High paying entry level jobs in Nebraska

These occupations in Nebraska ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

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 · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$246,730
Master's degree
$188,560 – $331,660430
2Dentists, General$179,750
Doctoral or professional degree
$68,040 – $265,940790
3Pharmacists$139,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$84,990 – $170,0902,450
4Physician Assistants$133,040
Master's degree
$103,720 – $165,5401,330
5Nurse Practitioners$132,130
Master's degree
$103,820 – $161,9902,340
6Optometrists$125,040
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,170 – $205,450340
7Software Developers$110,900
Bachelor's degree
$77,520 – $158,7207,260
8Lawyers$109,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,030 – $217,7003,490
9Electrical Engineers$107,260
Bachelor's degree
$66,820 – $135,2701,060
10Veterinarians$103,500
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,630 – $165,660780
11Civil Engineers$103,150
Bachelor's degree
$68,950 – $149,9802,360
12Database Administrators$100,020
Bachelor's degree
$63,610 – $141,860610
13Operations Research Analysts$98,300
Bachelor's degree
$60,550 – $149,760330
14Data Scientists$98,230
Bachelor's degree
$66,230 – $133,1401,980
15Industrial Engineers$98,170
Bachelor's degree
$71,150 – $133,5001,160
16Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$98,010
Bachelor's degree
$64,750 – $131,4901,240
17Physical Therapists$97,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,540 – $120,1902,140
18Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$95,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,310 – $136,910390
19Computer Programmers$95,150
Bachelor's degree
$61,680 – $154,5001,090
20Occupational Therapists$93,740
Master's degree
$70,370 – $107,7801,500
21Dental Hygienists$92,580
Associate's degree
$67,600 – $98,0801,280
22Computer Occupations, All Other$92,480
Bachelor's degree
$49,830 – $136,4102,280
23Computer Systems Analysts$91,810
Bachelor's degree
$62,780 – $139,9902,440
24Business Teachers, Postsecondary$88,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,190 – $205,000530
25Mechanical Engineers$88,060
Bachelor's degree
$61,860 – $136,870950
26Registered Nurses$84,730
Bachelor's degree
$66,020 – $106,19024,720
27Network and Computer Systems Administrators$84,700
Bachelor's degree
$57,350 – $136,8101,560
28Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$83,990
Bachelor's degree
$56,290 – $115,100630
29Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,670
Associate's degree
$64,590 – $105,320780
30Respiratory Therapists$81,590
Associate's degree
$64,100 – $96,180840
31Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$81,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,680 – $167,530500
32Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$80,970
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,330 – $111,020620
33Project Management Specialists$80,150
Bachelor's degree
$51,630 – $129,5603,190
34Credit Analysts$79,730
Bachelor's degree
$50,200 – $110,380510
35English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$78,450
Doctoral or professional degree
$45,610 – $127,140500
36Business Operations Specialists, All Other$77,980
Bachelor's degree
$40,310 – $127,6502,540
37Soil and Plant Scientists$77,500
Bachelor's degree
$40,030 – $121,060640
38Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$75,200
Master's degree
$45,820 – $123,620490
39Chemists$74,890
Bachelor's degree
$62,280 – $128,510350
40Urban and Regional Planners$74,830
Master's degree
$53,770 – $99,820360
41Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$72,860
Associate's degree
$54,410 – $98,3001,670
42Accountants and Auditors$72,080
Bachelor's degree
$48,590 – $114,53010,340
43Fundraisers$68,030
Bachelor's degree
$46,090 – $102,100770
44Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,590
Associate's degree
$49,210 – $99,750370
45Financial Specialists, All Other$66,290
Bachelor's degree
$47,700 – $104,680480
46Chiropractors$66,050
Doctoral or professional degree
$44,700 – $121,960500
47Web and Digital Interface Designers$65,520
Bachelor's degree
$46,990 – $100,590720
48Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$65,490
Associate's degree
$48,000 – $93,540710
49Logisticians$65,370
Bachelor's degree
$40,230 – $121,6001,500
50Interior Designers$64,870
Bachelor's degree
$43,840 – $100,200430

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	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$246,730	$188,560 – $331,660	430
2	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$179,750	$68,040 – $265,940	790
3	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$139,330	$84,990 – $170,090	2,450
4	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$133,040	$103,720 – $165,540	1,330
5	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$132,130	$103,820 – $161,990	2,340
6	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$125,040	$65,170 – $205,450	340
7	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$110,900	$77,520 – $158,720	7,260
8	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$109,170	$65,030 – $217,700	3,490
9	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$107,260	$66,820 – $135,270	1,060
10	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$103,500	$60,630 – $165,660	780
11	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$103,150	$68,950 – $149,980	2,360
12	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$100,020	$63,610 – $141,860	610
13	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$98,300	$60,550 – $149,760	330
14	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$98,230	$66,230 – $133,140	1,980
15	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,170	$71,150 – $133,500	1,160
16	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$98,010	$64,750 – $131,490	1,240
17	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$97,090	$77,540 – $120,190	2,140
18	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$95,860	$62,310 – $136,910	390
19	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$95,150	$61,680 – $154,500	1,090
20	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$93,740	$70,370 – $107,780	1,500
21	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$92,580	$67,600 – $98,080	1,280
22	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$92,480	$49,830 – $136,410	2,280
23	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$91,810	$62,780 – $139,990	2,440
24	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$88,690	$52,190 – $205,000	530
25	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$88,060	$61,860 – $136,870	950
26	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$84,730	$66,020 – $106,190	24,720
27	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$84,700	$57,350 – $136,810	1,560
28	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$83,990	$56,290 – $115,100	630
29	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,670	$64,590 – $105,320	780
30	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,590	$64,100 – $96,180	840
31	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$81,190	$58,680 – $167,530	500
32	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$80,970	$52,330 – $111,020	620
33	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$80,150	$51,630 – $129,560	3,190
34	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$79,730	$50,200 – $110,380	510
35	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,450	$45,610 – $127,140	500
36	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$77,980	$40,310 – $127,650	2,540
37	Soil and Plant ScientistsBachelor's degree	$77,500	$40,030 – $121,060	640
38	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$75,200	$45,820 – $123,620	490
39	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$74,890	$62,280 – $128,510	350
40	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$74,830	$53,770 – $99,820	360
41	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,860	$54,410 – $98,300	1,670
42	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$72,080	$48,590 – $114,530	10,340
43	FundraisersBachelor's degree	$68,030	$46,090 – $102,100	770
44	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,590	$49,210 – $99,750	370
45	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$66,290	$47,700 – $104,680	480
46	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$66,050	$44,700 – $121,960	500
47	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$65,520	$46,990 – $100,590	720
48	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,490	$48,000 – $93,540	710
49	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$65,370	$40,230 – $121,600	1,500
50	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$64,870	$43,840 – $100,200	430

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Nebraska. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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.

High paying entry level jobs in Nebraska

More for Nebraska

Metro areas in Nebraska

By field in Nebraska

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state