The present invention relates to a catalyst for a hydrocarbon resin hydrogenation reaction and a preparation method for the same, wherein the catalyst is a nickel powder catalyst including nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and sulfur (S), and more particularly, a nickel-based catalyst for a hydrogenation reaction, which is added to a hydrogenation reaction in order to improve the color of the hydrocarbon resin. According to an embodiment of the present invention, provided is a catalyst for a hydrogenation reaction, includes 40-80 parts by weight of nickel, 0.01-5 parts by weight of copper, 1-10 parts by weight of sulfur, and 10-60 parts by weight of a silica support based on 100 parts by weight of the entire dried catalyst including a support. Therefore, the catalyst can improve the quality of hydrocarbon resin. Furthermore, the catalyst can provide colorless, odorless, and transparent water-white hydrocarbon resin with improved thermal stability by removing unsaturated bonds in the hydrocarbon resin.