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Licensed practical nurse salary
Average licensed practical nurse salary
$52,912
Understanding Licensed Practical Nurse Salaries
The average salary for a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the United States is currently $52,912 annually. Factors such as location, experience, and specialization can significantly impact earnings. For instance, LPNs in high-demand areas or specialized fields often earn higher salaries.
Salary by State
In states like California and New York, LPNs can find some of the highest salaries, driven by the cost of living and demand for healthcare professionals. Conversely, states with lower living costs may offer lower salaries.
Experience Matters
Experience also plays a crucial role in salary progression. New graduates typically start at the lower end of the salary spectrum, while those with several years of experience can command significantly higher wages.
Exploring Career Opportunities
For LPNs looking to maximize their earning potential, exploring job opportunities in hospitals, nursing homes, and specialized clinics is essential. With the right experience and location, LPNs can enjoy a fulfilling career in healthcare.
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Where can a Licensed Practical Nurse earn more?
Licensed practical nurse salaries by experience level
Licensed practical nurse salary estimates from across the web
Average licensed practical nurse salary by state
The average licensed practical nurse salary in Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average licensed practical nurse salary states are Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for licensed practical nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $56,520 | $27.17 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $57,082 | $27.44 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $55,973 | $26.91 |
| 4 | Vermont | $56,324 | $27.08 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $57,440 | $27.62 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $52,016 | $25.01 |
| 7 | Delaware | $55,935 | $26.89 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $57,622 | $27.70 |
| 9 | Alaska | $56,398 | $27.11 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $57,418 | $27.60 |
| 11 | Ohio | $51,890 | $24.95 |
| 12 | Nevada | $53,936 | $25.93 |
| 13 | New York | $57,056 | $27.43 |
| 14 | Michigan | $52,639 | $25.31 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $50,904 | $24.47 |
| 16 | Indiana | $50,198 | $24.13 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| 18 | Texas | $51,232 | $24.63 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $50,935 | $24.49 |
| 20 | Florida | $51,017 | $24.53 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $56,900 | $27.36 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $49,478 | $23.79 |
| 23 | Oregon | $54,033 | $25.98 |
| 24 | Arizona | $52,590 | $25.28 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $49,145 | $23.63 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $49,988 | $24.03 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $48,534 | $23.33 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $49,843 | $23.96 |
| 29 | Washington | $52,945 | $25.45 |
| 30 | Maryland | $54,996 | $26.44 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $49,527 | $23.81 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $49,309 | $23.71 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $50,172 | $24.12 |
| 34 | Virginia | $53,560 | $25.75 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $50,554 | $24.30 |
| 36 | California | $55,040 | $26.46 |
| 37 | Idaho | $51,156 | $24.59 |
| 38 | Alabama | $49,823 | $23.95 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $54,538 | $26.22 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $60,494 | $29.08 |
| 41 | Montana | $49,185 | $23.65 |
| 42 | Iowa | $49,037 | $23.58 |
| 43 | Kansas | $48,767 | $23.45 |
| 44 | Georgia | $49,895 | $23.99 |
| 45 | Utah | $50,647 | $24.35 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $49,758 | $23.92 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $48,743 | $23.43 |
| 48 | Illinois | $50,113 | $24.09 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $48,469 | $23.30 |
| 50 | Missouri | $48,844 | $23.48 |
| 51 | Colorado | $49,049 | $23.58 |
Highest paying cities for licensed practical nurses
The highest-paying cities for licensed practical nurses are Boston, MA, New York, NY, and Rochester, NH.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $57,483 | $27.64 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $57,081 | $27.44 |
| 3 | Rochester, NH | $56,965 | $27.39 |
| 4 | Portland, ME | $56,758 | $27.29 |
| 5 | Richmond, CA | $56,639 | $27.23 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $56,457 | $27.14 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $55,282 | $26.58 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $53,772 | $25.85 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $53,760 | $25.85 |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | $53,320 | $25.63 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $53,319 | $25.63 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $53,223 | $25.59 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $52,651 | $25.31 |
| 14 | Jacksonville, NC | $51,656 | $24.83 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $51,623 | $24.82 |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $51,449 | $24.74 |
| 17 | Miami, FL | $51,378 | $24.70 |
| 18 | Fort Wayne, IN | $50,849 | $24.45 |
| 19 | Syracuse, UT | $50,507 | $24.28 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $50,221 | $24.14 |
Licensed Practical Nurses are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Licensed practical nurse salary details
A licensed practical nurse's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $74,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a licensed practical nurse's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| Average | $52,912 | $4,409 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
Highest paying licensed practical nurse jobs
The highest paying types of licensed practical nurses are registered nurse med/surg, emergency department registered nurse, and head nurse.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse | $57,564 | $4,797 | $27.67 | 696,124 |
| Emergency Department Registered Nurse | $81,260 | $6,772 | $39.07 | 661,518 |
| Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | $71,342 | $5,945 | $34.30 | 645,134 |
| Staff Nurse | $68,342 | $5,695 | $32.86 | 699,636 |
| Registered Nurse Med/Surg | $84,812 | $7,068 | $40.78 | 515,200 |
| Oncology Registered Nurse | $74,716 | $6,226 | $35.92 | 636,524 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for licensed practical nurses, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Sophia Thomas
President, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
-Starting salaries for NPs are exceptional, and usually hover between $80,000-100,000, but that can vary significantly based on geographic location, work setting, and certification/specialty. Some salaries are higher.
-The bureau of labor statistics (BLS) offers an excellent breakdown of salaries by region and state as well: link
-(Note: some stats on the BLS website are reflective of the Mean or Average salary and others represent the Median or midpoint. AANP data are all reported in Median)
-As NPs advance in their careers, there is a clear and positive relationship between number of years' experience and salary growth.
Top companies hiring licensed practical nurses now:
Which companies pay licensed practical nurses the most?
Licensed practical nurse salaries at The Citadel and New Jersey Institute of Technology are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average licensed practical nurse salary at companies like Dedicated Nursing Associates and Cell Staff are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Citadel | $73,436 | $35.31 |
| 2 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | $64,057 | $30.80 |
| 3 | Dedicated Nursing Associates | $63,675 | $30.61 |
| 4 | Cell Staff | $63,509 | $30.53 |
| 5 | Sutter Health | $63,331 | $30.45 |
| 6 | The Elizabeth Hospice | $63,069 | $30.32 |
| 7 | Alameda Health System | $62,894 | $30.24 |
| 8 | Hospice of the Western Reserve | $62,887 | $30.23 |
| 9 | Good Shepherd Hospice | $62,590 | $30.09 |
| 10 | PROFESSIONAL NURSING SERVICES | $62,520 | $30.06 |
| 11 | Soliant | $62,520 | $30.06 |
| 12 | Favorite Healthcare Staffing | $62,472 | $30.03 |
| 13 | Wellpath | $62,093 | $29.85 |
| 14 | Accountable Healthcare Holdings Corp. | $62,025 | $29.82 |
| 15 | Ohio's Hospice | $61,677 | $29.65 |
| 16 | Southern Healthcare | $61,467 | $29.55 |
| 17 | ATC Healthcare | $61,279 | $29.46 |
| 18 | Oculus | $61,249 | $29.45 |
| 19 | McIntosh Senior Living | $61,046 | $29.35 |
| 20 | Sprain Brook Manor Rehab | $61,014 | $29.33 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Licensed practical nurse salary trends
The average licensed practical nurse salary has risen by $8,313 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average licensed practical nurse earned $44,599 annually, but today, they earn $52,912 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for licensed practical nurses over the last decade.
Compare licensed practical nurse salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average licensed practical nurse salary over time
Compare licensed practical nurse salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Licensed practical nurse salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,900 | $25.44 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $51,500 | $24.74 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $50,100 | $24.09 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $48,800 | $23.46 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $47,800 | $22.97 | +2.1% |
Recently added licensed practical nurse salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centerstone | Licensed Practical Nurse-LPN | Bradenton, FL | 06/30/2025 | $52,175 |
| Centerstone | LPN | Bloomington, IN | 06/30/2025 | $39,862 |
| Centerstone | Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | Clarksville, TN | 06/30/2025 | $39,862 |
| Centerstone | BEH Health LPN FH | North Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $39,862 |
| Cmh | LPN, Evenings, Bolster Heights LTC | Auburn, ME | 06/30/2025 | $56,349 |
| Wellpath | Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)-NOC | Kansas City, KS | 06/30/2025 | $62,276 |
| Naphcare | Licensed Practical Nurse (Lpn/Lvn)-Correctional Healthcare | Grand Junction, CO | 06/30/2025 | $56,349 |
| NCH Healthcare-Naples Community Hospital | LPN Wound Care Office | Bonita Springs, FL | 06/30/2025 | $32,390 |
| Hospice | LPN Home Care | Fine, NY | 06/30/2025 | $52,175 |
| The Ohio State University | Licensed Practical Nurse | Campus, IL | 06/30/2025 | $46,665 |
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