What do the trades pay in Nebraska?
Median hourly pay, May 20251. Pick a trade for training, pay and the license.
Electrician
Wiring, panels and fixtures
$29.24/hrNebraska median
Plumber
Water, drain and gas lines
$29.31/hrNebraska median
HVAC tech
Heating, cooling and ductwork
$28.77/hrNebraska median
Roofer
New roofs and repairs
$22.34/hrNebraska median
General contractor
Runs the job and the crews
$36.33/hrNebraska median, construction supervisors
Is there work in Nebraska?
Construction jobs in Nebraska, September 2026: 69,000, up 7.6% from a year earlier.
BLS Current Employment Statistics, Sep 2026New homes permitted in Nebraska, September 2026: 934, up 14.7% from a year earlier.
Census Building Permits Survey, Sep 2026People working in these five trades in Nebraska: 21,320.
BLS OEWS, May 2025Who licenses contractors in Nebraska?
Nebraska licenses electrical contractors at the state level. General contractors and roofers register with the state. Cities and counties license plumbing contractors and HVAC contractors.2
- ElectricalState licenseNebraska State Electrical Division
- PlumbingLicensed by cities or countiesCity or county
- HVACLicensed by cities or countiesCity or county
- RoofingState registrationNebraska Dept of Labor
- General contractorState registrationNebraska Dept of Labor
Check a Nebraska contractor
Search the license on the board's own site.
Training near you
Apprentices are hired first and paid while they learn on the job and in class. Trade school comes first and charges tuition.
Where to train and find work near you
Union locals take apprenticeship applications and send members out to union contractors. Open-shop chapters run apprenticeship classes for the people their member contractors hire.
IBEW union locals
- IBEW Local 22Omaha(402) 331-8147
- IBEW Local 265Lincoln(402) 423-4497
- IBEW Local 1525Omaha(402) 334-1880
- IBEW Local 231Office in Sioux City, IA(712) 255-8138
Electrical training centers (JATCs)
- Greater Nebraska Electrical JATC2304 13th St, Columbus(402) 562-5546
- Lincoln Electrical JATC1415 Old Farm Road, Lincoln(402) 423-4519
- Omaha Electrical Joint Apprenticeship8960 L Street, Suite 200, Omaha(402) 331-3103
IEC chapters (open shop)
- IEC of Nebraska3333 Folkways Cir, Lincoln(402) 890-4449
UA union locals
- UA Local 16Omaha(402) 734-6274
- UA Local 464Omaha(402) 333-5859
Training
UA apprenticeships run through a joint committee of the local and union contractors. Call the local for the next application date.
PHCC chapters
- PHCC of NebraskaPO Box 10, Milford(531) 739-7419
- East Central Zone 3NE
- Fremont Zone 5c/o Everly Plumbing & Heating, Inc., 2505 E 23rd Ave S, Fremont
- Lincoln Zone 7c/o Biggerstaff Plumbing & Heating, 3605 N 40th St, Lincoln(402) 438-2780
SMART union locals
- SMART Local 3Omaha(402) 330-3383
- SMART Local 259Alliance
- SMART Local 402Lincoln
- SMART Local 646Omaha
Sheet metal training centers
- Local 3 Omaha Area JATC3333 South 24th Street, Omaha(402) 330-3636
- Omaha/Council Bluffs JATC3333 South 24th Street, Omaha(402) 330-3636
- Sioux City Sheet Metal Workers JATC3333 South 24th Street, Omaha(402) 330-3636
PHCC chapters (heating, cooling, plumbing)
- PHCC of NebraskaPO Box 10, Milford(531) 739-7419
- East Central Zone 3NE
- Fremont Zone 5c/o Everly Plumbing & Heating, Inc., 2505 E 23rd Ave S, Fremont
- Lincoln Zone 7c/o Biggerstaff Plumbing & Heating, 3605 N 40th St, Lincoln(402) 438-2780
ACCA member contractors near you
Pipefitters and HVAC service techs also apprentice through the UA: UA locals in Nebraska.
Carpenters union locals
- Carpenters Local 427Papillion
- Carpenters Local 1306Papillion
- Carpenters Local 1463Papillion
Training
Union carpentry apprenticeships run through the regional council's training centers. Carpenters regional council finder
Home builder associations
- Nebraska State HBA5817 O Avenue Pl, Kearney(308) 627-2730
- Columbus HBAPO Box 175, Columbus(402) 910-4142
- Kearney Area Builders AssociationPO Box 247, Kearney(308) 236-5151
- Central Nebraska HBA6912 NW 7th St, Lincoln(308) 627-2730
- HBA of the Norfolk AreaPO Box 558, Norfolk(402) 940-2385
Roofers union locals
No Roofers local has its office in Nebraska. Search the Roofers union website.
Training
Roofers locals run their apprenticeship through a joint committee with union contractors.
Contractor associations
The national trade group for roofing contractors is the National Roofing Contractors Association.
Trade schools: where to apply
- Metropolitan Community College Area30th & Fort Street, OmahaConstruction program
- Central Community College3134 West Hwy 34, Grand IslandElectrical programHVAC programConstruction program
- Northeast Community College801 E Benjamin, Norfolk
- Southeast Community College Area8800 O Street, LincolnElectrical program
- Mid-Plains Community College601 West State Farm Road, North PlatteElectrical programConstruction program
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln1400 R Street, Lincoln
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Nebraska, May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)
- Nebraska Dept of Labor - Contractor Registration (dol.nebraska.gov)
- Nebraska lien law: Neb. Rev. Stat. 52-137, 52-147 (nebraskalegislature.gov)
- Nebraska lien law: Neb. Rev. Stat. 52-140, 52-155 (nebraskalegislature.gov)
- U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeship.gov registered apprenticeship partners (apprenticeship.gov)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (field of study and institution data) (collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, Sep 2026 (bls.gov)
- Census Building Permits Survey, Sep 2026 (census.gov)
- Nebraska State Electrical Division (electrical.nebraska.gov)