SOC 29-2061 · May 2025
LPN Salary
Lpns in the US earn a median of $64,400 a year ($32.24 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Lpn pay climbed from $48,500 in 2019 to $67,050 in 2025, a +38.2% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$64,400
Half of all Lpns in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+38.2% since 2019 · +4.5% YoY
Hourly
$32.24
Job growth 2025-35
+3%
US workers
648,410
BLS series
Annual median wage for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Lpns is $49,740 – $83,440.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$49,740
25th
$59,000
Median
$64,400
75th
$76,030
90th
$83,440
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Lpns. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $49,740 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $59,000 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $64,400 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $76,030 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $83,440 |
Geography
Lpn pay by state
Lpns earn the most in Washington ($83,150, +29% against the national median) and the least in Mississippi ($50,220). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$64,400
Highest-paying states for lpns
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $83,150 | +29% | 6,780 |
| Alaska | $80,800 | +25% | 290 |
| Oregon | $80,470 | +25% | 4,260 |
| Massachusetts | $80,220 | +25% | 13,210 |
| Rhode Island | $80,090 | +24% | 1,290 |
| California | $79,750 | +24% | 82,850 |
| New Hampshire | $77,110 | +20% | 2,220 |
| Arizona | $77,070 | +20% | 6,530 |
| Nevada | $76,160 | +18% | 3,350 |
| D.C. | $75,740 | +18% | 1,040 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $83,150 | 6,780 |
| Alaska | $80,800 | 290 |
| Oregon | $80,470 | 4,260 |
| Massachusetts | $80,220 | 13,210 |
| Rhode Island | $80,090 | 1,290 |
| California | $79,750 | 82,850 |
| New Hampshire | $77,110 | 2,220 |
| Arizona | $77,070 | 6,530 |
| Nevada | $76,160 | 3,350 |
| D.C. | $75,740 | 1,040 |
| New Jersey | $75,160 | 17,410 |
| Illinois | $75,000 | 17,440 |
| Maryland | $74,660 | 9,560 |
| Colorado | $73,880 | 4,920 |
| Connecticut | $73,690 | 8,540 |
| Maine | $73,200 | 760 |
| Hawaii | $71,140 | 840 |
| Vermont | $69,930 | 1,130 |
| Delaware | $68,710 | 2,240 |
| New York | $67,180 | 39,400 |
| Indiana | $65,720 | 14,480 |
| Michigan | $65,460 | 10,880 |
| Virginia | $64,920 | 15,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,940 | 38,260 |
| Idaho | $63,800 | 1,880 |
| Wisconsin | $63,760 | 7,390 |
| Minnesota | $63,750 | 12,840 |
| Wyoming | $63,460 | 480 |
| North Carolina | $63,270 | 18,010 |
| Utah | $63,230 | 1,680 |
| Nebraska | $62,660 | 4,580 |
| Iowa | $62,630 | 5,510 |
| North Dakota | $62,300 | 1,920 |
| Texas | $62,240 | 57,560 |
| Montana | $62,210 | 1,620 |
| Georgia | $62,030 | 21,060 |
| Ohio | $61,950 | 39,900 |
| South Carolina | $61,820 | 9,400 |
| Florida | $61,770 | 38,620 |
| Kansas | $61,760 | 7,530 |
| Missouri | $61,530 | 14,700 |
| Kentucky | $60,460 | 8,570 |
| New Mexico | $59,330 | 2,460 |
| Tennessee | $58,870 | 20,830 |
| Oklahoma | $58,320 | 11,540 |
| Louisiana | $57,470 | 17,600 |
| Alabama | $57,030 | 11,580 |
| Arkansas | $56,620 | 10,010 |
| West Virginia | $55,360 | 6,050 |
| South Dakota | $52,750 | 2,050 |
| Mississippi | $50,220 | 9,850 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Lpns
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) provide basic nursing care under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians. The role typically requires completion of a state-approved 12-month practical nursing program and passage of the NCLEX-PN exam. LPNs work in nursing homes, hospitals, physicians' offices, and home-health settings. Many use the role as a stepping stone to RN licensure.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $49,740 – $83,440. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Washington, Alaska and Oregon. Pay in Washington runs 1.7 times the level in Mississippi, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as postsecondary nondegree award, and projects about 51,800 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 3% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Lpn salary in the US?
How much does a Lpn make an hour?
How much do Lpns make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Lpns the most?
Is the average Lpn salary higher than the median?
Is Lpn a growing career?
Open positions
Open Lpn roles hiring now
Browse current Lpn listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-2061. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.