How Much Does an LPN Make in Washington, DC in 2026?
Typical pay for LPNs in Washington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across District of Columbia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Washington · Arlington · Alexandria metro area
A typical LPN in Washington, District of Columbia earns $36.47 per hour, or $75,860 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,322 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $61,880, and the top 10% of earners make over $87,470.
That pay is right at the District of Columbia figure of $75,740 and 18% above the national figure of $64,400. About 7,170 LPNs work in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area.
LPN pay in Washington at a glance
- Typical pay is $36.47 an hour, or $75,860 a year.
- That is right at the District of Columbia figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $61,880; the top 10% make over $87,470.
- Typical pay rose +54% from 2015 to 2025, against +45% for District of Columbia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an LPN make in Washington?
Pay in Washington runs from entry-level positions at around $29.75 an hour to more than $42.05 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the District of Columbia and national figures.
LPN pay by career stage in Washington
| Career stage | Washington | District of Columbia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $61,880$29.75 an hour | $62,880$30.23 an hour | $49,740$23.91 an hour |
| First years | $65,700$31.59 an hour | $63,960$30.75 an hour | $59,000$28.37 an hour |
| Typical LPN | $75,860$36.47 an hour | $75,740$36.42 an hour | $64,400$30.96 an hour |
| Experienced | $80,830$38.86 an hour | $81,400$39.14 an hour | $76,030$36.55 an hour |
| Top 10% | $87,470$42.05 an hour | $87,470$42.05 an hour | $83,440$40.12 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area as BLS defines it
LPN pay growth in Washington
Typical (median) annual wage for LPNs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical LPN pay in Washington was $49,160 a year. By 2025 it had reached $75,860, a change of +54%, compared with +45% for District of Columbia over the same years.
Is Washington a good place to work as an LPN?
LPNs in Washington earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $75,860 a year, 18% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area, about 2.3 are LPN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 4.2. That makes LPNs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an LPN make in Washington, DC?
- A typical LPN in Washington earns $75,860 a year, or $36.47 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $61,880 and the top 10% earn over $87,470.
- How much does an LPN make an hour in Washington?
- Typical hourly pay for LPNs in Washington is $36.47. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $29.75, and the top 10% earn over $42.05 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an LPN in Washington?
- Entry-level LPN positions in Washington typically offer around $29.75 an hour, or $61,880 a year.
- Is LPN pay in Washington higher than in the rest of District of Columbia?
- Washington pay is right at the District of Columbia figure of $75,740 a year, ranking 1st of 1 metro areas in the state.