Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (SOC 29-2061) earn a median $64,400 a year ($30.96 an hour) in the United States, with 648,410 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses do
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses care for ill, injured or convalescing patients and persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes and similar institutions, and may work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing is required. They observe patients, chart and report changes such as adverse reactions to medication, and measure and record vital signs including height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration. They give prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on the chart, and provide basic care such as dressing wounds, treating bedsores, performing catheterizations and massaging. They answer patients' calls and decide how to help, supervise nurses' aides or assistants, and evaluate the outcomes of nursing interventions. As part of the healthcare team they assess needs, plan and modify care and carry out interventions. O*NET alternate titles include clinic nurse, home health LPN, private duty nurse, office nurse and charge nurse. Respondents are spread across some college courses, postsecondary certificates and associate degrees.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report some college coursework as the typical level of education for this occupation (38 percent).
Also called: Charge Nurse, Clinic Licensed Practical Nurse (Clinic LPN), Clinic Nurse, Home Health Licensed Practical Nurse (Home Health LPN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $23.91 | $28.37 | $30.96 | $36.55 | $40.12 | $32.24 | 648,410 |
| Annual | $49,740 | $59,000 | $64,400 | $76,030 | $83,440 | $67,050 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $30.88 | $36.98 | $39.98 | $45.18 | $48.54 | $40.34 | 6,780 | 1.91 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $64,230 | $76,920 | $83,150 | $93,970 | $100,950 | $83,900 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $30.00 | $33.89 | $38.85 | $42.01 | $46.49 | $38.46 | 290 | 0.88 | 0.21 |
| Annual | $62,400 | $70,490 | $80,800 | $87,380 | $96,700 | $80,000 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $30.77 | $35.11 | $38.69 | $43.60 | $47.59 | $39.15 | 4,260 | 2.17 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $64,000 | $73,040 | $80,470 | $90,690 | $98,990 | $81,420 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $29.66 | $34.91 | $38.57 | $40.66 | $45.19 | $38.11 | 13,210 | 3.63 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $61,690 | $72,610 | $80,220 | $84,570 | $93,980 | $79,270 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $31.56 | $37.45 | $38.51 | $39.02 | $45.45 | $38.52 | 1,290 | 2.57 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $65,650 | $77,890 | $80,090 | $81,170 | $94,540 | $80,120 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $30.96 | $35.98 | $38.34 | $45.06 | $48.29 | $39.59 | 82,850 | 4.55 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $64,390 | $74,840 | $79,750 | $93,720 | $100,450 | $82,340 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $23.52 | $27.46 | $29.92 | $32.89 | $36.61 | $30.18 | 57,560 | 4.09 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $48,910 | $57,110 | $62,240 | $68,410 | $76,140 | $62,770 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $24.05 | $27.34 | $29.78 | $31.68 | $35.64 | $29.82 | 39,900 | 7.19 | 1.72 |
| Annual | $50,030 | $56,860 | $61,950 | $65,900 | $74,120 | $62,020 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $26.19 | $29.52 | $32.30 | $37.00 | $39.20 | $33.26 | 39,400 | 4.07 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $54,480 | $61,400 | $67,180 | $76,960 | $81,530 | $69,170 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $24.25 | $28.14 | $29.70 | $31.11 | $35.73 | $29.88 | 38,620 | 3.89 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $50,450 | $58,540 | $61,770 | $64,710 | $74,320 | $62,150 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $37.17 | $40.39 | $45.83 | $48.53 | $54.44 | $45.40 | 3,290 | 2.90 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $77,320 | $84,000 | $95,320 | $100,950 | $113,220 | $94,420 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $36.49 | $39.25 | $45.34 | $50.05 | $52.46 | $44.94 | 8,800 | 3.71 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $75,900 | $81,650 | $94,310 | $104,110 | $109,120 | $93,470 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $35.71 | $37.95 | $44.51 | $48.00 | $53.03 | $43.50 | 870 | 4.22 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $74,280 | $78,930 | $92,580 | $99,830 | $110,300 | $90,480 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $33.84 | $38.73 | $41.20 | $46.45 | $49.67 | $42.00 | 3,470 | 1.67 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $70,380 | $80,560 | $85,690 | $96,620 | $103,310 | $87,360 | ||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $33.05 | $37.42 | $41.07 | $47.82 | $51.20 | $42.30 | 870 | 6.02 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $68,730 | $77,830 | $85,430 | $99,460 | $106,490 | $87,980 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $30.87 | $35.51 | $38.13 | $44.68 | $46.46 | $38.85 | 33,590 | 5.36 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $64,200 | $73,860 | $79,310 | $92,930 | $96,630 | $80,810 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $30.08 | $32.20 | $36.50 | $38.44 | $42.03 | $36.07 | 32,410 | 3.42 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $62,570 | $66,970 | $75,910 | $79,940 | $87,420 | $75,020 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $29.14 | $30.93 | $34.00 | $36.69 | $38.31 | $34.09 | 15,920 | 5.49 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $60,620 | $64,340 | $70,710 | $76,300 | $79,690 | $70,900 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $25.93 | $29.40 | $30.95 | $34.68 | $37.32 | $31.78 | 12,590 | 3.11 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $53,930 | $61,160 | $64,370 | $72,130 | $77,620 | $66,110 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $29.90 | $35.03 | $37.54 | $38.98 | $46.41 | $37.22 | 11,420 | 2.53 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $62,200 | $72,860 | $78,070 | $81,080 | $96,530 | $77,430 | ||||
Top industries employing licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) employ 29.0% of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses nationally (188,210 jobs) at a median $70,430 a year ($33.86 an hour), followed by General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (13.8%) and Home Health Care Services (12.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) NAICS 623100 | 188,210 | 29.0% | $70,430 | $33.86 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 89,620 | 13.8% | $60,590 | $29.13 |
| Home Health Care Services NAICS 621600 | 80,990 | 12.5% | $63,580 | $30.57 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 69,250 | 10.7% | $59,520 | $28.62 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly NAICS 623300 | 44,100 | 6.8% | $65,710 | $31.59 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (648,410). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,070 for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in May 2021 and $64,400 in May 2025, with employment of 641,240 and 648,410.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,070 | $23.11 | 641,240 |
| May 2022 | $54,620 | $26.26 | 632,020 |
| May 2023 | $59,730 | $28.72 | 630,250 |
| May 2024 | $62,340 | $29.97 | 632,430 |
| May 2025 | $64,400 | $30.96 | 648,410 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $39.98 | $83,150 | $64,230 | $100,950 | 6,780 | 1.91 | 0.46 |
| 2 | Alaska profile | $38.85 | $80,800 | $62,400 | $96,700 | 290 | 0.88 | 0.21 |
| 3 | Oregon profile | $38.69 | $80,470 | $64,000 | $98,990 | 4,260 | 2.17 | 0.52 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $38.57 | $80,220 | $61,690 | $93,980 | 13,210 | 3.63 | 0.87 |
| 5 | Rhode Island profile | $38.51 | $80,090 | $65,650 | $94,540 | 1,290 | 2.57 | 0.62 |
| 6 | California profile | $38.34 | $79,750 | $64,390 | $100,450 | 82,850 | 4.55 | 1.09 |
| 7 | New Hampshire profile | $37.07 | $77,110 | $59,860 | $93,660 | 2,220 | 3.25 | 0.78 |
| 8 | Arizona profile | $37.05 | $77,070 | $61,050 | $89,850 | 6,530 | 2.02 | 0.48 |
| 9 | Nevada profile | $36.62 | $76,160 | $61,750 | $89,420 | 3,350 | 2.16 | 0.52 |
| 10 | District of Columbia profile | $36.42 | $75,740 | $62,880 | $87,470 | 1,040 | 1.48 | 0.36 |
| 11 | New Jersey profile | $36.13 | $75,160 | $63,210 | $85,400 | 17,410 | 4.06 | 0.97 |
| 12 | Illinois profile | $36.06 | $75,000 | $58,880 | $89,810 | 17,440 | 2.86 | 0.69 |
| 13 | Maryland profile | $35.89 | $74,660 | $60,720 | $90,010 | 9,560 | 3.46 | 0.83 |
| 14 | Colorado profile | $35.52 | $73,880 | $50,820 | $84,440 | 4,920 | 1.71 | 0.41 |
| 15 | Connecticut profile | $35.43 | $73,690 | $62,610 | $81,060 | 8,540 | 5.03 | 1.21 |
| 16 | Maine profile | $35.19 | $73,200 | $56,160 | $82,600 | 760 | 1.18 | 0.28 |
| 17 | Hawaii profile | $34.20 | $71,140 | $59,620 | $88,340 | 840 | 1.33 | 0.32 |
| 18 | Vermont profile | $33.62 | $69,930 | $50,230 | $84,710 | 1,130 | 3.72 | 0.89 |
| 19 | Delaware profile | $33.03 | $68,710 | $59,210 | $77,580 | 2,240 | 4.62 | 1.11 |
| 20 | New York profile | $32.30 | $67,180 | $54,480 | $81,530 | 39,400 | 4.07 | 0.98 |
| 21 | Indiana profile | $31.60 | $65,720 | $50,550 | $77,220 | 14,480 | 4.52 | 1.08 |
| 22 | Michigan profile | $31.47 | $65,460 | $56,160 | $77,780 | 10,880 | 2.47 | 0.59 |
| 23 | Virginia profile | $31.21 | $64,920 | $50,580 | $79,170 | 15,550 | 3.78 | 0.91 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania profile | $30.74 | $63,940 | $51,500 | $77,750 | 38,260 | 6.31 | 1.51 |
| 25 | Idaho profile | $30.67 | $63,800 | $47,890 | $77,850 | 1,880 | 2.20 | 0.53 |
| 26 | Wisconsin profile | $30.65 | $63,760 | $51,820 | $78,490 | 7,390 | 2.51 | 0.60 |
| 27 | Minnesota profile | $30.65 | $63,750 | $51,700 | $77,380 | 12,840 | 4.35 | 1.04 |
| 28 | Wyoming profile | $30.51 | $63,460 | $46,700 | $77,000 | 480 | 1.69 | 0.41 |
| 29 | North Carolina profile | $30.42 | $63,270 | $50,480 | $74,730 | 18,010 | 3.64 | 0.87 |
| 30 | Utah profile | $30.40 | $63,230 | $37,480 | $77,540 | 1,680 | 0.97 | 0.23 |
| 31 | Nebraska profile | $30.13 | $62,660 | $50,890 | $77,940 | 4,580 | 4.47 | 1.07 |
| 32 | Iowa profile | $30.11 | $62,630 | $50,550 | $77,710 | 5,510 | 3.54 | 0.85 |
| 33 | North Dakota profile | $29.95 | $62,300 | $50,950 | $74,130 | 1,920 | 4.46 | 1.07 |
| 34 | Texas profile | $29.92 | $62,240 | $48,910 | $76,140 | 57,560 | 4.09 | 0.98 |
| 35 | Montana profile | $29.91 | $62,210 | $49,230 | $74,330 | 1,620 | 3.16 | 0.76 |
| 36 | Georgia profile | $29.82 | $62,030 | $46,010 | $76,690 | 21,060 | 4.31 | 1.03 |
| 37 | Ohio profile | $29.78 | $61,950 | $50,030 | $74,120 | 39,900 | 7.19 | 1.72 |
| 38 | South Carolina profile | $29.72 | $61,820 | $50,370 | $76,420 | 9,400 | 4.08 | 0.98 |
| 39 | Florida profile | $29.70 | $61,770 | $50,450 | $74,320 | 38,620 | 3.89 | 0.93 |
| 40 | Kansas profile | $29.69 | $61,760 | $49,780 | $77,290 | 7,530 | 5.24 | 1.26 |
| 41 | Missouri profile | $29.58 | $61,530 | $48,580 | $77,120 | 14,700 | 5.01 | 1.20 |
| 42 | Kentucky profile | $29.07 | $60,460 | $48,420 | $73,220 | 8,570 | 4.28 | 1.03 |
| 43 | New Mexico profile | $28.52 | $59,330 | $38,090 | $78,110 | 2,460 | 2.83 | 0.68 |
| 44 | Tennessee profile | $28.31 | $58,870 | $41,110 | $67,540 | 20,830 | 6.35 | 1.52 |
| 45 | Oklahoma profile | $28.04 | $58,320 | $45,440 | $66,410 | 11,540 | 6.76 | 1.62 |
| 46 | Louisiana profile | $27.63 | $57,470 | $45,810 | $66,150 | 17,600 | 9.10 | 2.18 |
| 47 | Alabama profile | $27.42 | $57,030 | $39,880 | $69,120 | 11,580 | 5.48 | 1.31 |
| 48 | Arkansas profile | $27.22 | $56,620 | $44,670 | $65,020 | 10,010 | 7.68 | 1.84 |
| 49 | West Virginia profile | $26.61 | $55,360 | $45,690 | $70,960 | 6,050 | 8.62 | 2.07 |
| 50 | South Dakota profile | $25.36 | $52,750 | $40,770 | $67,700 | 2,050 | 4.49 | 1.08 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $24.14 | $50,220 | $39,320 | $60,910 | 9,850 | 8.47 | 2.03 |
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-2061 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-2061, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-2061.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.