CNA vs LPN: Pay, Training, and What Each Does
A licensed practical nurse earns a median of $64,400 a year and a certified nursing assistant $42,260, a difference of $22,140, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). A certified nursing assistant needs a state-approved education program, and a licensed practical nurse “Postsecondary nondegree award”, the typical entry-level education the BLS lists.
CNA and LPN side by side
| Measure | CNA | LPN |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay a year | $42,260 | $64,400 |
| Typical pay an hour | $20.32 | $30.96 |
| Pay range (10th to 90th percentile) | $33,940 to $51,980 | $49,740 to $83,440 |
| Jobs | 1,448,910 | 648,410 |
| Projected growth, 2025 to 2035 | 2.6% | 3.0% |
| Openings a year | 196,200 | 51,800 |
| Typical entry-level education | State-approved education program | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| License or exam | State nurse aide competency exam (written and skills) | NCLEX-PN (NCSBN) |
| Largest employer industry | Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) |
Pay and jobs: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Projections: BLS Employment Projections. Education: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
What each does
CNA
“Nursing assistants, sometimes called nursing aides, provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living.”
Training: “Nursing assistants often need to complete a state-approved education program that includes both instruction on the principles of nursing and supervised clinical work.”
License: “Specific requirements for nursing assistants vary by state.”
Quoted from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
LPN
“Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) provide basic medical care to ill, injured, or convalescing patients or to persons with disabilities.”
Training: “Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) must complete a state-approved educational program, which typically takes about 1 year.”
License: “After completing a state-approved educational program, prospective LPNs and LVNs must pass an exam to become licensed and enter the occupation.”
Quoted from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
The key differences, in the BLS's words
- “Nursing assistants and orderlies work as part of a healthcare team under the supervision of licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses and registered nurses.”
- “Some states allow experienced LPNs and LVNs to oversee other LPNs and LVNs or unlicensed medical staff.”
- “Depending on their training level and the state in which they work, nursing assistants also may dispense medication.”
- “For example, in some states, LPNs with proper training may give medication or start intravenous (IV) drips.”
Quoted from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook pages for both occupations.
CNA vs LPN pay by state
The pay difference is widest in Alaska (LPN +$34,430), Washington (LPN +$33,970), Rhode Island (LPN +$33,650).
| State | CNA | LPN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $46,370 | $80,800 | LPN +$34,430 |
| Washington | $49,180 | $83,150 | LPN +$33,970 |
| Rhode Island | $46,440 | $80,090 | LPN +$33,650 |
| Massachusetts | $46,680 | $80,220 | LPN +$33,540 |
| Arizona | $44,780 | $77,070 | LPN +$32,290 |
| California | $47,630 | $79,750 | LPN +$32,120 |
| Maryland | $43,240 | $74,660 | LPN +$31,420 |
| Nevada | $45,490 | $76,160 | LPN +$30,670 |
| Oregon | $49,830 | $80,470 | LPN +$30,640 |
| New Hampshire | $47,870 | $77,110 | LPN +$29,240 |
| Illinois | $45,960 | $75,000 | LPN +$29,040 |
| Connecticut | $44,790 | $73,690 | LPN +$28,900 |
| New Jersey | $46,830 | $75,160 | LPN +$28,330 |
| District of Columbia | $47,700 | $75,740 | LPN +$28,040 |
| Indiana | $38,330 | $65,720 | LPN +$27,390 |
| Louisiana | $30,510 | $57,470 | LPN +$26,960 |
| Delaware | $42,030 | $68,710 | LPN +$26,680 |
| Colorado | $47,380 | $73,880 | LPN +$26,500 |
| Maine | $47,070 | $73,200 | LPN +$26,130 |
| Michigan | $39,570 | $65,460 | LPN +$25,890 |
| Hawaii | $45,350 | $71,140 | LPN +$25,790 |
| Idaho | $38,650 | $63,800 | LPN +$25,150 |
| North Carolina | $38,460 | $63,270 | LPN +$24,810 |
| Texas | $37,500 | $62,240 | LPN +$24,740 |
| South Carolina | $37,220 | $61,820 | LPN +$24,600 |
| Georgia | $37,680 | $62,030 | LPN +$24,350 |
| Wyoming | $39,160 | $63,460 | LPN +$24,300 |
| Florida | $37,510 | $61,770 | LPN +$24,260 |
| Missouri | $37,680 | $61,530 | LPN +$23,850 |
| Kansas | $38,010 | $61,760 | LPN +$23,750 |
| Utah | $39,840 | $63,230 | LPN +$23,390 |
| Iowa | $39,350 | $62,630 | LPN +$23,280 |
| Ohio | $39,010 | $61,950 | LPN +$22,940 |
| Alabama | $34,140 | $57,030 | LPN +$22,890 |
| Vermont | $47,130 | $69,930 | LPN +$22,800 |
| Nebraska | $40,000 | $62,660 | LPN +$22,660 |
| Oklahoma | $35,930 | $58,320 | LPN +$22,390 |
| Arkansas | $34,430 | $56,620 | LPN +$22,190 |
| Kentucky | $38,370 | $60,460 | LPN +$22,090 |
| Virginia | $43,200 | $64,920 | LPN +$21,720 |
| Montana | $40,900 | $62,210 | LPN +$21,310 |
| Tennessee | $37,990 | $58,870 | LPN +$20,880 |
| New Mexico | $39,390 | $59,330 | LPN +$19,940 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,590 | $63,940 | LPN +$19,350 |
| Mississippi | $31,520 | $50,220 | LPN +$18,700 |
| West Virginia | $36,720 | $55,360 | LPN +$18,640 |
| Wisconsin | $45,130 | $63,760 | LPN +$18,630 |
| New York | $48,590 | $67,180 | LPN +$18,590 |
| Minnesota | $46,680 | $63,750 | LPN +$17,070 |
| North Dakota | $45,820 | $62,300 | LPN +$16,480 |
| South Dakota | $38,800 | $52,750 | LPN +$13,950 |
Typical (median) annual pay, BLS OEWS May 2025. The difference column names the higher-paid job. Sorted by the size of the difference.
CNA vs LPN: questions
- Who makes more, a CNA or a LPN?
- A LPN earns more: $64,400 a year at the median, against $42,260 for a CNA, a difference of $22,140, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025).
- What education does each need?
- A certified nursing assistant needs a state-approved education program, and a licensed practical nurse “Postsecondary nondegree award”, the typical entry-level education the BLS lists.
- Which has more job openings?
- The BLS projects about 196,200 openings a year for certified nursing assistants and 51,800 for licensed practical nurses over 2025 to 2035.