Nebraska Teaching Salaries and Benefits
As a teacher, you tend to be a very “future-oriented” person. Whether you’re planning ahead for a new lesson or positioning your students for success in later grades, you always stay in a state of preparation and look toward the next day.
Nebraska motivates its teachers to look even further ahead to their post-career lives. When you retire from teaching, you must ensure that you have the financial security needed to still provide for you and your family later in life.
Teachers in Nebraska are able to address future financial challenges more confidently thanks to a supportive system of benefits provided by the state. By offering both retirement and health insurance perks, Nebraska helps its teachers adequately prepare for the future.
Learn more about becoming a teacher. Contact schools offering teacher education/certification programs in Nebraska.
Teacher Salaries in Nebraska by Education
As teachers further their educations and gain experience in the field, they receive pay increases that reflect their dedication and hard work. Salaries may vary between school districts, but the following are some examples of the salaries you can expect in Nebraska:
| Experience | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| At 3 years | $34,371 | $39,463 |
| At 6 years | $35,644 | $40,736 |
| At 9 years | $38,190 | $43,282 |
| At 12 years | $39,463 | $44,555 |
Source: Douglas County School District
Retiring in Nebraska
Teachers who are hired in Nebraska must apply to the Nebraska Public Employees’ Retirement System – a mandatory pension system that offers educators and public employees with lifetime retirement benefits.
In 2011, the NPERS distributed over $503 million in benefits to retirees and beneficiaries in Nebraska. To maintain these pension levels, teachers are required to contribute a portion of their salaries to the NPERS. Under the system, teachers contribute 9.78% of their monthly salaries to the fund, while their employers match these contributions by 101%.
Your contributions will help ensure the pension remains funded once you reach normal retirement age. In Nebraska, you’re eligible to receive benefits under the following circumstances:
- At age 65 with at least five years of service
- At age 55 with at least 30 years of service (Rule of 85)
Once you reach retirement age and terminate employment, your lifetime benefit payments will begin. The NPERS is a defined retirement plan, meaning your salary contributions don’t actually factor into the benefit you receive.
Instead, the Nebraska state legislature establishes a benefit formula to determine your maximum pension. You can calculate your estimated benefits with the following formula:
Final Average Compensation
multiplied by
Years of Service
multiplied by
Formula Factor (2%)
For example, if you retire after 20 years of service with a final average salary of $35,000, you’re eligible for a monthly benefit of $1,166.
If you wish to learn more about the retirement benefits you’re eligible for as a Nebraskan teacher, contact the Nebraska Public Employees’ Retirement System.
Access to Affordable Health Insurance
Most teachers in Nebraska belong to the Educators Health Alliance (EHA), which provides health insurance plans to educational organizations across the state.
Teachers in the EHA have opportunities not only to secure their own insurance, but insurance for their family members as well. The EHA offers several Preferred Provider Organization plans to teachers, each featuring different rates and levels of coverage.
Despite these differences, most plans cover similar medical services, including:
- Inpatient/Outpatient Hospital Services
- Emergency Services
- Prescription Drug Coverage
- Preventive Services
- Mental Health Care
The EHA also provides teachers with optional dental and vision insurance. For more information on your health insurance benefits as a teacher in Nebraska, explore more information provided by the Educators Health Alliance.
