Licensed Vocational Nurse salary
A licensed vocational nurse earns about $64,400 a year — roughly $30.96/hour, with most earning between $59,000 and $76,030. This is a verified national figure from official public wage data.
Licensed Vocational Nurse — U.S. national
Verified public wage dataMedian annual pay
$64,400
Hourly
$30.96/hr
- Typical range
- $59,000–$76,030
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $83,440
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $49,740
- Newer nurses
What affects this pay
- State (LVN title is used in CA and TX)
- Long-term care vs clinic setting
- Experience and certifications
- Shift differentials
About Licensed Vocational Nurses
What they do
Licensed Vocational Nurse is simply the title California and Texas use for what every other state calls an LPN. The day-to-day work is the same: basic bedside care under the direction of RNs and physicians.
How to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse
LVNs complete a state-approved vocational nursing program and pass the NCLEX-PN. In California and Texas the license is issued as an LVN; the credential transfers as an LPN elsewhere.
What drives the pay
Because LVN pay is concentrated in California and Texas, the two state labor markets dominate the national picture. Public wage data counts LVNs alongside LPNs.
Licensed Vocational Nurse pay by state
Estimated licensed vocational nurse pay where this role tends to earn the most. Open a state for the full local picture.
| State | Est. annual pay | vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $83,150 | +29% vs national |
| Alaska | $80,800 | +25% vs national |
| Oregon | $80,470 | +25% vs national |
| Massachusetts | $80,220 | +25% vs national |
| Rhode Island | $80,090 | +24% vs national |
| California | $79,750 | +24% vs national |
| New Hampshire | $77,110 | +20% vs national |
| Arizona | $77,070 | +20% vs national |
Licensed Vocational Nurse salary by state
Open any state for licensed vocational nurse pay, local metros, and how it compares to the U.S. average.
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Licensed Vocational Nurse salary FAQ
- How much do Licensed Vocational Nurses make?
- A Licensed Vocational Nurse earns about $64,400 a year — roughly $30.96 an hour — based on verified public wage data. Most earn between $59,000 and $76,030, and the top 10% earn roughly $83,440 or more.
- What is the hourly pay for Licensed Vocational Nurses?
- Most Licensed Vocational Nurses are paid an hourly wage. The national figure works out to about $30.96 an hour at a full-time schedule, with a typical range of $28.37 to $36.55. Nights, weekends, and overtime differentials push the real hourly rate higher.
- Which state pays Licensed Vocational Nurses the most?
- Washington is among the highest-paying states for Licensed Vocational Nurses, at roughly $83,150 a year, followed by other West Coast and Northeast states. State figures are estimates based on national pay and local cost of living.
- How does Licensed Vocational Nurse pay compare to a registered nurse?
- Licensed Vocational Nurses earn less than registered nurses — about $64,400 a year vs $97,550 for RNs — reflecting a shorter training path and a narrower scope of practice.
- Why are some figures verified and others estimates?
- National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.
Source & confidence— A verified figure from official U.S. public wage data.
BLS OEWS (May 2025, national)
National wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2025 national data.
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology