How Much Does an LPN Make in Michigan in 2026?

A typical LPN in Michigan earns about $31.47 per hour ($65,460 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that pay works out to roughly $5,455 a month or $1,259 a week, based on the annual figure. Those figures represent typical pay across the state, with actual earnings varying by city and experience.

Compared with the national figure of $64,400 a year, Michigan pay runs 2% higher. That places the state 22nd out of 51 states and territories ranked by LPN pay. With 10,880 LPNs working across the state, compared with 648,410 nationwide, Michigan's figure reflects a sizable, well-established workforce.

Entry-level positions in Michigan typically offer around $27.00 an hour, or about $56,160 a year, for LPNs just starting out. Pay tends to rise toward the state's typical figure of $65,460 a year within the first few years on the job. New graduates in hospital or long-term care settings often see the fastest early increases.

Experienced LPNs in Michigan often earn upwards of $65,460 a year, the state's typical pay, and the top 10% of earners make over $77,780 a year. That's a spread of $21,620 between entry-level and top pay, a gap shaped mostly by years of experience, care setting, and which city an LPN works in. Hospitals and specialty units in higher-paying metro areas tend to anchor the upper end.

Michigan LPN pay has climbed from $45,650 in 2015 to $65,460 in 2025, a gain of $19,810 over the decade, or 43%. The increase came steadily, without sharp dips or reversals along the way. By 2025, typical pay had grown by well over a third from where it started ten years earlier.

Nationally, LPN pay rose 49% over the same ten years, a bit faster than Michigan's climb. Pay for LPNs entering the field now starts from a higher base than it did a decade ago, though future increases are not guaranteed. The trend simply shows where pay has been, not where it is headed.

Pay runs highest in Niles, where LPNs typically earn $74,530 a year, about 14% above the state figure. Detroit, Warren, and Dearborn follow at $69,300 a year, still well above the statewide typical pay. Lansing and East Lansing come in at $66,680 a year, close to the state figure.

Bay City sits at the low end, with typical pay of $61,380 a year, putting the full city-to-city spread at $13,150. Detroit has the largest LPN workforce in the state, with 4,540 employed there, at a typical wage of $69,300 a year. Each city figure reflects its full metro area, and higher pay in places like Niles or Detroit generally tracks a higher cost of living.

Michigan's LPN pay is close to its neighbors. Indiana pays about the same, at $65,720 a year, essentially even with Michigan's figure. Wisconsin runs 3% lower at $63,760 a year, and Ohio comes in 5% lower at $61,950 a year. For LPNs weighing a move across state lines, practical nurse licenses can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state without starting the licensing process over.

Typical LPN pay in Michigan stands at $65,460 a year, up 43% over the past decade from $45,650 in 2015. Pay varies by city and experience, from entry-level positions near $56,160 to the top 10% earning over $77,780. For specific requirements, check Michigan's nursing licensing or registry page, and for local figures, see the city-level pages for places like Detroit, Niles, and Grand Rapids.