LPN / LVN salary calculator
Annualize your licensed practical or vocational nurse base pay against May 2025 BLS LPN/LVN wages, then compare top state medians and the SNF, hospital, and home-health settings where most LPNs work.
BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 29-2061 · About 651,400 employed · Inputs stay in your browser
Ready when you are
Your benchmark will appear here
Enter your LPN or LVN base pay to see an annual estimate, national percentile, and the latest wage range. Inputs stay in your browser.
Know the LPN/LVN range. Then shop roles that fit.
After you place your base pay against national LPN/LVN wages, browse openings that match your license, setting, and schedule.
LPN / LVN pay context
One BLS series for LPN and LVN titles
This calculator uses the BLS Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses occupation (SOC 29-2061). That series covers both LPN and LVN titles as one national wage distribution. It is not an RN or nursing assistant table.
- About 651,400 LPNs/LVNs were employed in 2024, with roughly 54,400 openings projected each year through 2034 (3% growth).
- Washington's median ($83,150) sits well above the national median of $64,400.
- Checking a multistate move? Use the compact nursing states checker; the Nurse Licensure Compact covers LPN/VN licenses as well as RN.
- CNAs should use the CNA salary calculator. RNs should use the RN salary calculator.
The national picture
LPN / LVN salary range
BLS wage percentiles for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses across industries in the United States. Benchmarks only, not recommended rates or guarantees.
| Percentile | Hourly wage | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23.91 | $49,740 |
| 25th | $28.37 | $59,000 |
| 50th | $30.96 | $64,400 |
| 75th | $36.55 | $76,030 |
| 90th | $40.12 | $83,440 |
Pay by geography
Highest-paying LPN / LVN states
Top published state median wages compared with the national median of $64,400. West Coast and several high-cost states lead this set.
| State | Median annual | 10th | 90th | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $83,150 | $64,230 | $100,950 | +29.1% vs national |
| Oregon | $80,470 | $64,000 | $98,990 | +25% vs national |
| Massachusetts | $80,220 | $61,690 | $93,980 | +24.6% vs national |
| California | $79,750 | $64,390 | $100,450 | +23.8% vs national |
| Arizona | $77,070 | $61,050 | $89,850 | +19.7% vs national |
| Nevada | $76,160 | $61,750 | $89,420 | +18.3% vs national |
| New Jersey | $75,160 | $63,210 | $85,400 | +16.7% vs national |
| Illinois | $75,000 | $58,880 | $89,810 | +16.5% vs national |
| Maryland | $74,660 | $60,720 | $90,010 | +15.9% vs national |
| Colorado | $73,880 | $50,820 | $84,440 | +14.7% vs national |
Large-market contrast
Busy states are not always top-pay states
Texas and Florida are major LPN/LVN employment markets, but their May 2025 medians sit near or below the national figure. Use these rows when an offer looks "average" nationally but the state table tells a different story.
| State | Median annual | 10th | 90th | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $67,180 | $54,480 | $81,530 | +4.3% vs national |
| Michigan | $65,460 | $56,160 | $77,780 | +1.6% vs national |
| Pennsylvania | $63,940 | $51,500 | $77,750 | -0.7% vs national |
| North Carolina | $63,270 | $50,480 | $74,730 | -1.8% vs national |
| Texas | $62,240 | $48,910 | $76,140 | -3.4% vs national |
| Florida | $61,770 | $50,450 | $74,320 | -4.1% vs national |
| Alabama | $57,030 | $39,880 | $69,120 | -11.4% vs national |
Where LPNs work
Employer mix for LPN / LVN jobs
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook shares for 2024 employment. Nursing and residential care is the largest bucket, so SNF and long-term-care offers dominate many LPN searches.
| Setting | Share of employment |
|---|---|
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 37% |
| Hospitals (state, local, and private) | 16% |
| Home healthcare services | 12% |
| Offices of physicians | 12% |
Pay by setting
LPN / LVN median wages by industry
May 2024 industry medians from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. These are older than the May 2025 national calculator median ($64,400) and are shown for setting comparison, not as a replacement for the calculator.
| Industry | Median annual (May 2024) |
|---|---|
| Government (excl. state/local education and hospitals) | $66,370 |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | $64,170 |
| Home healthcare services | $61,300 |
| Hospitals (state, local, and private) | $59,200 |
| Offices of physicians | $57,660 |
How the math works
Transparent by design
- 1
Annualize your LPN/LVN base pay
Hourly pay is multiplied by hours per week and weeks per year. Weekly uses weeks per year; monthly uses 12 months.
- 2
Place it on the LPN/LVN BLS vector
We compare annualized pay with published LPN/LVN percentiles for SOC 29-2061.
- 3
Label the approximation
Gaps between published points use linear interpolation. Outside the 10th-90th range, results are labeled only as below or above the published threshold. State and industry tables are separate context, not calculator inputs.
Primary sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (29-2061), May 2025. Published May 15, 2026; verified August 11, 2026. Employer shares and industry medians: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2024 industry wages; 2024 employment).
Common questions
LPN / LVN salary FAQ
How much do LPNs and LVNs make?
The national median annual wage for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses was $64,400 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half earned less and half earned more. Washington's median was $83,150 in this tool's top-state set, while several southern markets publish lower medians. Setting (SNF, hospital, home health) and differentials also move take-home pay.
Is LPN the same as LVN for this calculator?
Yes for BLS wages. The OEWS series Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (SOC 29-2061) covers both titles. LVN is used mainly in California and Texas; LPN is used in most other states. This page uses one national occupation table for both.
Which states pay LPNs and LVNs the most?
Among published May 2025 state medians in this tool's top-ten set, the highest are Washington ($83,150), Oregon ($80,470), Massachusetts ($80,220), California ($79,750), and Arizona ($77,070). Large markets like Texas and Florida sit closer to or below the national median.
Where do most LPNs and LVNs work?
According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, about 37% worked in nursing and residential care facilities, 16% in hospitals, 12% in home healthcare services, and 12% in offices of physicians (2024 employment). Industry median wages in the OOH table are May 2024 figures and can differ from the May 2025 national calculator median.
How is my LPN/LVN salary percentile estimated?
The calculator annualizes the base pay and schedule you enter, then linearly interpolates between the BLS 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile wage thresholds for SOC 29-2061. Values outside that published range are labeled only as below the 10th or above the 90th threshold. State and industry tables below are separate benchmarks, not calculator inputs.
Should RNs or CNAs use this page?
RNs should use the RN salary calculator (SOC 29-1141). Nursing assistants and CNAs should use the CNA salary calculator (SOC 31-1131). This page is only for LPN/LVN occupation wages.
Does the comparison include overtime, bonuses, or benefits?
No. Enter base pay only. The comparison excludes overtime, shift differentials, stipends, insurance, retirement contributions, and other benefits.
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