Animal Scientists Salary
The median pay for a animal scientists in Nebraska is $55,300/year ($26.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $61,410 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,113/month, about 30.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $55K get you in Nebraska?
About animal scientists
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Pay for animal scientists in Nebraska runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $69K. Rent runs $1,113/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nebraska
Entry-level animal scientists (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Scientists salary by metro in Nebraska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $79K | +44% | 100 |
| Omaha | $74K | +33% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track animal scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 30.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal scientists in Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal scientists typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,889/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is animal scientist a high-paying job in Nebraska?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $55K here vs. $69K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for animal scientists?
Nebraska pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do animal scientists make in Nebraska?
The median is $55,300 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,150, and experienced animal scientists can clear $118,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,698/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 30.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a animal scientists salary go in Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median animal scientists salary is worth about $61,410 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do animal scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.