Licensed Practical Nurse salary in the United States
National median pay
$64,400/year
about $30.96 an hour full-time
Middle half earns $59,000 – $76,030
National pay range
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| 25th | $59,000 | $28.37 |
| Median (50th) | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| 75th | $76,030 | $36.55 |
| 90th (top earners) | $83,440 | $40.12 |
*Yearly pay divided by 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the full-time basis BLS uses.
Pay by city
Highest median pay: San Jose ($95,320). Lowest of the cities we track: Orlando ($61,030).
| Metro area | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $95,320 | $84,000 – $100,950 |
| San Francisco, CA | $94,310 | $81,650 – $104,110 |
| Seattle, WA | $85,690 | $80,560 – $96,620 |
| Portland, OR | $83,510 | $77,280 – $93,090 |
| Boston, MA | $82,190 | $75,050 – $87,070 |
| Sacramento, CA | $81,570 | $76,630 – $96,340 |
| San Diego, CA | $79,720 | $75,440 – $89,040 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $79,310 | $73,860 – $92,930 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $78,080 | $67,690 – $82,500 |
| Chicago, IL | $78,070 | $72,860 – $81,080 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $75,920 | $65,490 – $79,320 |
| New York, NY | $75,910 | $66,970 – $79,940 |
| Washington, DC | $75,860 | $65,700 – $80,830 |
| Denver, CO | $75,810 | $63,500 – $81,300 |
| Baltimore, MD | $74,860 | $65,520 – $78,930 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $70,710 | $64,340 – $76,300 |
| Detroit, MI | $69,300 | $63,510 – $75,040 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $65,660 | $61,830 – $73,450 |
| Charlotte, NC | $65,140 | $61,330 – $73,340 |
| St. Louis, MO | $65,120 | $61,010 – $76,170 |
| Atlanta, GA | $65,060 | $58,980 – $73,630 |
| Austin, TX | $64,580 | $59,380 – $72,960 |
| Dallas, TX | $64,370 | $61,160 – $72,130 |
| Houston, TX | $63,670 | $59,930 – $72,000 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $63,060 | $60,560 – $72,130 |
| Miami, FL | $62,610 | $59,620 – $66,090 |
| Tampa, FL | $62,490 | $59,330 – $64,560 |
| San Antonio, TX | $62,280 | $58,070 – $68,560 |
| Nashville, TN | $61,940 | $54,080 – $67,450 |
| Orlando, FL | $61,030 | $57,020 – $63,310 |
Pay depends a lot on location, so compare an on-site job with its local figures. For fully remote jobs, national pay is usually the fairest comparison.
🏆 Best paying cities for licensed practical nurses, after cost of living →
Is your offer fair?
- Below market under $59,000 ($28.37/hr). Fine for a first job in the field, otherwise worth negotiating.
- Typical $59,000 to $76,030 ($28.37 to $36.55/hr). The middle half of what people in this job earn.
- Strong offer over $76,030 ($36.55/hr). Higher than three quarters of workers here.
Before you accept
- Night, weekend and holiday differentials can add a lot. Ask for the exact rates.
- Pay often differs between nursing homes, hospitals, clinics and home health, so compare like with like.
- Agency and travel LPN jobs pay more per hour but usually come with fewer benefits.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025. Occupation: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (SOC 29-2061). Figures cover wage and salary workers and don't include bonuses, benefits or overtime.