Grand Island Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Grand Island, NE: $23.75/hr median hourly wage, $49,410 median annual salary, cost of living index 85, and $13.50/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Nebraska taxes.
Grand Island Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Grand Island, NE is $23.75/hr,and the median annual wage is $49,410. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.72/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $33.73/hr, and the local minimum wage is $13.50/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Grand Island, NE metropolitan statistical area (39,520 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Grand Island shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$49,410
$23.75/hr
Cost of Living
85
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$13.50
per hour
Unemployment
3%
rate
Grand Island, NE Overview
Population
53,131
Median Salary
$49,410
Average Salary
$56,870
Avg Commute
16 min
Median Home Price
$180,000
Median Rent
$850/mo
Job Growth
+1%
Sales Tax
7.5%
Grand Island is located in Nebraska with a population of 53,131. The median annual wage across all occupations is $49,410 ($23.75/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Grand Island, NE metro), which is $1,570 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 16 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1%.
Grand Island Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Grand Island, NE built around the $49,410 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Grand Island, NE metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $30,634 | $14.72/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $49,410 | $23.75/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $70,162 | $33.73/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $87,950 | $42.27/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Grand Island Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Grand Island, NE, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$40,336
$3,361.36/month · $1,551.40/biweekly · Effective Rate: 18.4%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,551.40 take-home per paycheck after estimated Nebraska and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$49,410
Federal Tax
-$3,749
State Tax
-$1,545
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,780
Net Pay
$40,336
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,117.50 | $49,410.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$312.43 | -$3,749.20 |
| Nebraska State Tax (3.13% eff.) | -$128.72 | -$1,544.61 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$255.29 | -$3,063.42 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$59.70 | -$716.45 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,361.36 | $40,336.33 |
Salary Comparison: Grand Island vs Other Cities
See how Grand Island's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island, NE | $49,410 | 85 | $58,129 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Houston, TX | $49,410 | 96 | $51,469 |
| Sugar Land, TX | $49,410 | 110 | $44,918 |
| Pasadena, TX | $49,410 | 88.5 | $55,831 |
| Pearland, TX | $49,410 | 98.5 | $50,162 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Grand Island
Grand Island's cost of living index is 85 (national average = 100). Living in Grand Island is 15% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$180,000
Median Monthly Rent
$850
Annual Rent Cost
$10,200
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $40,336 annual take-home pay in Grand Island has the purchasing power of approximately $47,454 in an average-cost US area. Your $49,410 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Grand Island
Grand Island's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $49,410.
Salary Tips for Grand Island Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Grand Island has a cost of living 15% below the national average. A salary of $49,410 here has the purchasing power of about $58,129 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Grand Island's top industries include Food Processing, Manufacturing, Healthcare. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $49,410 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Other Cities in Nebraska
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Grand Island salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Grand Island, NE metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Grand Island indexed at 85.
- Median salary: $49,410 annual, $23.75 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Grand Island, NE MSA (39,520 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $56,870 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Grand Island was $48,000.
- Tax burden reflects Nebraska 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 4.55%) (no local income tax), sales tax (7.5%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Grand Island: 3%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Food Processing, Manufacturing, Healthcare, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Nebraska.
- Housing context: median home price $180,000, median rent $850/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Grand Island, NE:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Grand Island unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Grand Island QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Nebraska, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Grand Island's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Nebraska labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Grand Island, NE?
The median hourly wage in Grand Island, NE is $23.75 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Grand Island, NE metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $49,410. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.72/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $33.73/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Grand Island, NE?
The median salary in Grand Island, NE is $49,410 per year, or $23.75 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Grand Island, NE metro area). The BLS mean salary is $56,870. This is $1,570 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Grand Island, NE?
Grand Island's cost of living index is 85 (national average = 100), meaning it is 15% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $180,000 and the median monthly rent is $850.
What are the best industries in Grand Island?
The top industries in Grand Island, NE include Food Processing, Manufacturing, Healthcare. The city has a job growth rate of 1% and an unemployment rate of 3%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $49,410.
How does Grand Island's salary compare to other cities?
Grand Island's median salary of $49,410 is 3.1% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 85), the real purchasing power is approximately $58,129.
What is the minimum wage in Grand Island, NE?
The minimum wage in Grand Island, NE is $13.50 per hour. This equals approximately $28,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $6.25 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.