Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Salary

The median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses salary in the United States is $64,400 per year ($30.96/hour). Salaries range from $49,740 at the entry level to $83,440+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 648,410 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 2.6% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asLPNLVNPractical Nurse
Median Salary
$64,400
per year
Hourly Rate
$30.96
per hour
Employment
648,410
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$49,740
25th percentile
$59,000
Median
$64,400
75th percentile
$76,030
90th percentile
$83,440

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+2.6%
As fast as average

Annual Openings

54,400
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Postsecondary nondegree award

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for licensed practical and licensed vocational nursess.

LPNs (called LVNs in California + Texas) provide direct patient care under RN + physician supervision. Scope varies by state β€” generally: medication administration, wound care, basic assessments, IV maintenance (varies by state), care coordination. Career splits: long-term care / SNF (largest employer + often DON path), hospital (declining role in acute care post-2010; still strong in rehab + LTAC), home health, physician offices + clinics (steady 9-5 schedule), correctional + occupational health. Path is 12-18 months of nursing school + NCLEX-PN. Highest LPN pay: correctional + travel + specialty clinics. Common bridge to RN via LPN-to-RN programs (12-18 additional months). Post-Covid demand is very strong.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Medication administration + calculation
PO, IM, SubQ, SL, topical. IV maintenance varies by state. Med math + safety checks + 5 rights. Documentation.
Wound care + skin assessment
Dressing changes, negative pressure wound therapy, staging pressure injuries, infection recognition.
Basic assessment + vital signs interpretation
Focused assessments. Recognizing decline + reporting to RN or MD promptly.
IV maintenance (state-dependent)
Some states allow IV therapy, blood draws, PICC line maintenance. Requires certification + state scope check.
Documentation + care coordination
EMR (Epic, Cerner, PointClickCare in LTC). Handoff communication. Care plan updates.
Patient + family education
Discharge teaching, medication education, disease process education. Documentation.
Chronic disease management
Diabetes (BG monitoring + insulin), CHF, COPD, dementia care, wound + ostomy care.
Emergency response
BLS + basic ACLS awareness. Recognizing MI, stroke, sepsis. Rapid response activation.

How to Become a Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

  1. 1
    High school diploma or GED
    Prerequisites in anatomy, physiology, English, math. GPA 3.0+ competitive at most programs.
  2. 2
    Complete state-approved LPN program (12-18 months)
    Community colleges, vocational schools, some hospitals. 1,400+ clinical hours + classroom. Program cost $5-25k depending on state.
  3. 3
    Pass NCLEX-PN exam
    Nationally-standardized. $200 exam + $75-200 state application. Prep courses common ($200-400).
  4. 4
    State licensure
    Apply to state Board of Nursing. Background check + fingerprint. Multistate license via NLC (Nurse Licensure Compact) in participating states.
  5. 5
    First job (SNF/LTC most common, or hospital rehab)
    SNF hiring most eager. Hospital roles more competitive. Pay + benefits vary by setting.
  6. 6
    Optional specialty certifications
    IV Therapy (state-dependent), Wound Care (WCC), Long-Term Care (CLTC), Correctional (CCHP-LPN), Pediatrics.
  7. 7
    Optional: LPN-to-RN bridge program (12-18 months)
    Common path to RN. ADN via community college. Facility tuition reimbursement common (esp. hospital systems).

Career Progression

New LPN (0-1 yr)
0-1 yrs$44-58k Β· Hourly $21-28 Β· Higher in CA/NY/MA/CT
  • β€’Med pass + basic care
  • β€’Care plan documentation
  • β€’Working under RN charge
Next: Experienced LPN.
Experienced LPN (1-4 yrs)
1-4 yrs$48-64k Β· Hourly $23-31
  • β€’Med nurse for 20+ patients (LTC)
  • β€’Charge LPN in some states
  • β€’Preceptor for new LPNs
Next: Senior LPN + specialty.
Charge LPN / Senior LPN / Specialty LPN (Wound, IV, etc.)
4-10 yrs$54-72k Β· Hourly $26-35 Β· Specialty pay premiums 5-15%
  • β€’Charge nurse in LTC (state dependent)
  • β€’Wound care team + specialty roles
  • β€’Complex patient assignments
Next: RN school or DON path.
Correctional / Travel / Home Health LPN
3-15+ yrs$58-85k Β· Correctional often $65-90k + benefits + pension
  • β€’Specialty setting
  • β€’Higher autonomy
  • β€’Premium + differential pay
Next: RN school or specialty leadership.
LTC Administrative / DON / Wound Care Specialist
8-15+ yrs$62-95k Β· DON of small facility $75-110k
  • β€’Wound Care Nurse (specialty)
  • β€’Assistant DON in LTC facilities
  • β€’Staff scheduling + regulatory
Next: RN license + facility DON.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 12 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Why LPN vs RN or CNA?culture
Concrete: 'LPN gives me hands-on patient care with meaningful scope + faster entry than RN. I'm considering LPN-to-RN bridge as next step.' Or: 'LPN role in LTC as a career β€” I love the specialty.' Screens for realistic understanding.
Q2. Walk me through your medication administration process.technical
Concrete 5 Rights + additional checks: right patient (2 identifiers), right med, right dose, right route, right time. Plus: right documentation + right education + right response. Check MAR + patient allergy + medication label. Screens for real med admin knowledge.
Q3. Tell me about a time you recognized a change in a patient's condition.behavioral
STAR. Real case (from clinicals if new grad). Specific vital signs or symptoms. Reported to RN + MD promptly. Documentation. Learning applied. Screens for clinical judgment.
Q4. How do you handle a busy shift with multiple demands?situational
Concrete triage: safety-critical first (fall risk, aspiration, seizure). Time-sensitive meds. Delegate to CNA appropriately. Communication with charge. Documentation before end of shift. Screens for prioritization.
Q5. What would you do if you made a medication error?situational
Concrete: Assess patient. Report to RN + MD immediately. Complete incident report per facility protocol. Never hide. Learn + prevent recurrence. Screens for integrity + safety culture.

Resume Template β€” LPN (2-3 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

LPN (2-3 yrs)
  • β–ΈLPN, [Facility]. Manage medication pass + care coordination for 22 residents on 400-bed SNF unit.
  • β–ΈState LPN license + IV Therapy Certification + Wound Care Certified (WCC) 2024.
  • β–ΈReduced medication errors on assigned unit from 4/quarter to 0 through improved MAR checking process.
  • β–ΈPreceptor for 4 new LPN grads in 2024. All completed orientation successfully within 4-week timeline.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Failed NCLEX-PN multiple times without explanation.
  • βœ—Sustained board complaints or disciplinary action without honest disclosure.
  • βœ—Poor documentation habits.
  • βœ—Weak medication math or safety.
  • βœ—Insubordination or poor teamwork history.
  • βœ—Attendance issues.
  • βœ—Discomfort with heavy patient loads (LTC LPN role).
  • βœ—Bad-mouthing prior facility or patients.
  • βœ—Poor recognition of decline or delayed reporting.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Sign-on bonus $2-15k common post-Covid.
  • βœ“Shift differential: night +$2-4/hr, weekend +$2-4/hr, holiday 1.5-2x.
  • βœ“Specialty certifications = $1-3/hr premium (IV, wound, dementia).
  • βœ“Charge nurse differential (LTC): $1-3/hr.
  • βœ“Preceptor pay: additional $1-2/hr on training days.
  • βœ“Tuition reimbursement for RN school (hospital systems often $10-15k/year).
  • βœ“Union facility premium.
  • βœ“Correctional + travel + specialty clinic pay far above SNF baseline.
  • βœ“Vacation + PTO (start higher based on experience).
  • βœ“Health + retirement + pension (VA + state facilities).

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Resume Review β€” $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired licensed practical and licensed vocational nursess. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

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  • βœ“ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
  • βœ“ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Career Kit β€” $19

  • βœ“ All 12 interview questions with expert answers
  • βœ“ 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
  • βœ“ Interview format intel for 8 top employers
  • βœ“ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
  • βœ“ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
  • βœ“ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
  • βœ“ Downloadable PDF for offline access
  • βœ“ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
βœ“ 7-day money-back guarantee β€” no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

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Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$50K
$83Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Washington
$83K
+29%
Alaska
$81K
+25%
Oregon
$80K
+25%
Massachusetts
$80K
+25%
Rhode Island
$80K
+24%
California
$80K
+24%
New Hampshire
$77K
+20%
Arizona
$77K
+20%
Nevada
$76K
+18%
District of Columbia
$76K
+18%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Washington$83,150+29.1%
Alaska$80,800+25.5%
Oregon$80,470+25.0%
Massachusetts$80,220+24.6%
Rhode Island$80,090+24.4%
California$79,750+23.8%
New Hampshire$77,110+19.7%
Arizona$77,070+19.7%
Nevada$76,160+18.3%
District of Columbia$75,740+17.6%
1–10 of 51

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$95,320+48.0%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$94,310+46.4%
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$92,580+43.8%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$85,690+33.1%
Vallejo, CA$85,430+32.7%
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$83,940+30.3%
Napa, CA$83,690+30.0%
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$83,510+29.7%
Bend, OR$83,260+29.3%
Grants Pass, OR$82,410+28.0%
1–10 of 396
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earning $64,400/year would need 926 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 994 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
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View Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary trend (2011–2024) β†’