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Best states for a licensed practical nurse
Quoted expert
Vilma Davis
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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and healthcare practitioner and technical careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to licensed practical nurse jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for licensed practical nurses.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for licensed practical nurses. We found that Maine is the best state in the nation for licensed practical nurses, and people in Hilo earn the most in the field.
We figured that the best places for licensed practical nurse jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a licensed practical nurse, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for licensed practical nurses in 2025
1. Maine
Total licensed practical nurse jobs: 1,385 Average annual salary: $56,520 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
2. New Hampshire
Total licensed practical nurse jobs: 1,543 Average annual salary: $57,082 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
3. Pennsylvania
Total licensed practical nurse jobs: 10,428 Average annual salary: $55,973 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
4. Vermont
Total licensed practical nurse jobs: 700 Average annual salary: $56,324 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
5. Massachusetts
Total licensed practical nurse jobs: 6,928 Average annual salary: $57,440 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
6. West Virginia
Total licensed practical nurse jobs: 1,401 Average annual salary: $52,016 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
7. Delaware
Total licensed practical nurse jobs: 928 Average annual salary: $55,935 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
8. Rhode Island
Total licensed practical nurse jobs: 624 Average annual salary: $57,622 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
9. Alaska
Total licensed practical nurse jobs: 662 Average annual salary: $56,398 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
10. Connecticut
Total licensed practical nurse jobs: 2,263 Average annual salary: $57,418 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
Licensed practical nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a licensed practical nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a licensed practical nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $56,520 | $38,000 | 1,335,907 | 1,385 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $57,082 | $39,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,543 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $55,973 | $38,000 | 12,805,537 | 10,428 |
| 4 | Vermont | $56,324 | $38,000 | 623,657 | 700 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $57,440 | $39,000 | 6,859,819 | 6,928 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $52,016 | $35,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,401 |
| 7 | Delaware | $55,935 | $38,000 | 961,939 | 928 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $57,622 | $39,000 | 1,059,639 | 624 |
| 9 | Alaska | $56,398 | $44,000 | 739,795 | 662 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $57,418 | $39,000 | 3,588,184 | 2,263 |
| 11 | Ohio | $51,890 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 8,358 |
| 12 | Nevada | $53,936 | $38,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,339 |
| 13 | New York | $57,056 | $38,000 | 19,849,399 | 9,499 |
| 14 | Michigan | $52,639 | $35,000 | 9,962,311 | 5,417 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $50,904 | $35,000 | 4,684,333 | 2,909 |
| 16 | Indiana | $50,198 | $34,000 | 6,666,818 | 5,855 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $51,440 | $36,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,768 |
| 18 | Texas | $51,232 | $36,000 | 28,304,596 | 16,697 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $50,935 | $35,000 | 10,273,419 | 7,189 |
| 20 | Florida | $51,017 | $35,000 | 20,984,400 | 16,901 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $56,900 | $38,000 | 9,005,644 | 4,701 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $49,478 | $34,000 | 6,715,984 | 5,190 |
| 23 | Oregon | $54,033 | $38,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,468 |
| 24 | Arizona | $52,590 | $37,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,838 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $49,145 | $34,000 | 755,393 | 898 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $49,988 | $35,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,490 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $48,534 | $34,000 | 869,666 | 1,025 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $49,843 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 2,710 |
| 29 | Washington | $52,945 | $37,000 | 7,405,743 | 5,151 |
| 30 | Maryland | $54,996 | $37,000 | 6,052,177 | 4,237 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $49,527 | $35,000 | 3,930,864 | 2,496 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $49,309 | $34,000 | 3,004,279 | 2,015 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $50,172 | $35,000 | 5,024,369 | 3,304 |
| 34 | Virginia | $53,560 | $36,000 | 8,470,020 | 5,957 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $50,554 | $34,000 | 5,795,483 | 3,354 |
| 36 | California | $55,040 | $39,000 | 39,536,653 | 13,730 |
| 37 | Idaho | $51,156 | $36,000 | 1,716,943 | 944 |
| 38 | Alabama | $49,823 | $35,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,556 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $54,538 | $37,000 | 693,972 | 540 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $60,494 | $51,000 | 1,427,538 | 375 |
| 41 | Montana | $49,185 | $35,000 | 1,050,493 | 934 |
| 42 | Iowa | $49,037 | $34,000 | 3,145,711 | 2,599 |
| 43 | Kansas | $48,767 | $34,000 | 2,913,123 | 2,312 |
| 44 | Georgia | $49,895 | $34,000 | 10,429,379 | 7,265 |
| 45 | Utah | $50,647 | $36,000 | 3,101,833 | 885 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $49,758 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 3,849 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $48,743 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 409 |
| 48 | Illinois | $50,113 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 6,663 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $48,469 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 1,509 |
| 50 | Missouri | $48,844 | $34,000 | 6,113,532 | 3,914 |
| 51 | Colorado | $49,049 | $35,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,735 |
Highest paying states for licensed practical nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. Licensed Practical Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $56,520 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $57,082 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $55,973 |
| 4 | Vermont | $56,324 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $57,440 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $52,016 |
| 7 | Delaware | $55,935 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $57,622 |
| 9 | Alaska | $56,398 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $57,418 |
| 11 | Ohio | $51,890 |
| 12 | Nevada | $53,936 |
| 13 | New York | $57,056 |
| 14 | Michigan | $52,639 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $50,904 |
| 16 | Indiana | $50,198 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $51,440 |
| 18 | Texas | $51,232 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $50,935 |
| 20 | Florida | $51,017 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $56,900 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $49,478 |
| 23 | Oregon | $54,033 |
| 24 | Arizona | $52,590 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $49,145 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $49,988 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $48,534 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $49,843 |
| 29 | Washington | $52,945 |
| 30 | Maryland | $54,996 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $49,527 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $49,309 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $50,172 |
| 34 | Virginia | $53,560 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $50,554 |
| 36 | California | $55,040 |
| 37 | Idaho | $51,156 |
| 38 | Alabama | $49,823 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $54,538 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $60,494 |
| 41 | Montana | $49,185 |
| 42 | Iowa | $49,037 |
| 43 | Kansas | $48,767 |
| 44 | Georgia | $49,895 |
| 45 | Utah | $50,647 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $49,758 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $48,743 |
| 48 | Illinois | $50,113 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $48,469 |
| 50 | Missouri | $48,844 |
| 51 | Colorado | $49,049 |
Expert opinions on the best states for licensed practical nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for licensed practical nurses to find work opportunities?
Vilma Davis
Assistant Director and Assistant Professor, Lincoln University
As previously mentioned, there is a need for nurses throughout the United States. Most nursing programs will intermittently have nurse recruiters come on campus, giving students an opportunity to ask questions and get information about the job market. This is one way that graduates can get plugged into where the needs of nurses are. Graduates can also visit the websites of various hospitals and see what openings are available for which they can apply. Doing a simple google search for "nursing jobs" will yield a plethora of available jobs that they can review and make the decision which they would like to pursue.
Licensed practical nurse best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025