Nebraska · 2026 take-home pay

$21 an hour after taxes in Nebraska

At $21 an hour in Nebraska you keep about $17.39 of every hour — $696 a week, $3,014 a month or $36,169 a year full time — after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Nebraska income tax. Nebraska has a graduated income tax, and its minimum wage is $15.00 an hour.

By Work & Money Editorial Team · Last reviewed October 14, 2026

Where $21 an hour goes

$21 an hour full time in Nebraska, single filer, 2026
A yearA weekAn hour
Gross pay$43,680$840$21.00
Federal income tax−$3,062−$59−$1.47
Social Security (6.2%)−$2,708−$52−$1.30
Medicare (1.45%+)−$633−$12−$0.30
Nebraska income tax−$1,108−$21−$0.53
Take-home pay$36,169$696$17.39

Effective tax rate 17.2% · federal bracket 12% · Nebraska bracket 4.55%.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$840.00$695.56
Every two weeks (26)$1,680.00$1,391.11
Twice a month (24)$1,820.00$1,507.04
Monthly (12)$3,640.00$3,014.08

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$21 an hour at different hours

Take-home in Nebraska for part-time, full-time and overtime weeks. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times $21 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.

$21 an hour in Nebraska: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$420$372$19,359
30 hours a week$630$536$27,883
40 hours a week$840$696$36,169
40 hours + 5 overtime$998$815$42,377
40 hours + 10 overtime$1,155$934$48,585

*If this is your only job. With a second job, withholding on each is likely too low unless you adjust your W-4.

Is $21 an hour good pay in Nebraska?

  • Minimum wage: $21 an hour is 1.4 times Nebraska's minimum wage of $15.00 an hour. Employers with 4 or more employees.
  • Among Nebraska workers: It's about the 39th percentile of hourly pay in Nebraska (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 39 in 100 workers earn less. The median is $23.55 an hour.
  • Local prices: Nebraska's price level is 90.1% of the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities), so $36,169 a year buys about what $40,142 would at national-average prices.
  • Rent: the 30% rule points to about $1,092 a month. Check it with your debts.
  • A 50/30/20 budget: about $1,507 a month for needs, $904 for wants and $603 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

Jobs in Nebraska that pay about $21 an hour

Occupations whose median wage in Nebraska is within 4% of $21 an hour, most common first. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

How Nebraska compares on $21 an hour

Nebraska ranks 19th of 51 for take-home pay on $21 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.

Take-home on $21 an hour, 40 hours a week, single filer, 2026
StateAfter tax, per hourA yearMinimum wagevs Nebraska
Nebraska$17.39$36,169$15.00—
Colorado$17.25$35,871$15.16−$298 a year
Iowa$17.44$36,269$7.25+$100 a year
Kansas$17.13$35,639$7.25−$530 a year
Missouri$17.39$36,161$15.00−$8 a year
South Dakota$17.92$37,277$11.85+$1,108 a year
Wyoming$17.92$37,277$7.25+$1,108 a year

How the federal tax on $43,680 ($21 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $43,680 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $27,580. Each slice is taxed at its own rate:

2026 federal income tax by bracket, single filer
RateIncome in this bracketTax
10%$12,400$1,240
12%$15,180$1,822
Total$27,580$3,062

How the Nebraska income tax on $43,680 ($21 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $43,680 of Nebraska wages minus $8,850 standard deduction = $34,830.

Nebraska income tax by bracket, single filer, 2026 rules
RateIncome in this bracketTax
2.46%$4,130$102
3.51%$20,630$724
4.55%$10,070$458
Personal credits—−$176
Total$34,830$1,108

Common questions

How much is $21 an hour after taxes in Nebraska?

About $17.39 for every hour you work, or $36,169 a year at 40 hours a week ($43,680 gross). Taxes take about 17.2% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.

How much is $21 an hour a week after taxes in Nebraska?

About $696 a week at 40 hours, from $840 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $1,391.

How much is $21 an hour a month after taxes in Nebraska?

About $3,014 a month at 40 hours a week, from $3,640 gross.

Is $21 an hour good pay in Nebraska?

$21 an hour is 1.4 times Nebraska's minimum wage of $15.00 an hour. It's about the 39th percentile of hourly pay in Nebraska (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 39 in 100 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in Nebraska is $23.55. After taxes and local prices, $36,169 a year buys about what $40,142 would at national-average prices.

Is Nebraska a high-tax state for $21 an hour?

It ranks 19th of 51 among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $21 an hour. The most you'd keep is $37,277 a year, in 8 places including Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $34,254 in Oregon.

Sources and method

Our 2026 engine applies IRS Publication 15-T withholding, Social Security and Medicare, Nebraska's income tax rules (methodology). Local income taxes are not included. Minimum wages: U.S. Department of Labor. Wage distribution and jobs: BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities.

  1. Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Internal Revenue Service. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. State Minimum Wage Laws — U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  3. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  4. Regional Price Parities by State — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 14, 2026.