Nebraska voters approved a ballot measure in November to increase the minimum wage in steps each January 1 from 2023 through 2026. On January 1, 2023, the minimum wage will increase from its current $9.00 per hour to $10.50 per hour. Employers must be aware of this change and must comply with it in paying their employees.

The minimum wage for Nebraska employees will increase according to the following schedule:

January 1, 2023, will increase to $10.50 per hour
January 1, 2024, will increase to $12.00 per hour
January 1, 2025, will increase to $13.50 per hour
January 1, 2026, will increase to $15.00 per hour

This increase in Nebraska’s minimum wage standards follows a trend among many states throughout the country of raising their minimums. Moving forward, Nebraska’s minimum wage will be tied to the consumer price index, or CPI, which measures the average change over time in prices paid by urban consumers for consumer goods and services, influencing inflation.

There are minimal exceptions to the minimum wage, and compliance with wage laws can get complicated. Given penalties and liability risks for non-compliance, it is vitally important that employers understand these laws and have clear policies to meet them. Bonnie Boryca and E|S’s employment attorneys are well-versed in these laws and happy to assist in compliance reviews for employers in Nebraska. Bonnie can be reached at 402-397-2200 or boryca@eslaw.com.