Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$49,740
- 25th Percentile — Junior$59,000
- 50th Percentile — Median$64,400
- 75th Percentile — Senior$76,030
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$83,440
The top 10% of Licensed Practical Nurses earn $83,440 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $49,740, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $83,900 | +25.1% |
| California | $82,340 | +22.8% |
| Oregon | $81,420 | +21.4% |
| Rhode Island | $80,120 | +19.5% |
| Alaska | $80,000 | +19.3% |
| Massachusetts | $79,270 | +18.2% |
| New Hampshire | $76,570 | +14.2% |
| Arizona | $76,120 | +13.5% |
| New Jersey | $74,600 | +11.3% |
| Nevada | $74,470 | +11.1% |
| Maryland | $74,170 | +10.6% |
| District of Columbia | $74,030 | +10.4% |
| Illinois | $73,430 | +9.5% |
| Connecticut | $72,580 | +8.2% |
| Maine | $72,110 | +7.5% |
| Hawaii | $71,560 | +6.7% |
| Colorado | $70,820 | +5.6% |
| Vermont | $70,110 | +4.6% |
| Delaware | $69,500 | +3.7% |
| New York | $69,170 | +3.2% |
| Michigan | $67,340 | +0.4% |
| Virginia | $66,300 | -1.1% |
| Pennsylvania | $65,930 | -1.7% |
| Wisconsin | $65,870 | -1.8% |
| Indiana | $65,840 | -1.8% |
| Minnesota | $64,900 | -3.2% |
| Nebraska | $64,560 | -3.7% |
| Idaho | $63,860 | -4.8% |
| North Carolina | $63,720 | -5.0% |
| Iowa | $63,420 | -5.4% |
| Wyoming | $63,300 | -5.6% |
| South Carolina | $63,170 | -5.8% |
| Texas | $62,770 | -6.4% |
| Kansas | $62,660 | -6.5% |
| Missouri | $62,410 | -6.9% |
| Montana | $62,350 | -7.0% |
| North Dakota | $62,230 | -7.2% |
| Florida | $62,150 | -7.3% |
| Utah | $62,110 | -7.4% |
| Ohio | $62,020 | -7.5% |
| Georgia | $61,640 | -8.1% |
| Kentucky | $60,460 | -9.8% |
| New Mexico | $58,630 | -12.6% |
| Oklahoma | $56,800 | -15.3% |
| Louisiana | $56,590 | -15.6% |
| Tennessee | $56,470 | -15.8% |
| West Virginia | $56,190 | -16.2% |
| Arkansas | $55,690 | -16.9% |
| Alabama | $55,310 | -17.5% |
| South Dakota | $54,990 | -18.0% |
| Mississippi | $51,450 | -23.3% |
What Factors Affect Licensed Practical Nurses Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Licensed Practical Nurses is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: Washington pays an average of $83,900, while Mississippi pays $51,450 — a gap of $32,450 per year.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Licensed Practical Nurses typically earn $49,740–$59,000 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $76,030–$83,440 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Licensed Practical Nurses role currently has very high demand in the job market with a 4.2% growth rate, making it one of the most growing careers in the Healthcare sector.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Related career salary benchmarks
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Licensed Practical Nurses?
The average salary for Licensed Practical Nurses in the United States is $67,050 per year, with a median of $64,400.
What is the starting salary for Licensed Practical Nurses?
Entry-level Licensed Practical Nurses typically earn between $49,740 and $59,000 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Licensed Practical Nurses the most?
Washington pays Licensed Practical Nurses the most at $83,900 per year on average, followed by California ($82,340) and Oregon ($81,420).
How much do Licensed Practical Nurses make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $67,050, Licensed Practical Nurses earn approximately $32.24 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Licensed Practical Nurses a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 648,410 Licensed Practical Nurses jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $67,050 and a median of $64,400 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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