Licensed Practical Nurses Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$64,390
- 25th Percentile — Junior$74,840
- 50th Percentile — Median$79,750
- 75th Percentile — Senior$93,720
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$100,450
Half of Licensed Practical Nurses in California earn more than $79,750. The top 10% make $100,450 or more, while entry-level workers start around $64,390.
Licensed Practical Nurses in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 2nd of 51 states for Licensed Practical Nurses pay, at $82,340 per year (22.8% above the U.S. average of $67,050).
- 82,850 people work as Licensed Practical Nurses in California — 12.8% of all U.S. Licensed Practical Nurses jobs.
- Location quotient 1.09: Licensed Practical Nurses jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $64,390; the top 10% earn over $100,450.
- Hourly equivalent: $39.59 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Washington at $83,900.
- Among healthcare jobs in California, Psychiatrists pays the most ($315,380).
Licensed Practical Nurses Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Licensed Practical Nurses here earn $82,340 on average, placing the state 2nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $82,340 is roughly equivalent to $57,986 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Washington ($83,900), Oregon ($81,420), Rhode Island ($80,120) are the closest alternatives for Licensed Practical Nurses weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Psychiatrists $315,380/yr California +283.0% vs this role
- Radiologists $309,990/yr California +276.5% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $283,780/yr California +244.6% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $273,270/yr California +231.9% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $272,520/yr California +231.0% vs this role
- Surgeons All Other $255,620/yr California +210.4% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $252,930/yr California +207.2% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $249,620/yr California +203.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Licensed Practical Nurses salary in California?
The average Licensed Practical Nurses salary in California is $82,340 per year (median $79,750), which is 22.8% above the national average of $67,050.
How does California rank for Licensed Practical Nurses pay?
California ranks 2nd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Washington ($83,900/yr).
How much do entry-level Licensed Practical Nurses make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Licensed Practical Nurses in California earn about $64,390 per year and the 25th percentile is $74,840.
How much do Licensed Practical Nurses make per hour in California?
About $39.59 per hour, based on the $82,340 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Licensed Practical Nurses work in California?
BLS counts 82,850 Licensed Practical Nurses jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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