Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse Salary in Boston, MA
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $82,190 a year — 28% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,761 take-home, or $5,230 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,252
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,096
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,192
- Massachusetts income tax$3,890
- Take-home pay$62,761
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,680 | $29.65 | $48,876 | $4,073 |
| 25th percentile | $75,050 | $36.08 | $58,095 | $4,841 |
| Median (50th) | $82,190 | $39.51 | $62,761 | $5,230 |
| 75th percentile | $87,070 | $41.86 | $65,950 | $5,496 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,110 | $45.25 | $70,551 | $5,879 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,190 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse's $62,761 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,969 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse jobs are less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #7 of 53 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $95,320 | $70,013 | $63,405 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $85,690 | $69,113 | $62,189 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $75,920 | $62,240 | $62,106 |
| 4 | Providence, RI | $78,990 | $62,054 | $60,973 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $94,310 | $69,410 | $60,036 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $78,080 | $62,016 | $60,026 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $82,190 | $62,761 | $57,969 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $78,070 | $60,033 | $57,949 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse make in Boston, MA?
The median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $82,190 a year, or about $39.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,050 and $87,070.
What is a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $82,190 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $62,761 a year ($5,230 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,890 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse?
Pay here is 28% above the national median of $64,400. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,969 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #7 of 53 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 44% 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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