Calculate your overtime pay in Kearney based on your hourly rate and hours worked, using the federal FLSA 40-hour rule for 2026.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Applicable minimum wage in Kearney: $12.00/hour
Nebraska has no general state overtime law and follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act: non-exempt employees earn 1.5x their regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. There is no daily overtime requirement.
| Rule | Kearney (NE) Requirement |
|---|---|
| Weekly overtime threshold | 40 hours/week (1.5x) |
| Daily overtime | Not required (no daily overtime in Nebraska) |
| Double time | Not required under state or federal law |
| Seventh consecutive day | No special rule |
| Applicable minimum wage | $12.00/hour |
| Federal overtime rate | 1.5x regular rate (FLSA) |
Your overtime rate is based on your regular rate of pay, which includes hourly wages and most non-discretionary bonuses. For example, at $12.00/hour a standard 1.5x overtime hour pays $18.00.
Kearney sits along Interstate 80 in central Nebraska and is home to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, with an economy built on higher education, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and its role as a travel and convention stop on the Platte River.
| Local Metric | Kearney (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 35,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Buffalo County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 76 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $17.75/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $37.00/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $12.00/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $800/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,000/month |
| Median home price | $230,000 |
| Median household income | $58,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 7% |
| Effective property tax rate | 1.7% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
In Kearney, Nebraska has no general state overtime law and follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act: non-exempt employees earn 1.5x their regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. There is no daily overtime requirement. Overtime is based on your regular rate of pay, which includes most non-discretionary bonuses, not just your base hourly wage.
The applicable minimum wage in Kearney is $12.00/hour. Kearney does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Nebraska statewide minimum of $12.00/hour applies; Nebraska voters approved the increase and the rate adjusts over time. Overtime must be at least 1.5x your regular rate, and if your rate is higher than the minimum, overtime is figured on your actual rate.
No. Nebraska has no daily overtime law, so workers in Kearney earn overtime only after 40 hours in a workweek under the federal FLSA, regardless of how many hours they work in a single day.
Salaried executive, administrative, and professional employees who earn above the FLSA salary threshold ($684/week) and meet the duties tests are generally exempt, as are most independent contractors. Nebraska follows the federal exemption rules and salary threshold. Check with an employment attorney for your situation.
Overtime is taxed as ordinary wages. New for 2026, the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act lets eligible non-exempt workers deduct up to $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers) of overtime pay from federal taxable income. Nebraska taxes overtime as ordinary income at its graduated rates up to 5.84% and has not adopted a matching state deduction. Consult a tax professional to confirm eligibility.