Licensed Practical Nurse
Licensed Practical Nurses typically earn $64,400 a year in the United States, and about 648,410 work in the field. Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035 (BLS).
$64,400
Typical pay a year
+3%
Job growth 2025–35
51,800
Openings a year
648K
Employed in the US
BLS OES May 2025 · projections 2025–35
What is in this guide
Each part of the licensed practical nurse guide has its own page. Start with the figure you came for.
Salary
$64,400 typical · 51 states, 528 metrosPay by state, metro, and work settingHow to become
Training, exam, first jobThe steps to becoming an LPNPrograms and schools
1,050 colleges, 50,931 graduates in 2024Every college by state, from NCES IPEDSLicensing
51 boards, 40 in the compactLookup, renewal, CE, and fees for each boardCareer path
CNA $42,260 → LPN $64,400 → Registered Nurse $97,550 → Nurse Practitioner $132,300Each step up and what it paysJobs
51,800 openings a yearWhere the jobs are, by setting and stateInterview
Questions and answersWhat hiring managers ask LPNsResume
Guide and sample layoutHow to lay out an LPN resumeHow much do licensed practical nurses make?
Typical LPN pay is $64,400 a year across the United States. Among the ten states that employ the most licensed practical nurses, it ranges from $79,750 in California to $57,470 in Louisiana. See all 51 states and 528 metro areas.
| State | Typical pay a year | Vs national $64,400 | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $79,750 | +24% | 82,850 |
| New York | $67,180 | +4% | 39,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,940 | -1% | 38,260 |
| North Carolina | $63,270 | -2% | 18,010 |
| Texas | $62,240 | -3% | 57,560 |
| Georgia | $62,030 | -4% | 21,060 |
| Ohio | $61,950 | -4% | 39,900 |
| Florida | $61,770 | -4% | 38,620 |
| Tennessee | $58,870 | -9% | 20,830 |
| Louisiana | $57,470 | -11% | 17,600 |
BLS OES May 2025 · the ten states with the most licensed practical nurses, ranked by typical pay
What does each step pay?
LPN career path →Step-by-step guides for the next move
BLS OES May 2025 · typical annual pay, United States
Related nursing professions
Registered Nurse
$97,550typical a yearNurse Practitioner
$132,300typical a yearCertified Nursing Assistant
$42,260typical a yearBLS OES May 2025 · typical annual pay