NAICS 51

Information in Lincoln, NE

Metro Market Score 49.3 (Challenging), ranked #186 of 294 metros. 181 establishments, 3,784 jobs.

Metro Market Score 49.3

Favorable 0-35

Moderate 35-48

Challenging 48-60

Difficult 60+

Challenging

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national information average.

📈Rapid Growth

Employment in Lincoln's information sector grew faster than most metros last year, pushing its growth trend index to 86.0. Combined with a 49.3 market score, this metro sits in the lower half for overall conditions.

Industry Concentration

94.6

LQ: 1.11

Rank #278 of 294 metros

Wage Competitiveness

67.3

$89,770 avg wage

Growth Trend

↑ 86.0

Employment growth index

Rank #42 of 294 metros

Wage Pressure

22.9

YoY wage change index

181 Information Firms in Lincoln

181

Establishments

-1.6% YoY

3,784

Total Employment

+4.1% YoY

$89,770

Average Annual Wage

+6.2% YoY

1.11

Location Quotient

Above national avg

Within Nebraska

#2 of 3

information metros in state

Nebraska state rank

#13 of 51

for information entry risk

vs State Median

0.0

matches median (49.3)

Lincoln vs Nebraska Statewide

How this metro's information market compares to Nebraska overall. The state ranks #13/51 for entry risk.

Measure	Lincoln	NE Statewide
Overall Score	49.3 Challenging	37.8 Moderate
Score Type	Metro Market Score	Entry Risk Score
Rank	#186 of 294 metros	#13 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Lincoln

Accommodation and Food Services 36.1 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 38.9 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 41.9 Other Services 50.6 Retail Trade 52.8 Construction 55.7 Administrative and Support Services 56.1 Finance and Insurance 62.0

Information in Other Nebraska Metros

Grand Island 36.8 #94/294 Omaha 70.4 #276/294

Information Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Lincoln's 49.3 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Bozeman, MT 49.5 #187/294 Greensboro-High Point, NC 49.0 #185/294 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI 48.9 #184/294 Fort Wayne, IN 49.6 #188/294 Chico, CA 49.8 #189/294 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY 48.7 #183/294 Port St. Lucie, FL 50.0 #190/294 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA 48.5 #182/294 Lawrence, KS 50.1 #191/294 Greeley, CO 48.3 #181/294

Information in States Bordering Nebraska

State-level entry risk for information in adjacent states. Use this to weigh cross-border options.

South Dakota 33.6 #8/51 Missouri 36.8 #10/51 Kansas 37.6 #12/51 Iowa 38.3 #15/51 Wyoming 42.2 #21/51 Colorado 46.7 #31/51

Browse Information in Other States

State-level entry risk reports for information across all 51 markets, sorted by rank.

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Lincoln's information sector, the industry concentration component (94.6) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), Bureau of Labor Statistics. MSA-level establishment counts, employment, wages, and location quotients for the Lincoln, NE MSA area.

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.

Metro Market Assessment