Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse Salary in San Jose, CA
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $95,320 a year — 48% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $70,013 take-home, or $5,834 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,140
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,910
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,382
- California income tax$4,635
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,239
- Take-home pay$70,013
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 Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,320 | $37.17 | $59,246 | $4,937 |
| 25th percentile | $84,000 | $40.38 | $63,250 | $5,271 |
| Median (50th) | $95,320 | $45.83 | $70,013 | $5,834 |
| 75th percentile | $100,950 | $48.53 | $73,377 | $6,115 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $113,220 | $54.43 | $80,709 | $6,726 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $95,320 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse's $70,013 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,405 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 San Jose, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #1 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.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $94,310
- Sacramento, CA — $81,570
- Fresno, CA — $75,580
- Riverside, CA — $76,970
- San Diego, CA — $79,720
- Los Angeles, CA — $79,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse make in San Jose, CA?
The median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $95,320 a year, or about $45.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $84,000 and $100,950.
What is a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $95,320 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $70,013 a year ($5,834 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,874 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse?
Pay here is 48% above the national median of $64,400. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,405 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #1 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 Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 51% 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 Jose, CA
- Registered Nurse — $216,740
- Physicians, All Other — $98,870