LPN Salary (How Much Do LPNs Make by State and Setting?)

Licensed practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN) is a field you can enter fast. Most programs finish in a year or two, even part time, and the work builds nursing experience you can carry into an RN path later. Many RNs start as LPNs, since working as an LPN is often the more affordable way to support yourself through an RN program.

Key takeaways

• LPN pay varies by location and setting, with outpatient facilities typically paying more.
• Demand is strongest in home health as the population ages.
• Advancing to RN raises earning potential, and bridge programs make the transition possible.
• Specialty certifications can boost opportunities and pay, especially in areas like gerontology.

Median pay and setting

The median LPN/LVN wage is $62,340 per year, according to the BLS. Actual pay swings with specialization, location, and experience.

Setting drives a large part of that range. Outpatient care centers pay the most, a median of $69,630 per year, while home health services pay around $61,050. Advancing your education raises earnings further. For LPNs, that usually means RN licensure through an LPN-to-RN program that builds on your existing credits and leads to an ADN or BSN. Many of these programs run part time so you can work while you study.

Demand

Demand for LPNs/LVNs concentrates in specific settings. RNs fill most hospital roles, but LPNs are needed in skilled nursing facilities, home health, and similar settings. Home health is the standout: the field is projected to keep growing because home care is popular with patients and cheaper for insurers, and LPNs are a major part of it.

Overall LPN demand has softened in recent years as the educational standard shifted toward RNs. Justine Nelson, a former LPN who has worked as an RN for the past 12 years, notes that many hospitals now hire RNs over LPNs, which has reduced LPN roles in hospitals over time. Even so, demand for nurses at every level continues, and nurse burnout and turnover keep fueling it. Many people work as LPNs/LVNs while finishing their RN licenses.

Starting as an LPN/LVN is still a sound move. It delivers hands-on experience, solid pay, and a foundation for growth.

Job outlook

The BLS projects LPN/LVN employment will grow 2.6% through 2034, slightly faster than average. National long-term projections do not always reflect local or short-term conditions. Much of the growth is expected in outpatient settings and rural areas, as procedures that once required a hospital move to outpatient care centers. Prospects are best for LPNs willing to work in rural and medically underserved areas.

Competition

LPNs seeking jobs in physician offices and outpatient care centers may face more competition, since those roles usually offer weekday hours and a more comfortable environment. Hospitals and other around-the-clock facilities need LPNs on nights, weekends, and holidays, which fewer applicants want, so competition there is lighter.

Who hires LPNs

The BLS reports the largest LPN/LVN employers are nursing care facilities, general medical and surgical hospitals, and home health services. Those are not the only options. LPNs also work in physician offices, and travel nursing can expand your options well beyond a single location.

Advancing your career and earnings

Furthering your education moves your career forward. Earning an ADN or BSN qualifies you for RN licensure, which advances your career and raises your pay.

You can also increase earnings as an LPN. Picking up overtime is one common route: a 2019 Medscape compensation report found 37% of LPNs/LVNs supplemented their income with overtime shifts. With a median hourly wage near $30 and overtime paid at 1.5 times regular pay, an LPN earns over $35 an hour on overtime, more than $250 for an eight-hour shift.

Certification is another path. A specialty credential shows experience and knowledge and can boost both opportunities and pay. Gerontology certification, for example, trains LPNs/LVNs to work with older patients and is available through the National Association of Licensed Professional Nurses (NALPN) Education Foundation. The National Association of Practical Nurse Education and Services (NAPNES) offers certifications in pharmacology, IV therapy, long-term care, and rehabilitation.