Best paying cities for licensed practical nurses, after cost of living
After cost of living, licensed practical nurse pay goes furthest in San Jose (worth $86,341) and least far in Miami (worth $54,825).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $95,320 | 110.4 | $86,341 | +34% |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $94,310 | 115.6 | $81,583 | +27% |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $83,510 | 105.4 | $79,231 | +23% |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $85,690 | 111.1 | $77,129 | +20% |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $81,570 | 106.7 | $76,448 | +19% |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $82,190 | 108.3 | $75,891 | +18% |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $75,920 | 100.2 | $75,768 | +18% |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $78,080 | 103.3 | $75,586 | +17% |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $78,070 | 103.6 | $75,357 | +17% |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $75,810 | 105.8 | $71,654 | +11% |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $74,860 | 104.5 | $71,636 | +11% |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $79,720 | 111.9 | $71,242 | +11% |
| 13 | Los Angeles, CA | $79,310 | 113.6 | $69,815 | +8% |
| 14 | Washington, DC | $75,860 | 108.9 | $69,660 | +8% |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $69,300 | 100.3 | $69,093 | +7% |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $70,710 | 102.6 | $68,918 | +7% |
| 17 | St. Louis, MO | $65,120 | 95.1 | $68,475 | +6% |
| 18 | New York, NY | $75,910 | 112.6 | $67,416 | +5% |
| 19 | Charlotte, NC | $65,140 | 97.3 | $66,948 | +4% |
| 20 | Pittsburgh, PA | $63,060 | 94.7 | $66,589 | +3% |
| 21 | Austin, TX | $64,580 | 98.1 | $65,831 | +2% |
| 22 | San Antonio, TX | $62,280 | 94.7 | $65,766 | +2% |
| 23 | Atlanta, GA | $65,060 | 100.1 | $64,995 | +1% |
| 24 | Houston, TX | $63,670 | 98.6 | $64,574 | 0% |
| 25 | Nashville, TN | $61,940 | 96.3 | $64,320 | 0% |
| 26 | Minneapolis, MN | $65,660 | 104.8 | $62,653 | −3% |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $64,370 | 103.1 | $62,435 | −3% |
| 28 | Tampa, FL | $62,490 | 100.9 | $61,933 | −4% |
| 29 | Orlando, FL | $61,030 | 101.4 | $60,187 | −7% |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $62,610 | 114.2 | $54,825 | −15% |
U.S. median for licensed practical nurses: $64,400. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, SOC 29-2061); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.