Nebraska Firefighter Salary (2026) – City Breakdown, Overtime & Real Take-Home
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Nebraska firefighter job postings often list modest entry-level numbers, but actual public payroll data tells a different story once you look at what career firefighters are really earning after a few years on the job. This guide breaks down what Nebraska firefighters actually earn in Omaha, Lincoln, and Bellevue — from entry-level pay to top-step with overtime — and what shapes real take-home pay in one of the country's most affordable states.
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Nebraska Firefighter Salary — Quick Numbers (2026)
Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median firefighter wage at $59,530 (May 2024, the most recent OEWS data published). Nebraska runs close to that on a statewide basis — Glassdoor's 2026 data puts the average firefighter salary in Nebraska at $69,024, with a typical range of $56,269 to $85,285. Job-board postings for entry-level roles in Omaha and Lincoln often show lower figures in the low-to-mid $50,000s, but that reflects entry-level listings specifically — actual public payroll data for career firefighters already on the job runs considerably higher, especially in Lincoln.
| Level | Annual Base Pay |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (academy / probation) | $43,000–$57,000 |
| Mid-career (5–10 years) | $58,000–$74,000 |
| Top-step Firefighter | $72,000–$97,000 |
| With overtime (realistic, Omaha/Lincoln) | $85,000–$115,000 |
| Engineer / Driver-Operator | $76,000–$94,000 |
| Captain | $88,000–$112,000 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 national estimates, Glassdoor 2026 Nebraska and Omaha Fire & Rescue employee-submitted salary data, GovSalaries public payroll data for City of Lincoln firefighters (2026), official City of Bellevue and City of Omaha job postings. Numbers reflect base pay; total compensation with overtime runs higher.
City-by-City Breakdown
| Department | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha Fire Department | $43,000 entry-level postings → $71,600–$72,800 average → $102,000–$114,500 top earners | Largest department in Nebraska. Strong IAFF Local 385 contract. Employee-submitted Glassdoor data for Omaha Fire & Rescue puts the average firefighter salary at $71,621–$72,777, with 90th-percentile earners reaching $114,520 — notably higher than what entry-level job postings alone suggest. Offers full pension retirement and paid academy training. |
| Lincoln Fire & Rescue | $42,000 entry-classification postings → $87,787 average actual payroll → $97,203 (75th percentile) | State capital and University of Nebraska city. Actual public payroll data compiled from city records shows the average firefighter salary at City of Lincoln is $87,787, with the 25th–75th percentile range running $82,527–$97,203 — a striking gap above the lower job-posting estimates, and a good reminder that entry-level job-board figures don't reflect what a tenured Lincoln firefighter actually earns. |
| Bellevue Fire Department | $56,638 starting (official city posting) → $74,000+ top step | Omaha suburb in Sarpy County with roughly 50,000 residents. Offutt Air Force Base proximity opens up federal contract and mutual-aid work not available to most Nebraska departments. Confirm current step pay directly with the department, as posted starting rates shift between hiring cycles. |
City figures combine official department job postings, employee-submitted Glassdoor data, and public payroll records (GovSalaries) where available. Pay tables change between budget cycles and union contract negotiations — always confirm exact numbers on the department's own civil-service page before comparing offers.
Overtime and Premium Pay
Omaha has the most consistent overtime in the state, reflecting its size and call volume as Nebraska's largest department. Tornado season and severe weather events create statewide demand spikes across all three departments covered here, adding occasional but meaningful overtime opportunities beyond the routine baseline. Most Nebraska departments run a 24/48 or similar shift schedule, which by itself creates regular overtime opportunities for sick coverage, training backfill, and special details.
Use the Salary Comparison Tool to model different overtime assumptions before comparing departments — treat any overtime figure as a range, not a guarantee.
Retirement and Pension
Most Nebraska career firefighters participate in the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems (NPERS) through their municipal employer, a defined-benefit plan. Omaha is a notable exception, administering its own locally-run fire and police pension system rather than NPERS. Because the specific plan, contribution rate, and benefit formula depend on the department, confirm the current terms directly with your specific department's HR office rather than assuming NPERS applies uniformly statewide.
Cost of Living — What Your Salary Actually Buys
Nebraska is consistently one of the more affordable states in the country, and Omaha in particular is regularly ranked among the most affordable large metros in the U.S. Housing, utilities, and groceries all run below the national average across the state's major cities. This means Lincoln's actual average firefighter payroll figure of $87,787 goes considerably further than the same number would in a high-cost coastal market — a meaningful advantage that's easy to overlook when comparing nominal salary figures across states.
How to Compare Two Nebraska Departments
- Match the same rank and step (entry vs. 5-year vs. top step) — comparing an entry-classification rate at one department to actual tenured payroll at another isn't a fair comparison.
- Confirm the schedule type and how overtime is calculated under the current contract.
- Get the actual pension plan (NPERS vs. Omaha's locally-administered system) and contribution rate — not just a general benefit formula.
- Ask for healthcare premium costs for your specific coverage tier.
- Subtract deductions, then compare realistic take-home against housing costs in that specific city.
- Add conservative overtime assumptions — use low-end estimates, not maximum-scenario numbers, when deciding between offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average firefighter salary in Nebraska?
Glassdoor's 2026 data puts the average firefighter salary in Nebraska at $69,024, close to the national BLS median of $59,530 (May 2024). Entry-level job postings in Omaha and Lincoln often show lower figures in the low-to-mid $50,000s, but actual public payroll data tells a different story: City of Lincoln firefighters average $87,787, with a 25th-75th percentile range of $82,527-$97,203. With realistic overtime, total compensation in Omaha or Lincoln can range from $85,000-$115,000.
Do Nebraska firefighters get a pension?
Yes. Most Nebraska career firefighters participate in the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems (NPERS) through their municipal employer, a defined-benefit plan. Omaha is an exception, running its own locally-administered fire and police pension system rather than NPERS. Confirm the specific plan and contribution rate with your department.
Is Nebraska a good state for a firefighter career?
Nebraska is a solid career option with strong real purchasing power — actual payroll data for Lincoln and Omaha firefighters runs well above what entry-level job postings alone suggest, and the state's low cost of living, especially in Omaha, makes the compensation go further than the nominal numbers indicate. Omaha and Lincoln offer the best combination of pay and career opportunity in the state.
Interested in working as a firefighter in Nebraska? See our firefighter requirements and hiring guide — requirements, CPAT, written exam, and academy explained step by step.
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