How Much Money Do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Make?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make a median salary of $48,070 each year or $23.11 per hour. The bottom 10 percent of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn less than $37,150 per year, while the top 10 percent of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn more than $63,790 annually.

Do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Get Paid Well?

LVNs and LPNs earn slightly more than the national average($45,760). Compared to other health care practitioners, such as nurses and doctors, they earn less. The median salary for Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations is $75,040. LPNs and  LVNs typically have a postsecondary nondegree award. When compared to professions that require a similar level of education, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn more. Other professions that require a postsecondary nondegree award have a median salary of $44,420 per year.

How Much Do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Get Starting Out?

The BLS does not provide average compensation data for entry-level positions for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses just starting out, but the bottom 25 percent of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn $46,410 each year.

How Many Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Are There in the United States?

There are 657,200 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in the U.S.

How Much Do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Earn In Each State?

The table below compares LPN/LVN salaries across states and U.S. territories (Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wages May 2020). You can also find data for the number of LPN/LVNs in each state as well as the number of LPN/LVNs per 1,000 jobs—a figure that can help you determine the job's popularity in a given location. Not all locations have employment statistics.