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Best states for a licensed practical nurse staff nurse
Quoted expert
Vilma Davis
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It seems like licensed practical nurses staff nurses are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for licensed practical nurses staff nurses aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that Pennsylvania is the best state in the country for licensed practical nurses staff nurses.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for licensed practical nurses staff nurses. Pennsylvania is the best state for licensed practical nurses staff nurses, where the median salary is $54,510.If you are currently seeking employment as a licensed practical nurse staff nurse, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for licensed practical nurses staff nurses in 2025
1. Pennsylvania
Total licensed practical nurse staff nurse jobs: 8,962 Average annual salary: $54,510 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
2. New Hampshire
Total licensed practical nurse staff nurse jobs: 1,253 Average annual salary: $55,532 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
3. Maine
Total licensed practical nurse staff nurse jobs: 993 Average annual salary: $53,560 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
4. Massachusetts
Total licensed practical nurse staff nurse jobs: 6,652 Average annual salary: $56,082 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
5. West Virginia
Total licensed practical nurse staff nurse jobs: 1,168 Average annual salary: $50,596 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
6. Rhode Island
Total licensed practical nurse staff nurse jobs: 612 Average annual salary: $56,341 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
7. Vermont
Total licensed practical nurse staff nurse jobs: 483 Average annual salary: $54,110 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
8. Delaware
Total licensed practical nurse staff nurse jobs: 805 Average annual salary: $54,344 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
9. Ohio
Total licensed practical nurse staff nurse jobs: 6,442 Average annual salary: $50,526 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
10. New York
Total licensed practical nurse staff nurse jobs: 8,067 Average annual salary: $55,732 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
Licensed practical nurse staff nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a licensed practical nurse staff nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a licensed practical nurse staff nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $54,510 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 8,962 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $55,532 | $37,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,253 |
| 3 | Maine | $53,560 | $36,000 | 1,335,907 | 993 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $56,082 | $38,000 | 6,859,819 | 6,652 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $50,596 | $34,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,168 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $56,341 | $38,000 | 1,059,639 | 612 |
| 7 | Vermont | $54,110 | $36,000 | 623,657 | 483 |
| 8 | Delaware | $54,344 | $36,000 | 961,939 | 805 |
| 9 | Ohio | $50,526 | $34,000 | 11,658,609 | 6,442 |
| 10 | New York | $55,732 | $37,000 | 19,849,399 | 8,067 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $56,115 | $38,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,750 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $50,904 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,420 |
| 13 | Indiana | $49,270 | $34,000 | 6,666,818 | 4,881 |
| 14 | Michigan | $51,223 | $35,000 | 9,962,311 | 4,380 |
| 15 | Alaska | $55,692 | $43,000 | 739,795 | 456 |
| 16 | Nevada | $52,704 | $37,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,034 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $55,566 | $37,000 | 9,005,644 | 4,185 |
| 18 | Arizona | $52,032 | $37,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,001 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $48,658 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 4,089 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $49,526 | $33,000 | 4,684,333 | 2,533 |
| 21 | Maryland | $53,150 | $36,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,773 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $48,639 | $34,000 | 755,393 | 664 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $48,651 | $33,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,601 |
| 24 | Florida | $49,542 | $33,000 | 20,984,400 | 13,150 |
| 25 | Texas | $50,074 | $34,000 | 28,304,596 | 11,758 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $48,883 | $33,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,299 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $48,306 | $33,000 | 869,666 | 791 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $48,909 | $33,000 | 4,454,189 | 2,187 |
| 29 | Oregon | $52,536 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,996 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $49,407 | $33,000 | 10,273,419 | 5,859 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $49,872 | $34,000 | 5,795,483 | 2,503 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $48,889 | $33,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,937 |
| 33 | California | $53,799 | $38,000 | 39,536,653 | 9,858 |
| 34 | Washington | $51,019 | $36,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,205 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $48,790 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 2,662 |
| 36 | Alabama | $48,725 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,248 |
| 37 | Virginia | $51,562 | $34,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,733 |
| 38 | Utah | $50,160 | $35,000 | 3,101,833 | 866 |
| 39 | Iowa | $48,599 | $33,000 | 3,145,711 | 2,074 |
| 40 | Montana | $48,302 | $34,000 | 1,050,493 | 768 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $48,612 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 311 |
| 42 | Kansas | $48,538 | $33,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,774 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $52,690 | $35,000 | 693,972 | 503 |
| 44 | Georgia | $48,672 | $33,000 | 10,429,379 | 5,985 |
| 45 | Idaho | $50,044 | $35,000 | 1,716,943 | 822 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $49,268 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 3,448 |
| 47 | Illinois | $49,339 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 5,481 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $59,706 | $52,000 | 1,427,538 | 285 |
| 49 | Missouri | $48,593 | $33,000 | 6,113,532 | 3,193 |
| 50 | Colorado | $49,071 | $34,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,113 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $48,325 | $33,000 | 1,920,076 | 1,178 |
Highest paying states for licensed practical nurses staff nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. Licensed Practical Nurse Staff Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $54,510 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $55,532 |
| 3 | Maine | $53,560 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $56,082 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $50,596 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $56,341 |
| 7 | Vermont | $54,110 |
| 8 | Delaware | $54,344 |
| 9 | Ohio | $50,526 |
| 10 | New York | $55,732 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $56,115 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $50,904 |
| 13 | Indiana | $49,270 |
| 14 | Michigan | $51,223 |
| 15 | Alaska | $55,692 |
| 16 | Nevada | $52,704 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $55,566 |
| 18 | Arizona | $52,032 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $48,658 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $49,526 |
| 21 | Maryland | $53,150 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $48,639 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $48,651 |
| 24 | Florida | $49,542 |
| 25 | Texas | $50,074 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $48,883 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $48,306 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $48,909 |
| 29 | Oregon | $52,536 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $49,407 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $49,872 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $48,889 |
| 33 | California | $53,799 |
| 34 | Washington | $51,019 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $48,790 |
| 36 | Alabama | $48,725 |
| 37 | Virginia | $51,562 |
| 38 | Utah | $50,160 |
| 39 | Iowa | $48,599 |
| 40 | Montana | $48,302 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $48,612 |
| 42 | Kansas | $48,538 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $52,690 |
| 44 | Georgia | $48,672 |
| 45 | Idaho | $50,044 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $49,268 |
| 47 | Illinois | $49,339 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $59,706 |
| 49 | Missouri | $48,593 |
| 50 | Colorado | $49,071 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $48,325 |
Expert opinions on the best states for licensed practical nurses staff nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for licensed practical nurse staff 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 staff nurse best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025