Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | Family Med Clinic
Avera Health · O'Neill, NE
Pay for licensed practical nurses in the Lincoln area centers on $28.65 per hour, or about $59,600 a year. The lower quarter earns under $24.92 and the upper quarter over $31.23. That ranks 227th of 386 U.S. metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay, and 163rd of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Lincoln. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Lincoln.
The metro median is 2% below the Nebraska statewide median of $29.20 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.97 per hour. BLS counts about 750 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed in the Lincoln metro area, 4.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.01).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $21.74 | $45,220 | 27% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $24.92 | $51,830 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Median | $28.65 | $59,600 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $31.23 | $64,960 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $34.94 | $72,680 | 17% above U.S. median |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (SOC 29-2061), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Named employers near Lincoln, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportGross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Lincoln metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
Travel licensed practical nurse assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Lincoln as they open.
Avera Health · O'Neill, NE
CommonSpirit Health · Nebraska City, NE
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
CommonSpirit Health · Kearney, NE
CommonSpirit Health · Omaha, NE
CommonSpirit Health · Omaha, NE
CommonSpirit Health · Papillion, NE
CMS lists 5 hospitals in Lincoln, 2 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of licensed practical nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chi Health Nebraska Heart Lincoln, NE | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | No |
| Chi Health St. Elizabeth Lincoln, NE | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Bryan Medical Center Lincoln, NE | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Lincoln Surgical Hospital Lincoln, NE | Acute care | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Lincoln Regional Center Lincoln, NE | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Lancaster County (3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, NE | 45 mi | $29.61/hr | 64,777 |
| Omaha, NE | 45 mi | $29.61/hr | 489,265 |
| Council Bluffs, IA | 52 mi | $29.61/hr | 62,665 |
| Grand Island, NE | 88 mi | $29.02/hr | 53,250 |
| Manhattan, KS | 112 mi | $29.39/hr | 54,700 |
| Sioux City, IA | 117 mi | $28.05/hr | 86,875 |
Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Nebraska · Licensed Practical Nurse jobs nationwide
Nebraska is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Nebraska license by endorsement.
Nebraska taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Lincoln city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Licensed Practical Nurses in the Lincoln metro area have a median pay of $28.65 per hour, about $59,600 a year. The middle half earn between $24.92 and $31.23 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Lincoln ranks 163rd of 341 metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 227th of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.
CMS lists 5 hospitals in Lincoln, led by Chi Health Nebraska Heart. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Nebraska is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Nebraska license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Lancaster County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
The federal per diem benchmark in Lincoln is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Lincoln and across Nebraska. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Lincoln.
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20+ Licensed Practical Nurse roles in Nebraska, sent free by email
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Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Nebraska list
7 LPN / LVN postings with published pay in Nebraska, 6 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
+ 5 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.