SOC 29-2061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses — Durham
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Durham, NC is $66,950 per year, close to the national median of $64,400 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Durham, NC is $66,950 per year, close to the national median of $64,400 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $50,190 at the tenth percentile to more than $76,190 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $62,700 to $73,070.
Employment stands at 960, or 2.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Asheville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $65,470. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 167th of 453 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,190 | −22.1% |
| 25th | $62,700 | −2.6% |
| Median (50th) | $66,950 | +4.0% |
| 75th | $73,070 | +13.5% |
| 90th | $76,190 | +18.3% |
| Mean | $66,820 | +3.8% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asheville | $65,470 | 860 | |
| 2 | Charlotte | $65,140 | 3,890 | |
| 3 | Fayetteville | $64,670 | 980 | |
| 4 | Raleigh | $64,080 | 1,740 | |
| 5 | Greensboro | $63,610 | 1,470 | |
| 6 | Burlington | $63,450 | 260 | |
| 7 | Wilmington | $63,390 | 790 | |
| 8 | Winston-Salem | $62,970 | 1,330 | |
| 9 | Hickory | $62,430 | 740 | |
| 10 | Rocky Mount | $62,080 | 200 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Durham run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $66,950 goes as far as $70,997 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$66,950as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$70,997US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $66,950 a year, 4.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $50,190 to $76,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 960 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Asheville, at $65,470.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Durham, NC?
The median annual wage is $66,950, or $32.19 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 Durham, NC is 4.0% 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 Durham, NC earns more than $76,190 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $50,190 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 Asheville, at $65,470 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 960 jobs in this occupation in Durham, NC. 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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