How Much Does an LPN Make in Kansas in 2026?

A typical LPN in Kansas earns about $29.69 per hour ($61,760 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Based on that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $5,147 a month and $1,188 a week. Those figures cover practical nursing roles across hospitals, clinics, and long-term care settings statewide.

Nationally, LPNs typically earn $30.96 an hour, or $64,400 a year, which puts Kansas pay about 4% lower. That ranks Kansas 40th out of 51 states and D.C. for LPN pay. The state employs 7,530 LPNs, a workforce large enough to make the local pay figures reliable.

Entry-level LPN positions in Kansas typically offer around $23.93 an hour, or about $49,780 a year, according to the same wage data. Pay tends to rise toward the state's typical figure of $61,760 within the first few years on the job. New graduates often start in long-term care or home health settings before moving into hospital roles that pay more.

Experienced LPNs in Kansas often earn upwards of $69,470 a year, and the top 10% of earners make over $77,290. That leaves a spread of $27,510 between entry-level and top pay in the state. The difference usually comes down to work setting, years of experience, and which city the nurse works in.

Kansas LPN pay has risen steadily over the past decade, from $39,370 in 2015 to $61,760 in 2025. That's a gain of $22,390, or 57%, over ten years. The increase has been especially sharp since 2022, when pay moved from $49,250 to $55,540 in a single year.

Nationally, LPN pay rose 49% over the same decade. Kansas pay grew faster than that, even though the state's typical wage still trails the national figure by 4%. For someone starting an LPN career in Kansas now, pay has moved up substantially over the past ten years. Nothing about future increases is guaranteed, but the decade-long trend has been consistently upward.

Lawrence pays LPNs the most in Kansas, with a typical wage of $62,400 a year ($30.00 an hour), about 1% above the statewide figure, though its workforce is small at 150 LPNs. Topeka (840 LPNs) follows closely at $62,210, and Manhattan (230 LPNs) pays $61,430. These figures reflect each city's full metro area, not just the city limits.

Wichita pays the least among Kansas's largest cities, at $60,310 a year ($28.99 an hour), though it's also home to the largest LPN workforce in the state with 1,690 jobs. The spread between the highest and lowest cities is just $2,090, a relatively small gap statewide. Pay differences like these usually track local living costs, so a lower figure in one city doesn't necessarily mean a worse opportunity.

Kansas LPN pay sits in the middle of its regional neighbors. Colorado pays notably more, with a typical wage of $73,880, about 20% above Kansas. Nebraska ($62,660) and Missouri ($61,530) pay nearly the same as Kansas, while Oklahoma pays less, at $58,320, about 6% below. LPN licensure can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which is worth checking before relocating for higher pay.

LPNs in Kansas typically earn $61,760 a year, up 57% over the past decade from $39,370 in 2015. Pay trails the national figure slightly but has grown faster than the country as a whole. Readers considering the field should check the Kansas Board of Nursing for licensing requirements and review city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding where to work.