Licensed Practical Nurse Salary By State: Highest-Paid Licensed Practical Nurses by State [2026]
Research Summary. The Zippia data science team has thoroughly analyzed the salary landscape for licensed practical nurses across the United States as of 2026. Here are the key findings:
-
Hawaii continues to lead with the highest licensed practical nurse salary at $60,494.
-
Nebraska has the lowest licensed practical nurse salary at $48,469.
-
The national average salary for licensed practical nurses stands at $52,912.
-
The national hourly wage for licensed practical nurses is $25.44.
For more details, you can review the specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a pivotal factor when considering job opportunities. For many individuals, particularly licensed practical nurses (LPNs), understanding local salary expectations is crucial. Although salaries can fluctuate based on city-specific demands and market conditions, this updated data provides a clearer picture of what LPNs can anticipate in 2026.
As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, states like Hawaii maintain a competitive edge for LPN salaries. Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for licensed practical nurse salaries:
Let’s dive deeper into the specifics by examining the full ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Licensed Practical Nurses By State
| Rank | State | Average Licensed Practical Nurse Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $60,494 | $51,000 | $71,000 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $57,622 | $39,000 | $84,000 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $57,440 | $39,000 | $83,000 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $57,418 | $39,000 | $84,000 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $57,082 | $39,000 | $83,000 |
| 6 | New York | $57,056 | $38,000 | $83,000 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $56,900 | $38,000 | $83,000 |
| 8 | Maine | $56,520 | $38,000 | $82,000 |
| 9 | Alaska | $56,398 | $44,000 | $72,000 |
| 10 | Vermont | $56,324 | $38,000 | $82,000 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $55,973 | $38,000 | $82,000 |
| 12 | Delaware | $55,935 | $38,000 | $82,000 |
| 13 | California | $55,040 | $39,000 | $76,000 |
| 14 | Maryland | $54,996 | $37,000 | $80,000 |
| 15 | Oregon | $54,033 | $38,000 | $76,000 |
| 16 | Nevada | $53,936 | $38,000 | $75,000 |
| 17 | Virginia | $53,560 | $36,000 | $78,000 |
| 18 | Washington | $52,945 | $37,000 | $74,000 |
| 19 | Michigan | $52,639 | $35,000 | $77,000 |
| 20 | Arizona | $52,590 | $37,000 | $72,000 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $52,016 | $35,000 | $75,000 |
| 22 | Ohio | $51,890 | $35,000 | $75,000 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $51,440 | $36,000 | $71,000 |
| 24 | Texas | $51,232 | $36,000 | $72,000 |
| 25 | Idaho | $51,156 | $36,000 | $72,000 |
| 26 | Florida | $51,017 | $35,000 | $72,000 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $50,935 | $35,000 | $73,000 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $50,904 | $35,000 | $72,000 |
| 29 | Utah | $50,647 | $36,000 | $70,000 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $50,554 | $34,000 | $73,000 |
| 31 | Indiana | $50,198 | $34,000 | $72,000 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $50,172 | $35,000 | $71,000 |
| 33 | Illinois | $50,113 | $34,000 | $72,000 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $49,988 | $35,000 | $71,000 |
| 35 | Georgia | $49,895 | $34,000 | $71,000 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $49,843 | $34,000 | $71,000 |
| 37 | Alabama | $49,823 | $35,000 | $70,000 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $49,758 | $34,000 | $72,000 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $49,527 | $35,000 | $69,000 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $49,478 | $34,000 | $70,000 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $49,309 | $34,000 | $69,000 |
| 42 | Montana | $49,185 | $35,000 | $68,000 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $49,145 | $34,000 | $70,000 |
| 44 | Colorado | $49,049 | $35,000 | $68,000 |
| 45 | Iowa | $49,037 | $34,000 | $70,000 |
| 46 | Missouri | $48,844 | $34,000 | $69,000 |
| 47 | Kansas | $48,767 | $34,000 | $69,000 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $48,743 | $34,000 | $68,000 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $48,534 | $34,000 | $69,000 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $48,469 | $34,000 | $68,000 |
Methodology: Licensed Practical Nurse Salary By State
To provide insights into licensed practical nurse salaries by state, Zippia compiled data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM, complemented by actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculated a weighted average to derive the average salary for licensed practical nurses by state.
Licensed Practical Nurse Salary By State FAQs
-
What is the highest-paid state for licensed practical nurses?
The highest-paid state for licensed practical nurses remains Hawaii, offering an average salary of $60,494 per year.
-
What city pays licensed practical nurses the most?
Boston, MA offers the highest average salary for licensed practical nurses at $57,483 per year.
-
What is the worst state for licensed practical nurses?
The state with the lowest average salary for licensed practical nurses is Nebraska, with an average salary of $48,469 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
