How Much Does an LPN Make in Missouri in 2026?

A typical LPN in Missouri earns about $29.58 per hour ($61,530 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that comes to roughly $5,128 a month or $1,183 a week, calculated from the annual figure. These figures cover licensed practical nurses working across hospitals, clinics, and long-term care settings statewide.

Missouri pay sits about 4% below the national figure of $64,400 a year, or $30.96 an hour, for LPNs, a gap that reflects the state's generally lower cost of living. That places Missouri 41st among the 50 states and D.C. for LPN pay. Roughly 14,700 LPNs work across Missouri, compared with 648,410 nationwide, a workforce large enough to make these figures reliable.

Entry-level positions in Missouri typically offer around $23.36 an hour, or about $48,580 a year. Slightly more experienced LPNs, still early in their careers, often see pay closer to $27.06 an hour, or $56,280 a year. From there, pay tends to move toward the statewide typical figure of $29.58 an hour within a few years on the job.

Experienced LPNs in Missouri often earn upwards of $33.77 an hour, or about $70,230 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $77,120 a year, or $37.08 an hour. That leaves a spread of $28,540 between entry-level and top pay, a gap that tends to reflect years of experience, work setting, and city.

Missouri LPN pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, moving from $37,750 in 2015 to $61,530 in 2025. That's a gain of $23,780, or 63%, over ten years. The increase wasn't perfectly even year to year, but the direction has been consistently upward, with the sharpest jump landing between 2022 and 2023.

That 63% rise outpaces the 49% increase seen nationally for LPNs over the same ten years, meaning Missouri pay has grown at a faster clip even while it trails the national figure in dollar terms. For someone starting an LPN career in Missouri now, the trend shows pay has moved up steadily over the past decade. That pattern offers no promise about what comes next, but it reflects real, sustained growth.

St. Louis pays LPNs the most among Missouri's tracked metro areas, at $65,120 a year, or $31.31 an hour, about 6% above the statewide figure. Kansas City follows closely at $64,420 a year, or $30.97 an hour. These figures reflect pay across each city's full metropolitan area, not just the city itself.

Joplin pays the least among the state's tracked cities, at $58,920 a year, or $28.33 an hour, a gap of $6,200 from St. Louis at the top. St. Louis also has the largest LPN workforce in the state, with 5,180 workers, giving it outsized influence on the statewide figures. Pay differences across Missouri cities generally line up with differences in local living costs.

Among Missouri's neighbors, Illinois pays LPNs the most, at $75,000 a year, about 22% higher than Missouri. Nebraska and Iowa both run slightly ahead too, at $62,660 and $62,630. On the lower end, Arkansas pays $56,620 a year, about 8% below Missouri, with Oklahoma and Tennessee also trailing. Licensure as an LPN can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby state, which makes these comparisons relevant for anyone weighing a move.

LPNs in Missouri typically earn $61,530 a year, or $29.58 an hour, a figure that has risen 63% over the past decade. Pay runs a bit below the national figure but climbs higher in St. Louis and Kansas City. Readers weighing licensure should check Missouri's state nursing board or registry page for requirements, and consult city-specific pages for local pay figures.