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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse Salary

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earn a median $64,400 a year nationally. Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

U.S. median
$64,400
$30.96 per hour
Range
$49,740 – $83,440
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
648,410
across the U.S.
▲3.3%
Pay trend: The median for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in the U.S. rose from $62,340 (May 2024) to $64,400 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 0.9%.

What licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses do

Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

Typical education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
None
Job outlook, 2025–35
+3.0% (about average)
Openings per year
51,800

Employment of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is projected to grow 3.0% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 51,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$53,925
per year · effective tax rate 16.3%
$4,494Monthly
$2,247Twice a month
$2,074Every 2 weeks
$25.93Hourly
  • Federal income tax$5,548
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,993
  • Medicare (1.45%)$934
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$53,925

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$49,740$23.91$42,146
25th percentile$59,000$28.37$49,587
Median (50th)$64,400$30.96$53,925
75th percentile$76,030$36.55$62,317
90th percentile (top earners)$83,440$40.12$67,530

Best cities for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1San Jose, CA$95,320$70,013$63,4053,290
2Seattle, WA$85,690$69,113$62,1893,470
3Las Vegas, NV$75,920$62,240$62,1062,600
4Providence, RI$78,990$62,054$60,9732,540
5San Francisco, CA$94,310$69,410$60,0368,800
6Phoenix, AZ$78,080$62,016$60,0264,450
7Boston, MA$82,190$62,761$57,9698,410
8Chicago, IL$78,070$60,033$57,94911,420
9Sacramento, CA$81,570$61,798$57,9334,760
10Fresno, CA$75,580$58,184$56,9552,360
11Indianapolis, IN$67,200$54,152$56,5884,230
12Denver, CO$75,810$59,535$56,2812,700
13Hartford, CT$72,800$57,616$56,0763,010
14Kansas City, MO$64,420$51,851$56,0294,570
15Cleveland, OH$63,900$52,549$55,9496,720
16Baltimore, MD$74,860$58,302$55,7985,120
17Louisville, KY$64,460$51,835$55,6922,850
18Riverside, CA$76,970$59,032$55,4608,200
19Cincinnati, OH$64,180$52,766$55,3286,400
20Austin, TX$64,580$54,070$55,1363,620
21San Antonio, TX$62,280$52,222$55,1355,970
22St. Louis, MO$65,120$52,381$55,0865,180
23Philadelphia, PA$70,710$56,404$54,99915,920
24Dayton, OH$61,770$50,896$54,9073,140
25Detroit, MI$69,300$54,888$54,7254,540

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Washington $83,150+4.3%$67,326 $64,230 – $100,9506,780
Alaska $80,800+4.0%$65,673 $62,400 – $96,700290
Oregon $80,470+5.1%$59,229 $64,000 – $98,9904,260
Massachusetts $80,220+4.8%$61,474 $61,690 – $93,98013,210
Rhode Island $80,090+2.8%$62,787 $65,650 – $94,5401,290
California $79,750+3.3%$60,710 $64,390 – $100,45082,850
New Hampshire $77,110+3.3%$63,077 $59,860 – $93,6602,220
Arizona $77,070+4.1%$61,331 $61,050 – $89,8506,530
Nevada $76,160+3.2%$62,409 $61,750 – $89,4203,350
District of Columbia $75,740+7.6%$58,636 $62,880 – $87,4701,040
New Jersey $75,160+5.6%$59,100 $63,210 – $85,40017,410
Illinois $75,000+13.6%$58,025 $58,880 – $89,81017,440
Maryland $74,660+6.9%$58,171 $60,720 – $90,0109,560
Colorado $73,880+9.5%$58,262 $50,820 – $84,4404,920
Connecticut $73,690+6.6%$58,193 $62,610 – $81,0608,540
Maine $73,200+3.3%$56,567 $56,160 – $82,600760
Hawaii $71,140+8.5%$55,000 $59,620 – $88,340840
Vermont $69,930+8.3%$55,871 $50,230 – $84,7101,130
Delaware $68,710+4.0%$53,974 $59,210 – $77,5802,240
New York $67,180+4.9%$53,060 $54,480 – $81,53039,400
Indiana $65,720+3.2%$53,077 $50,550 – $77,22014,480
Michigan $65,460+2.6%$52,246 $56,160 – $77,78010,880
Virginia $64,920+4.2%$51,424 $50,580 – $79,17015,550
Pennsylvania $63,940+3.1%$51,593 $51,500 – $77,75038,260
Idaho $63,800+3.4%$51,170 $47,890 – $77,8501,880
Wisconsin $63,760+4.5%$51,387 $51,820 – $78,4907,390
Minnesota $63,750+4.7%$50,592 $51,700 – $77,38012,840
Wyoming $63,460+2.6%$53,170 $46,700 – $77,000480
North Carolina $63,270+3.1%$51,002 $50,480 – $74,73018,010
Utah $63,230+2.5%$51,106 $37,480 – $77,5401,680
Nebraska $62,660+3.2%$50,556 $50,890 – $77,9404,580
Iowa $62,630+5.3%$50,775 $50,550 – $77,7105,510
North Dakota $62,300+2.4%$52,238 $50,950 – $74,1301,920
Texas $62,240+3.5%$52,190 $48,910 – $76,14057,560
Montana $62,210+4.1%$49,999 $49,230 – $74,3301,620
Georgia $62,030+6.1%$49,425 $46,010 – $76,69021,060
Ohio $61,950+1.6%$51,036 $50,030 – $74,12039,900
South Carolina $61,820+4.7%$49,300 $50,370 – $76,4209,400
Florida $61,770+2.8%$51,812 $50,450 – $74,32038,620
Kansas $61,760+3.1%$49,158 $49,780 – $77,2907,530
Missouri $61,530+4.2%$49,665 $48,580 – $77,12014,700
Kentucky $60,460+3.4%$48,761 $48,420 – $73,2208,570
New Mexico $59,330−2.4%$48,229 $38,090 – $78,1102,460
Tennessee $58,870+8.0%$49,482 $41,110 – $67,54020,830
Oklahoma $58,320+4.4%$46,961 $45,440 – $66,41011,540
Louisiana $57,470+6.6%$47,019 $45,810 – $66,15017,600
Alabama $57,030+13.8%$45,417 $39,880 – $69,12011,580
Arkansas $56,620+11.0%$45,679 $44,670 – $65,02010,010
West Virginia $55,360+11.1%$44,903 $45,690 – $70,9606,050
South Dakota $52,750+7.3%$44,565 $40,770 – $67,7002,050
Mississippi $50,220+2.8%$41,255 $39,320 – $60,9109,850

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Surgical Technologist$64,650Postsecondary nondegree award+5.0%
Hearing Aid Specialist$65,160High school diploma or equivalent+19.4%
Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician$62,930Bachelor's degree+2.7%
Paramedic$60,600Postsecondary nondegree award+5.7%
Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician$74,310Associate's degree+3.7%
Medical Records Specialist$51,140Postsecondary nondegree award+7.8%
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$50,290Postsecondary nondegree award+5.9%
Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110Associate's degree+5.0%
Orthotist and Prosthetist$81,110Master's degree+12.9%
Veterinary Technologist and Technician$47,380Associate's degree+9.4%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse make?

The national median salary for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is $64,400 a year ($30.96 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,740 and the top 10% earn over $83,440. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses the most?

Washington has the highest median pay at $83,150. After taxes and local prices, San Jose, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses are there in the U.S.?

About 648,410 people work as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses nationwide.

All 53 cities