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NEBRASKA
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for Nebraska:

The data below describe the state rankings and selected characteristics of the immigrant and native-born populations in Nebraska in 2011.

Rankings
The following shows Nebraska's rankings in several categories. All rankings include the 50 states and the District of Columbia and are ranked highest to lowest.
  Rankings
Number of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 36 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 4 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 31 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 6 out of 51

Data Highlights
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Who are the foreign born?
The term foreign born refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the census who were not US citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized citizens, lawful permanent immigrants, refugees and asylees, legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization. By comparison, the term native refers to people residing in the United States who were US citizens in one of three categories: 1) people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; 2) people born in United States Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or 3) people who were born abroad to at least one US citizen parent.

We use the terms immigrants and foreign born interchangeably.

Earnings of Full-Time Workers
(This sheet describes earnings of civilian employed workers)

In Nebraska in 2011, 40.0 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 17.0 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In Nebraska in 2011, 8.9 percent of full-time, year-round, immigrant workers (those working more than 50 weeks a year and more than 35 hours per week) earned less than $15,000 a year; 55.8 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 18.4 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 17.0 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 6.9 percent of full-time, year-round, native-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 34.2 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 23.9 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 35.0 percent earned $50,000 or more.

At the national level, 9.8 percent of full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 40.9 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 16.6 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 32.6 percent earned $50,000 or more.

Median Earnings by Nativity and Gender

Male immigrant workers had average annual earnings of $30,481 compared to $23,697 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in Nebraska in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $23,697 for women and $30,481 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $21,640 and those of noncitizen men were $27,289. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $31,049 and naturalized-citizen men $37,544. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $34,262 for women and $43,909 for men.

At the national level, median earnings of full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers were $31,749 for women and $35,918 for men. The median earnings for noncitizen workers were $24,347 for women and $28,507 for men. Among naturalized-citizen workers, women had median earnings of $38,419 and men of $47,547. Among native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $38,044 for women and $50,056 for men.

What Was the Poverty Threshold in 2011?
Whether any family is considered below the poverty threshold depends on the family's total income before taxes, not including any capital gains or noncash benefits, such as food stamps or housing subsidies.

The Census Bureau's poverty threshold varies depending on the number of adults and children in a family. The threshold is adjusted each month to account for inflation. Because respondents filled out the American Community Survey in different months, the poverty threshold that is applied to each family depends on the month in which the survey was taken.

To give a general idea of poverty levels, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, the average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2011 was $23,021; for a family of three, $17,916; for a family of two, $ 14,657; and for an unrelated individual, $11,484. All members of a family are assigned the same poverty status. Poverty thresholds are the same for the entire United States, despite differences in the cost of living across US communities.
Population in Poverty

The immigrant population in Nebraska living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 129.7 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 13,266 to 30,476, representing a change of 129.7 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 4,764 to 13,266 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 178.5 percent.

At the national level, the immigrant population below the poverty threshold increased from 3,435,394 to 5,473,300 between 1990 and 2000, representing a change of 59.3 percent, and grew from 5,473,300 to 7,797,199 (42.5 percent) between 2000 and 2011.

In 2011, 26.9 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 26.9 percent of Nebraska's immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 18.5 percent in 2000 and 18.8 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 12.2 percent of the native-born population in Nebraska lived below the poverty threshold in 2011.

At the national level, 19.6 percent of the immigrants population lived below the poverty threshold in 2011, compared to 17.7 percent in 2000 and 17.9 percent in 1990. Nationally, 15.4 percent of the native-born population lived below the poverty threshold in 2011.

In Nebraska, 33.8 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 14.5 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in Nebraska in 2011, 33.8 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 14.5 percent of naturalized citizens.

Nationally, 26.3 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 11.5 percent of naturalized citizens.

Families with Children in Poverty

In Nebraska, 26.8 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 26.8 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 34.5 percent of foreign-born families with children under 18 lived below the poverty threshold. Foreign-born families consisting of a married couple and children under 18 were less likely to live below the poverty threshold than families consisting of a female and children under 18 with no husband present (29.0 versus 60.9 percent).

In comparison, 7.6 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 12.9 percent of native families with children under 18. As with foreign-born families, native families consisting of a married couple with children under 18 were less likely to be living in poverty than families headed by a female and children under 18 with no husband present (4.2 versus 38.2 percent).

At the national level, 18.5 percent of families headed by a foreign-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold in 2011, while 24.6 percent of foreign-born families with children under 18 lived below the poverty threshold. Foreign-born families consisting of a married couple and children under 18 were less likely to live below the poverty threshold than foreign-born families consisting of a female and children under 18 (17.9 versus 45.2 percent).

Language Groupings

Indo-European languages include French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Yiddish, other West Germanic languages, Scandinavian languages, Greek, Russian, Polish, Serbo-Croatian, other Slavic languages, Armenian, Persian, Gujarathi, Hindi, and Urdu.

Asian and Pacific Island languages include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mon-Khmer/Cambodian, Miao/Hmong, Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

Other languages include Navajo, other Native North American languages, Hungarian, Arabic, Hebrew, and African languages.

Population in Poverty by Language Spoken at Home

In Nebraska, 26.6 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 22.8 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 18.5 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in Nebraska in 2011, 10.8 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 26.6 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 18.5 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 22.8 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 42.4 percent who spoke other languages.

Nationally, 13.6 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 25.4 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 13.7 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 14.2 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 26.7 percent who spoke other languages.




Table 1. Population by Poverty Status in Nebraska, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of Nebraska for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 1,530,615 100.0 1,664,843 100.0 1,789,275 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 168,079 11.0 157,596 9.5 234,710 13.1
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 153,989 10.1 142,255 8.5 170,473 9.5
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 1,208,547 79.0 1,364,992 82.0 1,384,092 77.4
Native Born 1,505,322 100.0 1,593,100 100.0 1,675,930 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 163,315 10.8 144,330 9.1 204,234 12.2
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 150,654 10.0 134,081 8.4 154,788 9.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 1,191,353 79.1 1,314,689 82.5 1,316,908 78.6
Foreign Born 25,293 100.0 71,743 100.0 113,345 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 4,764 18.8 13,266 18.5 30,476 26.9
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 3,335 13.2 8,174 11.4 15,685 13.8
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 17,194 68.0 50,303 70.1 67,184 59.3
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of Nebraska for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 134,228 8.8 258,660 16.9 124,432 7.5
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -10,483 -6.2 66,631 39.6 77,114 48.9
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -11,734 -7.6 16,484 10.7 28,218 19.8
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 156,445 12.9 175,545 14.5 19,100 1.4
Native Born 87,778 5.8 170,608 11.3 82,830 5.2
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -18,985 -11.6 40,919 25.1 59,904 41.5
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -16,573 -11.0 4,134 2.7 20,707 15.4
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 123,336 10.4 125,555 10.5 2,219 0.2
Foreign Born 46,450 183.6 88,052 348.1 41,602 58.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 8,502 178.5 25,712 539.7 17,210 129.7
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 4,839 145.1 12,350 370.3 7,511 91.9
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 33,109 192.6 49,990 290.7 16,881 33.6
Notes: Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing. 2. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. Data for the United States and the rest of the states are from 2011 ACS.
Sources: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), various years (see Note 2 above); 2000 Decennial Census; Steven Ruggles, J. Trent Alexander, Katie Genadek, Ronald Goeken, Matthew B. Schroeder, and Matthew Sobek. Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: Version 5.0 [Machine-readable database]. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 2011.

For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 2. Income and Poverty Characteristics of the Population in Nebraska, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of Nebraska for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 1,789,275
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13.1
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 18.7
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 68.2
Native Born 1,675,930
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 12.2
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 18.0
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 69.8
Foreign Born 113,345
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 26.9
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 28.4
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 44.7
Noncitizen 72,736
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 33.8
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 31.5
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 34.7
Naturalized Citizen 40,609
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 14.5
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 22.8
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 62.7
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Nebraska Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 669,560
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.5
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.6
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 15.4
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 20.3
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 23.5
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 19.5
Earned $75,000 or more 14.2
Native Born 620,393
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.4
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.5
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 14.2
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 20
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 23.9
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 20.4
Earned $75,000 or more 14.6
Foreign Born 49,167
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.2
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 5.7
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 31.1
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 24.7
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 18.4
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 8.3
Earned $75,000 or more 8.7
Noncitizen 29,479
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 6.6
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 38.4
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 25.5
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 15.2
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 5.1
Earned $75,000 or more 6
Naturalized Citizen 19,688
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.4
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.2
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 20.2
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 23.4
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 23.2
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 13.1
Earned $75,000 or more 12.7
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Nebraska, 2011  
Male $42,182
Female $33,424
Native Born  
Male $43,909
Female $34,262
Foreign Born  
Male $30,481
Female $23,697
Noncitizen  
Male $27,289
Female $21,640
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $37,544
Female $31,049
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 9.1
With related children under age 18 15.4
With related children under age 5 only 18.7
Married-couple families 4.2
With related children under age 18 6.9
With related children under age 5 only 7.2
Families with female householder, no husband present 32.1
With related children under age 18 40.6
With related children under age 5 only 50.0
Native-Born Families 7.6
With related children under age 18 12.9
With related children under age 5 only 17.5
Married-couple families 3.0
With related children under age 18 4.2
With related children under age 5 only 4.8
Families with female householder, no husband present 29.9
With related children under age 18 38.2
With related children under age 5 only 51.1
Foreign-Born Families 26.8
With related children under age 18 34.5
With related children under age 5 only 30.2
Married-couple families 21.4
With related children under age 18 29.0
With related children under age 5 only 31.8
Families with female householder, no husband present 54.2
With related children under age 18 60.9
With related children under age 5 only 40.3
Noncitizen 37.0
With related children under age 18 44.3
With related children under age 5 only 34.4
Married-couple families 29.7
With related children under age 18 37.2
With related children under age 5 only 35.7
Families with female householder, no husband present 66.3
With related children under age 18 68.7
With related children under age 5 only 49.2
Naturalized Citizen 13.8
With related children under age 18 19.9
With related children under age 5 only N
Married-couple families 12.9
With related children under age 18 19.4
With related children under age 5 only N
Families with female householder, no husband present 23.5
With related children under age 18 33.1
With related children under 5 age only N
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS BY PERIOD OF ENTRY
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round, Foreign-Born Workers in Nebraska, 2011  
Male $30,481
Female $23,697
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $27,222
Female $22,241
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $31,096
Female $22,385
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $34,335
Female $29,646
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Asia 28,488
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 21.1
Born in Europe 9,098
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 11.3
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 63,716
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 24.7
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Oceania N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Note: 1. Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing.

2. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. Data for the United States and the rest of the states are from 2011 ACS.

The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), different years.

For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 3. Poverty Status of Residents in Nebraska by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of Nebraska for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 1,660,823 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 205,716 12.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 1,455,107 87.6
Speaks Only English 1,489,622 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 161,332 10.8
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 1,328,290 89.2
Speaks Spanish 113,566 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 30,216 26.6
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 83,350 73.4
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 24,296 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 4,494 18.5
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 19,802 81.5
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 22,797 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 5,204 22.8
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 17,593 77.2
Speaks Other Languages 10,542 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 4,470 42.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 6,072 57.6
Note: Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under the age of 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing.

The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey.
For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

For data on these topics, click on the link: