How Much Does an LPN Make in Massachusetts in 2026?

A typical LPN in Massachusetts earns about $38.57 per hour ($80,220 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, this works out to roughly $6,685 a month or $1,543 a week. Those figures represent typical pay across the state, covering LPNs in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care settings alike.

That is 25 percent above the national typical pay of $64,400 a year. It places Massachusetts 4th among the 51 states tracked for this occupation, close to the top of the list. About 13,210 LPNs work in Massachusetts, a large enough workforce to make these figures a reliable picture of pay across the state rather than a handful of outlying jobs.

Entry-level positions in Massachusetts typically offer around $29.66 an hour, or about $61,690 a year, for LPNs just starting out. Pay generally moves upward from there as nurses gain experience and take on more responsibility. Within a few years, many LPNs see their pay climb toward the state's typical figure of $80,220 a year. New hires can expect lower pay at first, with room to grow as they build a track record.

Experienced LPNs in Massachusetts often earn upwards of $40.66 an hour, or around $84,570 a year, once they've built a solid track record. The top 10 percent of earners make over $93,980 a year, usually after years in specialized roles or higher-paying settings like hospitals. The gap between entry-level and top pay runs $32,290, a spread wide enough that setting, experience, and city all play a part in where an individual LPN lands.

Massachusetts LPN pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, rising from $54,330 in 2015 to $80,220 in 2025. That's a gain of $25,890, or 48 percent, over ten years. The increase wasn't a straight line: pay picked up noticeably after 2022, jumping from $64,680 that year to $73,380 in 2023 alone.

Nationally, typical LPN pay rose 49 percent over the same ten years, just above Massachusetts's 48 percent increase. The two track closely, meaning Massachusetts hasn't fallen behind the national pace despite already starting from a higher base. For someone entering the field now, pay has moved up steadily in recent years, though past growth is no guarantee of future increases.

Pay runs highest in Boston, where LPNs typically earn $82,190 a year ($39.52 an hour), about 2 percent above the statewide figure. Barnstable Town follows closely at $81,250 a year, and Worcester comes in at $79,060. These top-paying areas cover their full metro regions, not just city centers, so the figures reflect a broader labor market.

Springfield posts the lowest typical pay among the state's tracked cities, at $77,850 a year ($37.43 an hour), putting the spread between the highest and lowest metro areas at $4,340. Boston also has the largest LPN workforce in the state, with 8,410 employed there. That gap is modest compared with many states, and differences in local living costs generally explain why pay varies from one city to the next.

Among neighboring states, Rhode Island pays almost the same as Massachusetts, at $80,090 a year. Connecticut and Vermont pay noticeably less, at $73,690 and $69,930 a year, 8 and 13 percent below Massachusetts respectively, while New York trails further at $67,180, 16 percent lower. New Hampshire sits close behind at $77,110, about 4 percent under. Licensure as an LPN can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which can widen options for nurses near a border.

Typical LPN pay in Massachusetts stands at $80,220 a year ($38.57 an hour), up 48 percent over the past decade. That places the state among the higher payers nationally, with steady growth over the past ten years. For specific requirements, check the Massachusetts board of nursing licensing page, and compare local figures on the city pages for Boston, Worcester, and other Massachusetts metro areas before deciding where to work.