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Practical nurse salary
Average practical nurse salary
$75,363
Average Practical Nurse Salary
The average salary for practical nurses stands at $75,363 annually, or approximately $36 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on factors such as years of experience, location, and the specific healthcare setting. Entry-level practical nurses typically earn less, while those with extensive experience or specialized skills can command higher salaries.
Salary by Experience Level
Experience plays a significant role in determining salary. For example:
- Entry-Level: $55,000 - $60,000
- Mid-Career: $65,000 - $75,000
- Experienced: $80,000+
Where Can a Practical Nurse Earn More?
Practical nurses in metropolitan areas, especially in states like California and New York, often enjoy higher salaries. Cities like San Francisco and New York City are among the highest paying, with salaries exceeding $90,000 in some cases. This salary potential, combined with opportunities for advancement, makes nursing a promising career choice.
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Where can a Practical Nurse earn more?
Practical nurse salaries by experience level
Average practical nurse salary by state
The average practical nurse salary in California, Nevada, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average practical nurse salary states are North Dakota, Iowa, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for practical nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $75,894 | $36.49 |
| 2 | Nevada | $85,226 | $40.97 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $70,004 | $33.66 |
| 4 | Delaware | $76,373 | $36.72 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $77,076 | $37.06 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $73,073 | $35.13 |
| 7 | Oregon | $80,874 | $38.88 |
| 8 | New York | $77,125 | $37.08 |
| 9 | Washington | $77,735 | $37.37 |
| 10 | Maine | $69,097 | $33.22 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $75,073 | $36.09 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $69,659 | $33.49 |
| 13 | California | $86,154 | $41.42 |
| 14 | Ohio | $68,262 | $32.82 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $76,407 | $36.73 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $77,197 | $37.11 |
| 17 | Arizona | $74,099 | $35.62 |
| 18 | Vermont | $69,429 | $33.38 |
| 19 | Idaho | $73,092 | $35.14 |
| 20 | Alaska | $70,811 | $34.04 |
| 21 | Texas | $67,524 | $32.46 |
| 22 | Virginia | $74,614 | $35.87 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $68,981 | $33.16 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $66,116 | $31.79 |
| 25 | Maryland | $75,318 | $36.21 |
| 26 | Michigan | $68,007 | $32.70 |
| 27 | Indiana | $63,165 | $30.37 |
| 28 | Utah | $70,790 | $34.03 |
| 29 | Florida | $64,510 | $31.01 |
| 30 | Montana | $64,132 | $30.83 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $64,504 | $31.01 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $60,242 | $28.96 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $62,616 | $30.10 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $75,127 | $36.12 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $61,675 | $29.65 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $57,859 | $27.82 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $58,589 | $28.17 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $62,759 | $30.17 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $60,707 | $29.19 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $59,246 | $28.48 |
| 41 | Georgia | $61,014 | $29.33 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $58,664 | $28.20 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $65,733 | $31.60 |
| 44 | Alabama | $60,595 | $29.13 |
| 45 | Kansas | $57,793 | $27.79 |
| 46 | Illinois | $62,108 | $29.86 |
| 47 | Iowa | $58,568 | $28.16 |
| 48 | Colorado | $60,440 | $29.06 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $57,304 | $27.55 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $59,849 | $28.77 |
| 51 | Missouri | $58,196 | $27.98 |
Highest paying cities for practical nurses
The highest-paying cities for practical nurses are Lancaster, CA, Portland, OR, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lancaster, CA | $85,786 | $41.24 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $80,049 | $38.49 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $78,493 | $37.74 |
| 4 | Smithtown, NY | $77,535 | $37.28 |
| 5 | Newark, NJ | $77,305 | $37.17 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $76,838 | $36.94 |
| 7 | Wilmington, DE | $76,541 | $36.80 |
| 8 | Springfield, MA | $76,027 | $36.55 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $74,363 | $35.75 |
| 10 | Concord, NH | $72,359 | $34.79 |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $71,549 | $34.40 |
| 12 | Portland, ME | $70,314 | $33.80 |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | $69,829 | $33.57 |
| 14 | Thomasville, NC | $68,934 | $33.14 |
| 15 | Charleston, WV | $68,917 | $33.13 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $68,745 | $33.05 |
| 17 | Cincinnati, OH | $64,824 | $31.17 |
| 18 | Charleston, SC | $64,257 | $30.89 |
| 19 | Knoxville, TN | $62,803 | $30.19 |
| 20 | Lawton, OK | $62,559 | $30.08 |
Practical nurse salary details
A practical nurse's salary ranges from $47,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $120,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a practical nurse's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $120,000 | $10,000 | $58 |
| 75th Percentile | $96,000 | $8,000 | $46 |
| Average | $75,363 | $6,280 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 10th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
Highest paying practical nurse jobs
The highest paying types of practical nurses are contractor-registered nurse, advanced registered nurse practitioner, and head nurse.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner | $97,820 | $8,152 | $47.03 | 486,582 |
| Nurse Coordinator | $79,040 | $6,587 | $38.00 | 428,775 |
| Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | $71,342 | $5,945 | $34.30 | 645,134 |
| Nurse Extern | $37,156 | $3,096 | $17.86 | 569,180 |
| Clinic Registered Nurse | $70,075 | $5,840 | $33.69 | 520,812 |
| Registered Nurse | $73,349 | $6,112 | $35.26 | 646,159 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for 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 practical nurses now:
Which companies pay practical nurses the most?
Practical nurse salaries at University Hospitals and Hunterdon Healthcare are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average practical nurse salary at companies like St. Joseph Healthcare and Dignity Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Hospitals | $129,336 | $62.18 |
| 2 | Hunterdon Healthcare | $116,329 | $55.93 |
| 3 | St. Joseph Healthcare | $111,249 | $53.49 |
| 4 | Dignity Health | $110,873 | $53.30 |
| 5 | New London Hospital | $109,786 | $52.78 |
| 6 | St Anthony's Hospital Inc | $108,950 | $52.38 |
| 7 | Medical Imaging Associates Inc | $108,429 | $52.13 |
| 8 | St. Joseph's Health | $108,177 | $52.01 |
| 9 | Rutgers University | $108,107 | $51.97 |
| 10 | Connecticut Children's Medical Center | $106,015 | $50.97 |
| 11 | CentraState Healthcare System | $104,573 | $50.28 |
| 12 | Scripps Health | $103,994 | $50.00 |
| 13 | Lancaster General Health | $103,535 | $49.78 |
| 14 | Garnet Health | $102,847 | $49.45 |
| 15 | Illinois CancerCare | $101,424 | $48.76 |
| 16 | Christiana Care Health Services, Inc. | $100,558 | $48.35 |
| 17 | UMiami Health System | $99,852 | $48.01 |
| 18 | Carilion Clinic | $98,815 | $47.51 |
| 19 | Acuity Insurance | $97,601 | $46.92 |
| 20 | Maxim Healthcare Group | $97,150 | $46.71 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Practical nurse salary trends
The average practical nurse salary has risen by $11,840 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average practical nurse earned $63,523 annually, but today, they earn $75,363 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for practical nurses over the last decade.
Compare practical nurse salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average practical nurse salary over time
Compare practical nurse salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Practical nurse salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $75,400 | $36.23 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $73,300 | $35.24 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $71,400 | $34.32 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $69,500 | $33.42 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $68,100 | $32.72 | +2.1% |
Recently added practical nurse salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GI Alliance | Licenced Practical Nurse (LPN) | Bridgeport, CT | 06/29/2025 | $54,262 |
| St. Catherine of Siena | Advanced Practice Provider-Neurology PA or NP | Rockville Centre, NY | 06/28/2025 | $138,890 |
| State of Louisiana | Practical Nurse, or 3 | Cottonport, LA | 06/28/2025 | $68,806 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Practical Nurse-Float | Boston, MA | 06/28/2025 | $61,650 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Practical Nurse | Birmingham, AL | 06/28/2025 | $58,678 |
| Deborah Heart and Lung Center | APN-Advanced Practice Nurse, (Pulmonary Medicine) | Browns Mills, NJ | 06/27/2025 | $115,411 |
| Ascension Health | Advanced Practice Provider NP PA-Cardiology | Baltimore, MD | 06/27/2025 | $117,451 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Practical Nurse (Pact-Patient Aligned Care Team) | Billings, MT | 06/26/2025 | $47,817 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Advanced Practical Nurse (Telehealth/Out-Patience Care) | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $58,159 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Practical Nurse--Varc & Mhacc Clinics | Cleveland, OH | 06/26/2025 | $54,199 |
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