How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse make?
The median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse in the United States earns $64,400 per year, about $30.96 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 29-2061.
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary range
Pay for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $49,740 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $83,440. The average (mean) wage of $67,050 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,740 | $23.91 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $59,000 | $28.37 | |
| Median (50th) | $64,400 | $30.96 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $76,030 | $36.55 | |
| 90th percentile | $83,440 | $40.12 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (SOC 29-2061), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn the most in Washington at $83,150 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $50,220. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $83,150 | 6,780 |
| Alaska | $80,800 | 290 |
| Oregon | $80,470 | 4,260 |
| Massachusetts | $80,220 | 13,210 |
| Rhode Island | $80,090 | 1,290 |
| California | $79,750 | 82,850 |
| New Hampshire | $77,110 | 2,220 |
| Arizona | $77,070 | 6,530 |
| Nevada | $76,160 | 3,350 |
| District of Columbia | $75,740 | 1,040 |
| New Jersey | $75,160 | 17,410 |
| Illinois | $75,000 | 17,440 |
| Maryland | $74,660 | 9,560 |
| Colorado | $73,880 | 4,920 |
| Connecticut | $73,690 | 8,540 |
| Maine | $73,200 | 760 |
| Hawaii | $71,140 | 840 |
| Vermont | $69,930 | 1,130 |
| Delaware | $68,710 | 2,240 |
| New York | $67,180 | 39,400 |
| Indiana | $65,720 | 14,480 |
| Michigan | $65,460 | 10,880 |
| Virginia | $64,920 | 15,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,940 | 38,260 |
| Idaho | $63,800 | 1,880 |
| Wisconsin | $63,760 | 7,390 |
| Minnesota | $63,750 | 12,840 |
| Wyoming | $63,460 | 480 |
| North Carolina | $63,270 | 18,010 |
| Utah | $63,230 | 1,680 |
| Nebraska | $62,660 | 4,580 |
| Iowa | $62,630 | 5,510 |
| North Dakota | $62,300 | 1,920 |
| Texas | $62,240 | 57,560 |
| Montana | $62,210 | 1,620 |
| Georgia | $62,030 | 21,060 |
| Ohio | $61,950 | 39,900 |
| South Carolina | $61,820 | 9,400 |
| Florida | $61,770 | 38,620 |
| Kansas | $61,760 | 7,530 |
| Missouri | $61,530 | 14,700 |
| Kentucky | $60,460 | 8,570 |
| New Mexico | $59,330 | 2,460 |
| Tennessee | $58,870 | 20,830 |
| Oklahoma | $58,320 | 11,540 |
| Louisiana | $57,470 | 17,600 |
| Alabama | $57,030 | 11,580 |
| Arkansas | $56,620 | 10,010 |
| West Virginia | $55,360 | 6,050 |
| South Dakota | $52,750 | 2,050 |
| Mississippi | $50,220 | 9,850 |
State median wages for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (SOC 29-2061), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
The BLS projects employment of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 666,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 686,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 51,800 openings a year for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse
The typical entry-level education for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $83,150) and the lowest (Mississippi, $50,220) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 648,410 people work as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in the United States. At $64,400 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary FAQ
How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse is $30.96. The middle half of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn between $28.37 and $36.55 per hour.
What is the highest licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn more than $83,440 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse make a year?
The median annual salary for a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse is $64,400. The average (mean) wage of $67,050 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse a well paid job?
At $64,400 a year, a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 648,410 people work as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in the United States.
Which state pays licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses at $83,150 a year. Alaska ($80,800) and Oregon ($80,470) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse a good career?
Employment of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 51,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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