SOC 29-2061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses — Boston
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Boston, MA is $82,190 per year, well above the national median of $64,400.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Boston, MA is $82,190 per year, well above the national median of $64,400. The gap of 27.6% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $61,680 at the tenth percentile to more than $94,110 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $75,050 to $87,070.
Employment stands at 8,410, or 3.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Barnstable Town leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $81,250. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 259th of 687 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,680 | −4.2% |
| 25th | $75,050 | +16.5% |
| Median (50th) | $82,190 | +27.6% |
| 75th | $87,070 | +35.2% |
| 90th | $94,110 | +46.1% |
| Mean | $80,770 | +25.4% |
Other metro areas in Massachusetts
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnstable Town | $81,250 | 370 | |
| 2 | Worcester | $79,060 | 2,030 | |
| 3 | Pittsfield | $78,480 | 380 | |
| 4 | Amherst Town | $78,080 | 220 | |
| 5 | Springfield | $77,850 | 920 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Boston run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $82,190 buys what $77,684 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 20.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$82,190as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$77,684US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $82,190 a year, 27.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $61,680 to $94,110 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 8,410 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Barnstable Town, at $81,250.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Boston, MA?
The median annual wage is $82,190, or $39.52 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $64,400, so pay in Boston, MA is 27.6% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Boston, MA earns more than $94,110 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $61,680 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Barnstable Town, at $81,250 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 8,410 jobs in this occupation in Boston, MA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. 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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