How Much Does an LPN Make in Louisiana in 2026?

A typical LPN in Louisiana earns about $27.63 per hour, or $57,470 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That breaks down to roughly $4,789 a month. On a weekly basis, calculated from the annual figure, pay works out to about $1,105.

That figure sits 11% below the national typical pay of $30.96 an hour, or $64,400 a year. The gap places Louisiana 46th among the 51 states and territories tracked in the data. Around 17,600 LPNs work across the state, a large enough workforce to make these figures a reliable local benchmark.

Entry-level positions in Louisiana typically offer around $22.03 per hour, or about $45,810 per year, based on the lowest range of reported wages. Pay generally rises from there within the first few years on the job. By the time an LPN reaches the typical range for the state, earnings move up to about $27.63 an hour, or $57,470 a year.

Experienced LPNs in Louisiana often earn upwards of $29.43 an hour, or about $61,220 a year, with the top 10% making over $66,150 annually. That top-to-entry spread comes to $20,340, a gap driven mostly by setting, years on the job, and which city an LPN works in. Hospitals and specialty clinics tend to pay toward the higher end of that range.

Louisiana LPN pay has risen steadily over the past decade, climbing from $37,340 in 2015 to $57,470 in 2025. That's a gain of $20,130, or 54%, over ten years. The increase has been fairly consistent year over year, with the sharpest jumps coming between 2020 and 2023.

Nationally, LPN pay rose 49% over the same period, so Louisiana's rate of increase outpaced the national trend by a few points. That doesn't mean pay in Louisiana overtook the national figure, since Louisiana started from a lower base. For someone starting an LPN career in the state now, the decade of data shows pay has moved up consistently, though nothing about future increases is guaranteed.

Pay runs highest in New Orleans, where LPNs typically earn $60,640 a year ($29.15 an hour), about 6% above the statewide figure. New Orleans and Metairie, both part of the same metro area, share that top figure. Baton Rouge follows closely behind at $59,700 a year, and the Covington-Mandeville-Slidell area on the North Shore pays close to that as well.

At the lower end, Lafayette pays LPNs the least among the cities tracked, with typical pay of $51,580 a year. That's a spread of $9,060 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities in the state. New Orleans also has the largest LPN workforce of any city, with about 2,940 employed there. Pay differences like these usually track local living costs more than anything else.

Among Louisiana's neighbors, Texas pays LPNs the most, with typical pay of $62,240 a year, about 8% above Louisiana's figure. Mississippi pays the least of the three, at $50,220 a year, 13% below Louisiana. Arkansas is close to Louisiana's level, at $56,620 a year, about 1% lower. LPN licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which can simplify a move across these borders.

Typical LPN pay in Louisiana now stands at $57,470 a year, up 54% over the past decade from $37,340 in 2015. That decade of steady increases shows a clear upward trend in what the state's hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities pay practical nurses. Readers considering the field should check Louisiana's state licensing or nursing registry page for current requirements, and look at city-level pages for local figures in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, or elsewhere.