Nebraska Jobs: Overview
You’ve undoubtedly heard Nebraska called the “Cornhusker State.” Before the invention of machinery to harvest corn, one of the earliest Nebraska jobs was to pull the husks off corn by hand. But before it was one of the largest producers of corn, Nebraska was called the “Great American Desert” in the early 1800s. This misnomer happened for a couple of reasons. First, the folks living east of the Mississippi River didn’t travel very far before they formed an opinion and wrote the area off. And back then, the word “desert” didn’t just mean a place covered in sand; it also meant “uninhabited and uncultivated,” as in “a deserted place.”
Nebraska is certainly not uncultivated now. It has a 141,159-acre forest near Thedford that was hand-planted by Nebraskans. On the newly established Arbor Day in 1872, residents planted more than one million trees there and in other parts of Nebraska. Arbor Day is now celebrated throughout the U.S. To keep all those trees watered, Nebraska has the largest natural underground water supply, the Ogalala aquifer, and more miles of river than any other state.
The state is one of the least-populated states, with 1.8 million residents spread throughout rural communities. The Cornhuskers Football stadium holds about 90,000 spectators, giving it the third-largest population in the state on game day.
You can discover more of the great Nebraska outdoors while you’re job hunting in Omaha, Lincoln, and Bellevue.
Popular Jobs in Nebraska
With 91% of Nebraska covered in farmland, agriculture is its predominant industry. Growing corn, soybeans, and grains and raising cattle and hogs provide farming jobs on 45,700 farms. Manufacturing in the state is largely food- and beverage-related, with chemical and machinery manufacturers in 1,600 plants. There are 100,000 workers, or 10% of the workforce, in production jobs.
The finance and insurance business in Nebraska is led by the major insurance firms of Berkshire Hathaway and Mutual of Omaha. Together with First Data financial transaction processing, they employ nearly 35,000 in finance jobs.
You can also find other popular jobs in the Cornhusker State, including:
Update Your Resume
Is your resume arranged with your past jobs in chronological order or by listing your skills and abilities? Which is better? It depends on your situation. Read about whether a chronological or functional resume is better for you before making that decision. While you’re there, you can take a look at sample resumes and free templates you can refer to when you update your resume. You’ll also need a cover letter. Go the extra mile and take time to find out what to say to make your cover letter get read.
Interviewing for Nebraska Jobs
Applying for jobs can be time-consuming and tedious. That’s why it’s a nice change when a recruiter reaches out to you. They can put you in front of many different employers. But how do you get a recruiter on your side, especially if you’re early in your career or entry-level? We’ve got some good tips to help.
No matter where your interview invitations come from, they all lead to the same place. You’ll be on the spot in front of an employer, answering questions. Wouldn’t you love to know what those questions will be so you can practice your responses? We have sample answers to the top 10 interview questions to get you started.
How Much Do Nebraska Jobs Pay?
The median household income in Nebraska is around $63,000. How does that compare to what you might make? Enter your job title and location into Monster’s Salary Tools, and you’ll see the estimated salary range for that job. The Salary Tools page also has information about what your job pays in other areas and what next steps you might plan for in your career.
Want to Learn More About Companies Near You?
See if a job is a good fit by checking out the company using some research, starting with Monster’s Company Profiles. Enter a company name, and if it’s in our database, you’ll find things like:
- leadership bios
- mission statements
- where they rank in their industry
The Best Place for Nebraska Jobs? Monster, Naturally
Get a breath of fresh air, and then jump right in to search for Nebraska jobs on this page. You could let nature take its course, but if you really want to catch the eye of recruiters and hiring managers, complete your Monster Profile. We’ll look at your preferences to send you job postings and career advice and make sure your resume gets seen by top recruiters in your field.