SOC 29-2061 · May 2025 · United States
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses across the United States is $64,400 per year, measured over 648,410 jobs. The highest state median is in Washington, at $83,150.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to grow about as fast as average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +2.6%
- Openings per year
- 54,400
- Typical entry-level education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Pay for this occupation varies by 65.6% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Washington pays $83,150 and Mississippi pays $50,220.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $83,150 | 6,780 | |
| 2 | Alaska | $80,800 | 290 | |
| 3 | Oregon | $80,470 | 4,260 | |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $80,220 | 13,210 | |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $80,090 | 1,290 | |
| 6 | California | $79,750 | 82,850 | |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $77,110 | 2,220 | |
| 8 | Arizona | $77,070 | 6,530 | |
| 9 | Nevada | $76,160 | 3,350 | |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $75,740 | 1,040 |
States with the most Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 82,850 | $79,750 | |
| 2 | Texas | 57,560 | $62,240 | |
| 3 | Ohio | 39,900 | $61,950 | |
| 4 | New York | 39,400 | $67,180 | |
| 5 | Florida | 38,620 | $61,770 | |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 38,260 | $63,940 | |
| 7 | Georgia | 21,060 | $62,030 | |
| 8 | Tennessee | 20,830 | $58,870 | |
| 9 | North Carolina | 18,010 | $63,270 | |
| 10 | Louisiana | 17,600 | $57,470 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $95,320 | 3,290 |
| 2 | San Francisco | $94,310 | 8,800 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $92,580 | 870 |
| 4 | Seattle | $85,690 | 3,470 |
| 5 | Vallejo | $85,430 | 870 |
| 6 | Mount Vernon | $83,940 | 120 |
| 7 | Napa | $83,690 | 280 |
| 8 | Portland | $83,510 | 2,250 |
| 9 | Bend | $83,260 | 150 |
| 10 | Grants Pass | $82,410 | 120 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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