Whether working in the legal department of Lincoln’s National Research Corporation or gaining valuable experience in a law specialty like family law, litigation, or labor law with one of Omaha’s largest law firms like Kutak Rock, prospects for paralegals throughout Nebraska remain positive.
A low cost of doing business and a business-friendly regulatory climate has made Nebraska a hot spot for new business, largely in the economic hub of Omaha, which is home to big players like Berkshire Hathaway, ConAgra, Mutual of Omaha, and TD Ameritrade. For paralegals with expertise in areas like labor law and intellectual property, Nebraska’s corporate environment is a great place to settle in and rise through the ranks.
Paralegal Job Market Trends in Nebraska
As of May 2020, the average salary for paralegals in Nebraska was $55,290, or $26.58 per hour, which was just slightly below the national average of $56,610 during this time. There’s plenty of room to grow in the paralegal profession, particularly for those who focus their careers on gaining experience in one or more areas of legal specialties. The top 10% here earned about $77,590, or $37.30 per hour, which was a cool $20,000 more than the state average during this time.
Nebraska was home to about 2,020 paralegal jobs as of May 2020, which was much higher than the number of paralegal jobs in neighboring states like South Dakota (450) and Wyoming (500) and just shy of the Iowa’s 2,070 paralegal jobs.
A steady 5.9% rise in the number of active lawyers in Nebraska over the last decade (2011-2021) ensures that the legal services industry and its employment of paralegals will continue to show positive gains.
Average Paralegal Salary in Nebraska by City
Nebraska’s Omaha-Council Bluff metro region reported the highest average and top (10%) salaries for paralegals as of May 2020. This comes as no surprise given the diverse and robust economy here that includes several Fortune 500 companies.
Grand Island:
Average – $49,300 ($23.70 hourly)
Top 10% – $79,280 ($39.12 hourly)
Lincoln:
Average – $53,840 ($25.89 hourly)
Top 10% – $68,160 ($32.77 hourly)
Omaha-Council Bluffs:
Average – $59,220 ($28.47 hourly)
Top 10% – $80,440 ($38.67 hourly)
May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary, growth, and job market trends for paralegals and legal assistants. Figures represent state data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2021.