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

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse Salary in Baton Rouge, LA

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area earn a median $59,700 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,744 take-home, or $4,062 a month.

Median salary
$59,700
$28.70 per hour
Typical range
$48,350 – $69,520
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Baton Rouge, LA
2,900
1.70× national concentration
▲4.0%
Pay trend: The median for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Baton Rouge, LA rose from $57,410 (May 2024) to $59,700 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 1.6%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in Baton Rouge, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse in Baton Rouge, LA
Deductions, kids & local tax

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

Your take-home pay
$48,744
per year · effective tax rate 18.4%
$4,062Monthly
$2,031Twice a month
$1,875Every 2 weeks
$23.43Hourly
  • Federal income tax$4,984
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,701
  • Medicare (1.45%)$866
  • Louisiana income tax$1,405
  • Take-home pay$48,744

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% state

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse pay by experience in Baton Rouge, LA

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$48,350$23.25$39,965$3,330
25th percentile$51,580$24.80$42,463$3,539
Median (50th)$59,700$28.70$48,744$4,062
75th percentile$61,950$29.78$50,485$4,207
90th percentile (top earners)$69,520$33.42$56,038$4,670

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $59,700 buys in Baton Rouge, LA

Prices in Baton Rouge, LA are 9.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse's $48,744 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,695 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,048
26% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,187
29% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$3,014
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Baton Rouge, LA has 1.7× the national concentration of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.

Best-paying cities for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, adjusted for cost of living

Baton Rouge, LA ranks #34 of 53 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1San Jose, CA $95,320$70,013$63,405
2Seattle, WA $85,690$69,113$62,189
3Las Vegas, NV $75,920$62,240$62,106
4Providence, RI $78,990$62,054$60,973
5San Francisco, CA $94,310$69,410$60,036
6Phoenix, AZ $78,080$62,016$60,026
7Boston, MA $82,190$62,761$57,969
8Chicago, IL $78,070$60,033$57,949
34Baton Rouge, LA$59,700$48,744$53,695

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 53 metros →

About the job: licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

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)

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

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse salaries elsewhere in Louisiana

Frequently asked questions

How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse make in Baton Rouge, LA?

The median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area is $59,700 a year, or about $28.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,580 and $61,950.

What is a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse’s take-home pay in Baton Rouge, LA?

On the median $59,700 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $48,744 a year ($4,062 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,405 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.

Is Baton Rouge, LA a good place to work as a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse?

Pay here is 7% below the national median of $64,400. Local prices are 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,695 would in a typical U.S. city. Baton Rouge, LA ranks #34 of 53 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse afford rent in Baton Rouge, LA?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baton Rouge, LA is $1,048 a month ($1,187 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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