Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Nebraska
The median payroll specialist in Nebraska earned $54,900 a year in May 2025[1], 5.8% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Nebraska at #31 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $43,320 | $54,900 | $74,360 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Nebraska earns $48,210–$63,500; the top tenth earns $74,360 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Nebraska median that makes about $78,429 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for payroll specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Nebraska
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | $65,530 | 140 | |
| Grand Island, NE | $63,860 | 40 | |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $64,300 | 460 | |
| Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $63,340 | 80 | |
| Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $59,700 | 30 | |
| South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $55,040 | 130 |
Lincoln, NE pays the most ($60,280) and South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area the least ($49,660): $10,620 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Nebraska?
The median was $54,900 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $48,210 to $63,500.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Nebraska?
About $78,429 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Nebraska do payroll specialists earn the most?
Lincoln, NE, with a median of $60,280 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.