LPN / LVN Salary by State (May 2025)
Licensed practical nurses in the U.S. earned a median of $64,400 a year ($30.96 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Washington leads at $83,150, while Mississippi is lowest at $50,220. 23 of all 50 states and D.C. are above the national median.
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) — licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in California and Texas — provide basic nursing care under the direction of RNs and physicians. BLS reports the occupation under SOC 29-2061, "licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses".
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (SOC 29-2061), retrieved 2026-10-25. Employed (wage-and-salary) licensed practical nurses (called licensed vocational nurses, LVNs, in California and Texas) in all settings — nursing homes, hospitals, physician offices, home health; excludes self-employed and agency-contract pay.
LPN salary in every state, ranked by median
Select a state for its pay range by percentile, LPN vs RN pay, a median paycheck with federal taxes and neighboring states.
| # | State | Median salary | Median hourly | Top 10% earn | LPNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $83,150 | $39.98 | $100,950+ | 6,780 |
| 2 | Alaska | $80,800 | $38.85 | $96,700+ | 290 |
| 3 | Oregon | $80,470 | $38.69 | $98,990+ | 4,260 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $80,220 | $38.57 | $93,980+ | 13,210 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $80,090 | $38.51 | $94,540+ | 1,290 |
| 6 | California | $79,750 | $38.34 | $100,450+ | 82,850 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $77,110 | $37.07 | $93,660+ | 2,220 |
| 8 | Arizona | $77,070 | $37.05 | $89,850+ | 6,530 |
| 9 | Nevada | $76,160 | $36.62 | $89,420+ | 3,350 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $75,740 | $36.42 | $87,470+ | 1,040 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $75,160 | $36.13 | $85,400+ | 17,410 |
| 12 | Illinois | $75,000 | $36.06 | $89,810+ | 17,440 |
| 13 | Maryland | $74,660 | $35.89 | $90,010+ | 9,560 |
| 14 | Colorado | $73,880 | $35.52 | $84,440+ | 4,920 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $73,690 | $35.43 | $81,060+ | 8,540 |
| 16 | Maine | $73,200 | $35.19 | $82,600+ | 760 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $71,140 | $34.20 | $88,340+ | 840 |
| 18 | Vermont | $69,930 | $33.62 | $84,710+ | 1,130 |
| 19 | Delaware | $68,710 | $33.03 | $77,580+ | 2,240 |
| 20 | New York | $67,180 | $32.30 | $81,530+ | 39,400 |
| 21 | Indiana | $65,720 | $31.60 | $77,220+ | 14,480 |
| 22 | Michigan | $65,460 | $31.47 | $77,780+ | 10,880 |
| 23 | Virginia | $64,920 | $31.21 | $79,170+ | 15,550 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $63,940 | $30.74 | $77,750+ | 38,260 |
| 25 | Idaho | $63,800 | $30.67 | $77,850+ | 1,880 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $63,760 | $30.65 | $78,490+ | 7,390 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $63,750 | $30.65 | $77,380+ | 12,840 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $63,460 | $30.51 | $77,000+ | 480 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $63,270 | $30.42 | $74,730+ | 18,010 |
| 30 | Utah | $63,230 | $30.40 | $77,540+ | 1,680 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $62,660 | $30.13 | $77,940+ | 4,580 |
| 32 | Iowa | $62,630 | $30.11 | $77,710+ | 5,510 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $62,300 | $29.95 | $74,130+ | 1,920 |
| 34 | Texas | $62,240 | $29.92 | $76,140+ | 57,560 |
| 35 | Montana | $62,210 | $29.91 | $74,330+ | 1,620 |
| 36 | Georgia | $62,030 | $29.82 | $76,690+ | 21,060 |
| 37 | Ohio | $61,950 | $29.78 | $74,120+ | 39,900 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $61,820 | $29.72 | $76,420+ | 9,400 |
| 39 | Florida | $61,770 | $29.70 | $74,320+ | 38,620 |
| 40 | Kansas | $61,760 | $29.69 | $77,290+ | 7,530 |
| 41 | Missouri | $61,530 | $29.58 | $77,120+ | 14,700 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $60,460 | $29.07 | $73,220+ | 8,570 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $59,330 | $28.52 | $78,110+ | 2,460 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $58,870 | $28.31 | $67,540+ | 20,830 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $58,320 | $28.04 | $66,410+ | 11,540 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $57,470 | $27.63 | $66,150+ | 17,600 |
| 47 | Alabama | $57,030 | $27.42 | $69,120+ | 11,580 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $56,620 | $27.22 | $65,020+ | 10,010 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $55,360 | $26.61 | $70,960+ | 6,050 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $52,750 | $25.36 | $67,700+ | 2,050 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $50,220 | $24.14 | $60,910+ | 9,850 |
| United States | $64,400 | $30.96 | $83,440+ | 648,410 |
Median vs average LPN pay
The national average (mean) LPN wage was $67,050, $2,650 above the median. High earners pull the average up, so the median is the better guide to what a typical licensed practical nurse earns. Half of U.S. licensed practical nurses earned between $59,000 and $76,030.
LPN vs RN pay
Nationally the LPN median is $33,150 below the RN median of $97,550. See registered nurse salary by state for the RN side; each LPN state page shows the gap in that state.
Higher pay is not always more take-home
Nine states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming — levy no state income tax on wages, which each state page accounts for in its paycheck table. Elsewhere we show federal tax and FICA and say plainly that state tax is not included, rather than guess a rate.
LPN vs RN as a career step
The RN median is well above the LPN median in every state, and LPN-to-RN bridge programs are the usual route up. Each state page puts the two medians side by side so you can see what the step is worth where you live. Travel LPN contracts exist, but we hold no sourced data on them; BLS measures staff positions only.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do licensed practical nurses make in the U.S.?
The median annual wage for licensed practical nurses was $64,400 ($30.96 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average was $67,050. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $49,740 and the highest-paid 10% over $83,440.
Which state pays licensed practical nurses the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest-paying states were Washington ($83,150), Alaska ($80,800), Oregon ($80,470), Massachusetts ($80,220), Rhode Island ($80,090).
Which state pays licensed practical nurses the least?
The lowest LPN medians in May 2025 were in Mississippi ($50,220), South Dakota ($52,750), West Virginia ($55,360), Arkansas ($56,620), Alabama ($57,030). Lower pay often comes with a lower cost of living, so compare take-home pay against local rent before moving.
How much less does an LPN make than a registered nurse?
Nationally, the LPN median ($64,400) was $33,150 a year below the registered nurse median ($97,550) in May 2025, both from BLS. Each state page shows the gap for that state. The LPN role requires a state-approved practical nursing program (typically about a year) and the NCLEX-PN exam.
Which states employ the most licensed practical nurses?
The largest LPN workforces in May 2025 were California (82,850), Texas (57,560), Ohio (39,900), New York (39,400), Florida (38,620).