Nebraska taxes and cost of living (2026)
Nebraska has a graduated income tax from 2.46% to 4.55%. A $100,000 salary is worth about $75,652 a year in national buying power after every tax and Nebraska's prices, #12 of 51 (the state average is $70,397). Retiring on $50,000 a year takes about $1.17M, #10 lowest.
- State income tax
- 2.5%–4.55%
- Sales tax (avg. combined)
- 6.98%
- Property tax (effective)
- 1.42%
- Cost of living
- 90.1
- US = 100
- Social Security taxed?
- No
- Median home
- $263K
Take-home pay in Nebraska
Single filer, 10% of salary to a pre-tax 401(k), standard deduction, renting. All taxes include estimated sales tax.
| Salary | Federal | FICA | State + local | All-in tax rate | Take-home | In US dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,220 | $3,825 | $1,168 | 17.4% | $36,787 | $40,828 |
| $75,000 | $6,020 | $5,738 | $2,192 | 19.6% | $53,551 | $59,433 |
| $100,000 | $10,970 | $7,650 | $3,215 | 22.8% | $68,165 | $75,652 |
| $150,000 | $21,134 | $11,475 | $5,263 | 26.3% | $97,128 | $107,797 |
| $250,000 | $43,304 | $15,514 | $9,358 | 28.3% | $156,824 | $174,050 |
What it takes to retire in Nebraska
Married couple, age 60, withdrawals 60% from 401(k)/IRA, 20% Roth, 20% brokerage, no Social Security yet, renting. Spending at US-average prices.
| Spending | At NE prices | Income taxes | All taxes | FI number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,041 | $0 | $805 | $901.0K |
| $60,000 | $54,062 | $319 | $1,527 | $1.36M |
| $80,000 | $72,082 | $1,984 | $3,594 | $1.85M |
| $120,000 | $108,124 | $5,702 | $8,117 | $2.85M |
Nebraska tax rules at a glance
- Income tax: Nebraska has a graduated income tax from 2.46% to 4.55%. Top rate cut from 5.20% (2025) to 4.55% for 2026 (LB 754, 2023); scheduled to fall to 3.99% in 2027. The NDR 2026 schedule still shows four brackets but the third and fourth are both 4.55% (break at $39,900 / $79,800), so effectively three brackets. Nebraska has its own indexed standard deduction (not federal). Personal exemption is a nonrefundable credit per exemption ($176 for 2026 per secondary sources; $171 in 2025). Standard deduction and credit figures come from the 2026 1040N-ES and secondary sources; final 2026 1040N instructions not yet published.
- Local income tax: No local income taxes.
- Social Security: Not taxed. Fully exempt starting tax year 2024 (LB 873).
- Retirement income: No general pension/IRA exclusion. Military retirement pay is 100% exempt.
- Capital gains: Taxed as ordinary income. Limited one-time election to exclude gains on employer capital stock for qualifying employees.
- Sales tax: 5.50% state rate, 6.98% average with local taxes; groceries exempt.
Compare Nebraska with
Frequently asked questions
Does Nebraska have a state income tax?
Nebraska has a graduated income tax from 2.46% to 4.55%. Top rate cut from 5.20% (2025) to 4.55% for 2026 (LB 754, 2023); scheduled to fall to 3.99% in 2027. The NDR 2026 schedule still shows four brackets but the third and fourth are both 4.55% (break at $39,900 / $79,800), so effectively three brackets. Nebraska has its own indexed standard deduction (not federal). Personal exemption is a nonrefundable credit per exemption ($176 for 2026 per secondary sources; $171 in 2025). Standard deduction and credit figures come from the 2026 1040N-ES and secondary sources; final 2026 1040N instructions not yet published.
How much is $100,000 after taxes in Nebraska?
A single filer earning $100,000 who puts $10,000 in a 401(k) takes home about $68,165 after federal, state and local income taxes and payroll taxes, an all-in effective rate of 22.8% including estimated sales tax.
Does Nebraska tax Social Security?
No. Nebraska does not tax Social Security benefits. Fully exempt starting tax year 2024 (LB 873).
How much do you need to retire in Nebraska?
To spend $50,000 a year (at US-average prices) with withdrawals mostly from a 401(k)/IRA, you'd need about $1.17M in Nebraska using the 4% rule, after its cost of living and taxes.
Is Nebraska expensive to live in?
Nebraska's cost of living index is 90.1, where the US average is 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024). The median home is worth about $263,100 and median rent is $1,102 a month.
How this is calculated
- Income taxes use 2026 federal and state brackets, standard deductions and personal exemptions or credits. No itemized deductions or other credits. Local income taxes use a typical statewide rate (for example, Maryland's county taxes or New York City's); many places have none.
- Payroll taxes include Social Security (6.2% up to the wage base), Medicare, and employee-paid state programs such as California SDI or Washington's paid leave premium. A married household salary is treated as two equal earners for payroll-tax caps.
- Cost of living uses the Bureau of Economic Analysis's Regional Price Parities (2024), where the US average is 100. Spending you enter at national prices is scaled by each state's index.
- Sales tax is estimated as the average combined state and local rate on about a third of spending (more where groceries are taxed). It is shown for context but not added to costs, because the price parities already include it. Property tax applies the state's effective rate to its median home value (Census ACS 2024) if you own.
- Retirement solves for the withdrawal that covers your spending plus the taxes it triggers, using each state's treatment of Social Security, retirement-account withdrawals and capital gains, then multiplies by 25 (a 4% withdrawal rate).
- Years to FI starts from zero, adds what you save each year in that state, and grows it at a 5% real return until it reaches that state's FI number.
Estimates for comparison, not tax advice. Your actual taxes depend on deductions, credits, where in the state you live and more. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities, Census ACS, state sales tax rates, IRS, state revenue departments (per state).