Jobs, pay and daily life in Hastings, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Hastings is a city in Nebraska with 25,008 residents. The median household earns $64,048 a year and the median rent is $858 a month, which is 16.1% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Grand Island, NE (39,520 jobs), about 23 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How Hastings compares. Among the 40 largest places in Nebraska, Hastings is #9 by population, #7 for long commutes (#1 = fewest), #32 for remote work (#1 = most), #12 for rent (#1 = cheapest). Its county, Adams County, is #27 of 93 counties for average pay ($51,967).
Hastings has 25,008 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 1.3% of the population of Nebraska. It covers 15 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,677 people per square mile. The median age is 37.3, about the same as the state median (37.3 against 37.2).
The median gross rent is $858 a month (rent plus utilities), 20% below the state median ($858 against $1,072). Over a year that is 16.1% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $184,700, which is 2.9 times the median household income ($64,048); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 65.1% of households own their home, about the same as the state average (65.1% against 66.5%).
The nearest metropolitan area with wage data is Grand Island, NE, metropolitan area has 39,520 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $49,410 a year, 3% below the national median ($49,410 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are production (5,780 jobs, median $52,670); transportation and material moving (4,360 jobs, median $46,920); office and administrative support (4,200 jobs, median $44,620). The area is most specialised in production (2.6 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are production ($52,670). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Adams County was 2.5%. 67.7% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Adams County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 82.3% drive alone, 0.1% use public transit, 3.5% walk, 3.9% work from home. 3.4% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 52% below the state average (3.4% against 7.0%).
29.2% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 15% below the state share (29.2% against 34.6%). 6.9% of residents were born outside the United States, 14% below the state share (6.9% against 8.0%). The poverty rate is 14.8%, 39% above the state rate (14.8% against 10.6%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 79°F (26.0°C), and the coolest is Jan at 26°F (-3.1°C). About 733 mm (29 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; May is the wettest month (126 mm) and Jan the driest (16 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Grand Island (23 miles, rent 10% higher); Aurora (27 miles, rent 11% lower); Kearney (37 miles, rent 11% higher); York (46 miles, similar rent). Rent differences are against Hastings; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Nebraska (294) →State guide: NebraskaCountry guideAdams CountyNebraska rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 294 federal postings open in Nebraska (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Nebraska →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 830 | 0.97 | $82,590 | $61,900 | $105,940 | -15% |
| General and Operations Managers | 870 | 0.97 | $79,520 | $45,280 | $160,810 | -25% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 970 | 1.84 | $60,810 | $43,150 | $94,810 | +4% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 540 | 1.25 | $44,450 | $35,120 | $60,830 | -6% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 660 | 0.89 | $44,370 | $31,440 | $60,340 | +10% |
| Nursing Assistants | 590 | 1.60 | $38,880 | $36,660 | $48,350 | -8% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 670 | 0.94 | $34,650 | $28,980 | $40,020 | -7% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,070 | 1.08 | $30,830 | $28,080 | $41,150 | -13% |
| Cashiers | 860 | 1.10 | $30,050 | $28,080 | $35,720 | -9% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 570 | 0.99 | $29,840 | $28,080 | $58,120 | -15% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,250 | 1.27 | $29,150 | $28,080 | $35,620 | -7% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Grand Island, NE, about 23 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $49,410 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.4% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% |
| Manufacturing | 15.1% |
| Retail trade | 12.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 8.9% |
| Other services | 6.5% |
| Construction | 6.2% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 6.0% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 4.3% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 4.0% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 3.8% |
| Public administration | 3.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.8% |
| Information | 1.5% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Hastings lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 31,052 | $2,661 million | $85,695 | 15,862 | 1,051 | $51,967 | +1.5% | 2.5% | 16,855 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,936 | 29.0% | $56,826 | 2.25 |
| Retail trade | 1,680 | 16.6% | $35,551 | 1.06 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,391 | 13.8% | $18,263 | 0.96 |
| Construction | 1,226 | 12.1% | $75,201 | 1.47 |
| Wholesale trade | 627 | 6.2% | $65,528 | 1.00 |
| Administrative and waste services | 578 | 5.7% | $43,661 | 0.62 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 427 | 4.2% | $28,112 | 0.89 |
| Professional and technical services | 371 | 3.7% | $60,499 | 0.34 |
| Finance and insurance | 358 | 3.5% | $77,689 | 0.56 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 191 | 1.9% | $18,840 | 0.72 |
| Management of companies | 127 | 1.3% | $84,249 | 0.47 |
| Information | 121 | 1.2% | $41,957 | 0.41 |
| Real estate and rental | 82 | 0.8% | $43,628 | 0.33 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 82.3% |
| Public transit | 0.1% |
| Walk | 3.5% |
| Work from home | 3.9% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 3.4% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,048 |
| Income per person | $36,004 |
| Median gross rent per month | $858 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 16.1% |
| Median home value | $184,700 |
| Homeowners | 65.1% |
| Poverty rate | 14.8% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 86.7 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $49,410 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 4.55%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 91.7% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 29.2% |
| Born abroad | 6.9% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 67.7% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -3.1 | 26 | 16 |
| Feb | -1.9 | 29 | 20 |
| Mar | 4.8 | 41 | 35 |
| Apr | 11.1 | 52 | 68 |
| May | 17.0 | 63 | 126 |
| Jun | 23.2 | 74 | 109 |
| Jul | 26.0 | 79 | 88 |
| Aug | 24.1 | 75 | 95 |
| Sep | 19.6 | 67 | 68 |
| Oct | 11.2 | 52 | 59 |
| Nov | 4.4 | 40 | 24 |
| Dec | -2.0 | 28 | 25 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island | NE | 23 mi | 52,884 | $63,795 | $947 |
| Aurora | NE | 27 mi | 4,664 | $77,679 | $764 |
| Kearney | NE | 37 mi | 34,246 | $69,724 | $949 |
| York | NE | 46 mi | 8,141 | $63,265 | $862 |
| Holdrege | NE | 53 mi | 5,546 | $55,789 | $835 |
| Seward | NE | 71 mi | 7,678 | $72,564 | $1,018 |
| Lexington | NE | 72 mi | 10,862 | $67,666 | $966 |
| Crete | NE | 75 mi | 7,527 | $77,209 | $936 |
| Columbus | NE | 79 mi | 24,488 | $64,626 | $892 |
| Cozad | NE | 86 mi | 3,937 | $54,471 | $851 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
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vs
25,008 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$858 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 16.1% of the median household income.
$64,048 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
2.5% (BLS county, Adams County (latest month 2026M09)).
Nebraska. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.