Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse Salary in St. Louis, MO
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $65,120 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,381 take-home, or $4,365 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,634
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,037
- Medicare (1.45%)$944
- Missouri income tax$2,123
- Take-home pay$52,381
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $651 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $51,729 ($4,311 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,610 | $27.22 | $45,943 | $3,829 |
| 25th percentile | $61,010 | $29.33 | $49,271 | $4,106 |
| Median (50th) | $65,120 | $31.31 | $52,381 | $4,365 |
| 75th percentile | $76,170 | $36.62 | $59,773 | $4,981 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,590 | $38.26 | $62,018 | $5,168 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,120 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse's $52,381 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,086 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | St. Louis, MO | $65,120 | $52,381 | $55,086 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $64,420
Frequently asked questions
How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse make in St. Louis, MO?
The median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $65,120 a year, or about $31.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,010 and $76,170.
What is a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $65,120 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $52,381 a year ($4,365 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,123 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $64,400. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,086 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #22 of 53 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 23% 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 St. Louis, MO
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $138,530
- Nurse Practitioner — $131,580
- Physical Therapist — $100,600
- Registered Nurse — $83,180
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $61,830
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $47,570
- Pharmacy Technician — $45,220