Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse Salary in San Diego, CA
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $79,720 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,692 take-home, or $5,058 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,708
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,943
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,156
- California income tax$3,184
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,036
- Take-home pay$60,692
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% 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 San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,950 | $31.23 | $51,539 | $4,295 |
| 25th percentile | $75,440 | $36.27 | $58,098 | $4,842 |
| Median (50th) | $79,720 | $38.33 | $60,692 | $5,058 |
| 75th percentile | $89,040 | $42.81 | $66,261 | $5,522 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,390 | $46.34 | $70,653 | $5,888 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,720 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse's $60,692 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,244 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 about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #26 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 |
| 26 | San Diego, CA | $79,720 | $60,692 | $54,244 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $95,320
- San Francisco, CA — $94,310
- Sacramento, CA — $81,570
- Fresno, CA — $75,580
- Riverside, CA — $76,970
- Los Angeles, CA — $79,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse make in San Diego, CA?
The median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $79,720 a year, or about $38.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,440 and $89,040.
What is a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $79,720 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $60,692 a year ($5,058 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,221 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $64,400. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,244 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #26 of 53 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $165,130
- Registered Nurse — $139,520
- Physical Therapist — $113,850
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $63,770
- Pharmacy Technician — $54,500