How Much Does a Licensed Practical Nurse Make? (2025)
A licensed practical nurse, or LPN, is responsible for providing basic patient care, such as changing bandages, administering medication, and collecting specimens. They administer nursing care under the supervision of a registered nurse or other medical supervisor and work in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, some of the top industries for licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses are government, residential and nursing care facilities, home healthcare services, state, local, and private hospitals, and physicians' offices.
The job outlook for licensed practical nurses projects a 3% growth in employment from 2024 to 2034, with about 54,400 job openings. The median annual wage for LPNs is $57,500, as of September 2, 2025, with most LPNs earning $54,400 to $60,800.
Read this salary guide as we thoroughly discuss LPN salary insights, responsibilities, and factors that affect their compensation, and how to become one.
What does a Licensed Practical Nurse do?
A licensed practical nurse provides basic care for ill, injured, or recovering patients, as well as for persons with disabilities. They work full-time, while some work nights, weekends, holidays, or longer than 8 hours.
In private homes, LPNs emphasize instructions from registered nurses on how to take care of a family member. In hospitals, they collect and perform routine laboratory tests on samples, while they may feed patients in nursing and residential care facilities.
Here are more detailed roles and responsibilities for licensed practical nurses:
- They monitor the patient's health by checking the blood pressure, body temperature, and other vital signs.
- They provide care and comfort to patients by listening to their concerns and helping with eating, bathing, and dressing.
- They report the status of patients to registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and physicians.
- They document and maintain patient care and health records.
What is the Licensed Practical Nurse Salary Overview?
As of September 2, 2025, the average annual salary for licensed practical nurses in the United States is $57,500. The range is from $51,578 to $63,804, with earnings mostly between $54,400 and $60,800.
The average salary per month is $4,792 with a range from $4,298 to $5,317, while the average hourly rate is $28 with a range from $25 to $31.
2025 Licensed Practical Nurse Salary: $57,500 per year ($28 per hour)
Depending on the percentile, an LPN salary with bonus ranges from $45,375 to $67,154, with $55,500 as the average value.
| Percentile | Salary + Bonus |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $45,375 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,200 |
| 50th Percentile | $55,500 |
| 75th Percentile | $61,600 |
| 90th Percentile | $67,154 |
The average total compensation for LPN jobs, including the core compensation and benefits, is $80,400. The median base salary for licensed practical nurses makes up 71.5% of the total LPN compensation, while benefits like social security, healthcare, and time off make up 23.0%.
| Core Compensation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Median | % of Total | |
| Base Salary | $57,500 | 71.5% |
| Bonus | $-2,000 | -2.5% |
| Value of Benefits | ||
| Social Security | $4,246 | 5.3% |
| 401K/403B | $2,220 | 2.8% |
| Disability | $1,110 | 1.4% |
| Healthcare | $6,374 | 7.9% |
| Pension | $3,053 | 3.8% |
| Time Off | $7,898 | 9.8% |
| Total Compensation | $80,400 | 100% |
What Can Affect Licensed Practical Nurse Salaries?
Factors, like experience level, geographic location, education, company size, and skills, can affect the salary for licensed practical nurses. Here are the effects of these factors in terms of annual compensation.
By Experience Level
The salary of licensed practical nurses varies depending on the experience level. An entry-level LPN salary is $56,482, while an expert-level with over 8 years of experience can expect $59,224 on average.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Licensed Practical Nurse | $56,482 |
| Intermediate Level Licensed Practical Nurse | $56,575 |
| Senior Level Licensed Practical Nurse | $57,746 |
| Specialist Level Licensed Practical Nurse | $59,125 |
| Expert Level Licensed Practical Nurse | $59,224 |
By Geographic Location
Key factors why geographic location affects salaries in the United States are the local economy, cost of living, and industry presence. Here are the hot cities in the US for licensed practical nurses:
| Cities | 25th Percentile | 50th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, California | $67,900 | $71,800 | $75,900 |
| Washington, District of Columbia | $60,200 | $63,600 | $67,300 |
| Miami, Florida | $52,200 | $55,200 | $58,400 |
| Chicago, Illinois | $56,200 | $59,400 | $62,800 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | $60,600 | $64,100 | $67,800 |
| New York, New York | $63,000 | $66,600 | $70,400 |
| Dallas, Texas | $53,700 | $56,800 | $60,000 |
According to Salary.com data, San Francisco has the most competitive pay among the hot cities, with salaries ranging from $67,900 to $75,900, while Miami has the least, with salaries ranging from $52,200 to $58,400.
By Skills
Salaries for licensed practical nurses get higher with more acquired skills, especially with competencies that have higher demands.
Data from Salary.com's Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report suggests that licensed practical nurses with skills in group therapy can experience the highest pay increase at 10.71%, followed by equipment maintenance at 9.72%.
Meanwhile, the most in-demand skills are health screening at 10.90% and emotional support at 10.80%. Some highly compensated skills also include therapeutic care, patient safety, patient education, and the nursing code of ethics.
| Skills | Demand | Salary Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Group Therapy | 10.50% | +10.71% |
| Equipment Maintenance | 10.60% | +9.72% |
| Therapeutic Care | 10.60% | +9.30% |
| Patient Safety | 10.60% | +7.93% |
| Patient Education | 10.70% | +7.64% |
| Nursing Code of Ethics | 10.60% | +7.18% |
By Education
In terms of education, licensed practical nurses mostly have a high school diploma at 65.0%, followed by those with associate's degrees at 26.9%. Meanwhile, those with bachelor's degrees are 6.1% and those with no diploma at 1.0%.
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| High school | 65.0% |
| Associate | 26.9% |
| Bachelor | 6.1% |
| No diploma | 1.0% |
How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse
To become a licensed practical nurse, one needs to meet the educational, experience, and certification requirements. Here is how to do that:
- Education: A high school diploma or GED is a must. After completing the four-year high school classes, aspiring LPNs must complete a state-approved educational program, usually found in community colleges and technical schools, including some high schools, which may take a year. Subjects included in practical nursing programs are nursing fundamentals, pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, and supervised clinical experience.
- Experience: There are no specified years of experience to become a licensed practical nurse. However, LPNs may need to pass a background check or basic skills test, which can be covered by LPN education through theoretical training and various practical nursing skills.
- Certification: Obtain a nursing license by passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). This will assess and certify your knowledge, skills, and safe and effective patient care. To comply with the licensing requirements in a state you plan to practice in, check with the specific state's nursing board, which usually requires proof of education, exam results, and a criminal background check.
What are the FAQs about the LPN Salary?
Here are some common questions about the LPN salary:
What is the licensed practical nurse salary near Washington, DC?
The median annual salary for licensed practical nurses near Washington, DC, is $63,600 per year, $53,500 per month, $1,223 per week, and $31 per hour, as of September 2, 2025.
Who gets paid more, an RN or an LPN?
RNs get paid more than LPNs. This is because these two healthcare professionals have differences between their roles, responsibilities, and education level.
Registered nurses have more advanced education and training, such as a BSN program or nursing school, giving them opportunities to do more complex duties compared to licensed practical nurses. LPNs are also supervised by RNs, which means they cannot make patient decisions and must report their findings to the registered nurse.
What is the highest-paid LPN?
The highest paying LPN jobs are those with specialties, such as dialysis, clinical support specialist, behavioral health, ambulatory care, correctional, clinic, long-term acute care, psychiatric, long-term care, and emergency department.
The highest average LPN salary also depends on location, skills, and years of experience. For example, the highest-paying city is San Jose, California, where LPNs earn $72,500, while a skill in group therapy can increase the salary for licensed practical nurses by 10.71%. Moreover, more experienced LPNs can earn $59,224, while entry-level LPNs get $56,482.
