Wood deck cost in Nebraska
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $6,850 – $13,700
- Per sq ft
- $22.50 – $45.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $11,400
- Metros covered
- 2
Across Nebraska, a wood deck costs about $6,850 to $13,700 for 300 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 9% below the US figure of $11,400. Carpenters earn a median $24.19 an hour in Nebraska (US: $29.12).
Inside Nebraska, the metros we cover range from $10,300 (Lincoln) to $10,500 (Omaha) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Nebraska (statewide), standard level
$8,900 to $11,700
About $29.50 to $38.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,150 | $6,700 |
| Labor | $3,700 | $4,850 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $8,900 | $11,700 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Nebraska
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,950 | $5,950 | $7,900 | 58% |
| Labor | $2,850 | $4,300 | $5,700 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $6,850 | $10,300 | $13,700 | 100% |
What carpenters and the other trades earn in Nebraska
Nebraska's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.87 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $24.19 an hour, 17% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.77 and $30.09 an hour. About 5,710 work in the state. That is 55.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $22.72 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.38 and $26.71 an hour. BLS counts 8,530 of them working in the state, 83.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($30.09 an hour) would add about $800 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.77) would take off about $330. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,024,370 jobs across Nebraska (May 2025), which is 0.7% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $21.77 | $24.19 | $30.09 | $29.12 | 0.83 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $19.38 | $22.72 | $26.71 | $22.66 | 1.00 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Why two Nebraska quotes can differ
Wood species
Pressure-treated pine is the cheapest at $25-$50 per sq ft installed. Ipe runs $50-$70 and bamboo $27-$52 (HomeGuide).
Height and stairs
A second-story deck needs more structure. New stairs run $1,400-$2,600 installed.
Railing
A wood or vinyl railing adds $20-$60 per linear foot.
Replacement versus new
Deck replacement costs $30-$55 per sq ft because of demolition and haul-away.
Permit
Deck permits average $50-$150. Many cities skip the permit for small, low, freestanding decks.
How Nebraska compares with nearby states
Nebraska ranks 44 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for wood deck, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $14,300 and the cheapest Oklahoma at $9,900, both for 300 sq ft at the midpoint. Nebraska sits at $10,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 190 miles away | $7,200 – $14,400 | $10,800 | +5% |
| South Dakota | 220 miles away | $6,800 – $13,600 | $10,200 | −1% |
| Kansas | 220 miles away | $7,100 – $14,300 | $10,700 | +4% |
| Missouri | 270 miles away | $7,550 – $15,100 | $11,300 | +10% |
| Minnesota | 320 miles away | $7,950 – $15,900 | $11,900 | +16% |
Add-ons priced for Nebraska
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.90 for Nebraska, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.87) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,250 – $2,350 |
Basic, standard or premium: Nebraska prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from 10x12 (120 sq ft) to 20x20 (400 sq ft).
Basic
$6,850 to $9,600
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$8,900 to $11,700
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$11,000 to $13,700
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $2,750 – $3,900 | $3,600 – $4,750 | $4,450 – $5,600 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,300 – $4,650 | $4,300 – $5,650 | $5,350 – $6,650 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $7,300 – $10,200 | $9,500 – $12,500 | $11,700 – $14,700 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $9,100 – $12,800 | $11,900 – $15,500 | $14,600 – $18,300 |
Weather windows across Nebraska
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Nebraska is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Every Nebraska metro on the list has 9 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 29 inches a year in Lincoln to 32 in Omaha.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 15 | 88 | 32 | 9: March through November |
| Lincoln | 14 | 89 | 29 | 9: March through November |
Related projects, priced for Nebraska
Each project weights the trades differently, so Nebraska's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, paver patio is −3% and composite deck −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $10,800 – $21,600 | −10% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,700 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,900 – $5,300 | −3% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,400 – $53,000 | −9% |
Which Nebraska city is cheapest for wood deck?
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $10,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 2%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (300 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | +2% |
| Lincoln, NE | $6,850 – $13,700 | $10,300 | level |
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Wood deck in Nebraska: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Nebraska?
$6,850 to $13,700 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Nebraska can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Nebraska is cheapest for wood deck?
Lincoln at about $10,300 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Omaha at $10,500.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Nebraska than the US average?
It is 9% cheaper: $10,300 against $11,400 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Nebraska?
About 42% ($4,300). Materials are 58%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.87x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Nebraska?
The BLS statewide median is $24.19 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.77 to $30.09.
+Where does Nebraska rank for wood deck costs?
44th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $10,300 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Nebraska?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $6,850 to $9,600 and premium work $11,000 to $13,700. Basic means: pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle. Premium means: hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features.
+Does the season matter for wood deck in Nebraska?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Nebraska metros we cover, Omaha has the most comfortable months (9 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
+What does "add stairs" add in Nebraska?
$1,250 to $2,350, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck by city in Nebraska
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does It Cost to Build a Deck? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Composite Decking Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020