+23.0%
6Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$63,770
Master's degree
$42,400 – $109,610+20.3%
7Logisticians$65,370
Bachelor's degree
$40,230 – $121,600+18.3%
8Medical and Health Services Managers$107,700
Bachelor's degree
$78,790 – $180,840+18.3%
9Financial Examiners$74,460
Bachelor's degree
$49,490 – $127,000+17.9%
10Physician Assistants$133,040
Master's degree
$103,720 – $165,540+17.3%
11Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,130 – $83,320+17.0%
12Cooks, Restaurant$37,030
No formal educational credential
$28,680 – $44,880+16.8%
13Medical Equipment Repairers$57,080
Associate's degree
$43,630 – $76,310+16.7%
14Home Health and Personal Care Aides$36,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,670 – $43,680+16.7%
15Electricians$60,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,400 – $94,040+15.7%
16Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$94,540
Doctoral or professional degree
$45,370 – $143,190+15.5%
17Psychiatric Technicians$57,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,490 – $62,000+15.3%
18Occupational Therapists$93,740
Master's degree
$70,370 – $107,780+15.2%
19Financial Managers$140,360
Bachelor's degree
$89,990 – $227,640+14.7%
20Industrial Engineers$98,170
Bachelor's degree
$71,150 – $133,500+14.5%
21Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$59,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,540 – $81,110+14.2%
22Software Developers$110,900
Bachelor's degree
$77,520 – $158,720+13.5%
23Massage Therapists$53,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,360 – $93,390+13.4%
24Medical Assistants$47,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,940 – $59,450+13.1%
25Computer and Information Systems Managers$135,780
Bachelor's degree
$97,360 – $211,500+12.8%
26Construction Managers$100,820
Bachelor's degree
$63,840 – $158,140+12.7%
27Physical Therapists$97,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,540 – $120,190+12.6%
28Computer Network Architects$116,420
Bachelor's degree
$77,570 – $163,200+12.4%
29Roofers$46,460
No formal educational credential
$37,480 – $59,670+12.0%
30Construction Laborers$47,260
No formal educational credential
$36,400 – $61,780+12.0%
31Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$83,990
Bachelor's degree
$56,290 – $115,100+12.0%
32Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$49,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,390 – $77,340+11.9%
33Chiropractors$66,050
Doctoral or professional degree
$44,700 – $121,960+11.9%
34Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$43,240
Master's degree
$35,760 – $59,160+11.8%
35Mechanical Engineers$88,060
Bachelor's degree
$61,860 – $136,870+11.6%
36Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$31,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,390 – $36,410+11.5%
37Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$31,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,080 – $53,480+11.4%
38Personal Financial Advisors$93,280
Bachelor's degree
$52,370 – $214,280+11.3%
39Driver/Sales Workers$34,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,080 – $59,350+10.9%
40Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,670
Associate's degree
$64,590 – $105,320+10.7%
41Stockers and Order Fillers$35,920
No formal educational credential
$29,220 – $46,170+10.6%
42Animal Caretakers$31,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,080 – $52,010+10.5%
43Light Truck Drivers$44,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,710 – $92,370+10.3%
44Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$37,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,610 – $50,390+10.2%
45Veterinarians$103,500
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,630 – $165,660+10.0%
46Couriers and Messengers$34,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,790 – $46,420+10.0%
47Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$43,680
Associate's degree
$37,770 – $57,310+9.9%
48Chefs and Head Cooks$60,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,650 – $99,990+9.9%
49Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$48,620
No formal educational credential
$37,140 – $62,580+9.7%
50Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,290 – $97,030+9.7%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianNebraska	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$132,130	$103,820 – $161,990	+30.1%
2	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$98,230	$66,230 – $133,140	+28.7%
3	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,370	$48,100 – $77,690	+24.5%
4	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$92,550	$66,630 – $147,150	+24.2%
5	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,210	$37,330 – $53,350	+23.0%
6	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$63,770	$42,400 – $109,610	+20.3%
7	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$65,370	$40,230 – $121,600	+18.3%
8	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$107,700	$78,790 – $180,840	+18.3%
9	Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree	$74,460	$49,490 – $127,000	+17.9%
10	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$133,040	$103,720 – $165,540	+17.3%
11	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,110	$49,130 – $83,320	+17.0%
12	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$37,030	$28,680 – $44,880	+16.8%
13	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$57,080	$43,630 – $76,310	+16.7%
14	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,150	$30,670 – $43,680	+16.7%
15	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,820	$40,400 – $94,040	+15.7%
16	Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$94,540	$45,370 – $143,190	+15.5%
17	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,370	$39,490 – $62,000	+15.3%
18	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$93,740	$70,370 – $107,780	+15.2%
19	Financial ManagersBachelor's degree	$140,360	$89,990 – $227,640	+14.7%
20	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,170	$71,150 – $133,500	+14.5%
21	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,850	$43,540 – $81,110	+14.2%
22	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$110,900	$77,520 – $158,720	+13.5%
23	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,950	$47,360 – $93,390	+13.4%
24	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,370	$37,940 – $59,450	+13.1%
25	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$135,780	$97,360 – $211,500	+12.8%
26	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$100,820	$63,840 – $158,140	+12.7%
27	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$97,090	$77,540 – $120,190	+12.6%
28	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$116,420	$77,570 – $163,200	+12.4%
29	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$46,460	$37,480 – $59,670	+12.0%
30	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$47,260	$36,400 – $61,780	+12.0%
31	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$83,990	$56,290 – $115,100	+12.0%
32	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,810	$36,390 – $77,340	+11.9%
33	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$66,050	$44,700 – $121,960	+11.9%
34	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$43,240	$35,760 – $59,160	+11.8%
35	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$88,060	$61,860 – $136,870	+11.6%
36	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,490	$28,390 – $36,410	+11.5%
37	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,440	$28,080 – $53,480	+11.4%
38	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$93,280	$52,370 – $214,280	+11.3%
39	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,950	$28,080 – $59,350	+10.9%
40	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,670	$64,590 – $105,320	+10.7%
41	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$35,920	$29,220 – $46,170	+10.6%
42	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,680	$28,080 – $52,010	+10.5%
43	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,120	$29,710 – $92,370	+10.3%
44	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,850	$34,610 – $50,390	+10.2%
45	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$103,500	$60,630 – $165,660	+10.0%
46	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,600	$28,790 – $46,420	+10.0%
47	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$43,680	$37,770 – $57,310	+9.9%
48	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,510	$39,650 – $99,990	+9.9%
49	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$48,620	$37,140 – $62,580	+9.7%
50	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,150	$42,290 – $97,030	+9.7%

More for Nebraska

Metro areas in Nebraska

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Nebraska

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Nebraska to rank honestly.

Fastest growing jobs in Nebraska, 2024–34

More for Nebraska

Metro areas in Nebraska

By field in Nebraska

Without a degree

Fastest growing jobs in each state, 2024–34