Highest-Paying LPN Jobs

LPNs handle much of the routine work that keeps a care team running, which makes them essential across nearly every setting. Some specialties pay better than others. Here are five of the highest-paying LPN roles, with what each involves, where you would work, and who tends to thrive in it. Salary and specialty-share figures below come from the 2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey of more than 1,500 practitioners, so they reflect that snapshot. Overall LPN pay has risen since: the median LPN/LVN wage was $62,340 in May 2024, according to the BLS.

Key Takeaways

• Occupational health and rehabilitation were the top-paying LPN specialties in the 2020 workforce survey, around $50,000.
• Geriatric nursing is the most common LPN specialty, with more than 179,000 practitioners.
• The current median LPN/LVN wage is $62,340 (BLS, May 2024); the top 10% earn more than $80,510.
• LPNs enter a growing field, with a projected national shortage and steady openings across settings.

1. Occupational Health LPN (tie)

Occupational health LPNs carry out physician care plans to maintain or improve patient health. The work involves communicating with patients and families, collecting data, collaborating with RNs and other team members, and delivering individualized care. Strong bedside manner and easy teamwork matter here, and the role suits anyone drawn to preventive care and safe work environments. Common settings include hospitals, manufacturing and production departments, and healthcare centers.

• Average Salary: $50,000
• Percentage of LPNs in This Specialty: 0.7%
• Total LPNs in This Specialty: 4,360

1. Rehabilitation LPN (tie)

Tied at the top with an average of $50,000, rehabilitation LPNs provide direct and indirect care under RN and physician supervision. Duties include maintaining medical records, administering medications and immunizations, monitoring reactions to medication, offering emotional support, and helping patients bathe or dress. Most work in patients' homes or rehabilitation facilities, though hospitals, physicians' offices, and schools are also common. The role rewards leadership, research, collaboration, and a commitment to patient advocacy.

• Average Salary: $50,000
• Percentage of LPNs in This Specialty: 3.5%
• Total LPNs in This Specialty: 23,540

2. Palliative Care/Hospice LPN

Palliative and hospice LPNs care for terminal patients and guide families through treatment decisions that affect quality of life. The work covers admissions, discharges, and deaths, along with maintaining records, providing comfort, and meeting hospice standards of practice. It suits practitioners with palliative experience, strong time management, and the ability to handle emotional strain while respecting how patients choose to live. Common settings include assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and patients' homes.

• Average Salary: $47,500
• Percentage of LPNs in This Specialty: 1.7%
• Total LPNs in This Specialty: 11,660

3. Geriatric/Gerontology LPN

Geriatric nursing is the most common LPN specialty. These nurses develop treatment plans, administer medications, educate patients and families, and watch for signs of abuse or neglect. They also prepare exam equipment, maintain records, and recognize geriatric-related syndromes. The work demands knowledge of the aging process, fluency in verbal and nonverbal cues, and patience, empathy, and compassion. Geriatric LPNs work in hospitals and clinics, but many are in nursing homes and retirement communities.

• Average Salary: $47,700
• Percentage of LPNs in This Specialty: 26.6%
• Total LPNs in This Specialty: 179,290

4. Nephrology LPN

Nephrology LPNs work with patients who have or are at risk for kidney disease, often alongside comorbid conditions like bone disease, diabetes, or hypertension. Subspecialties include hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, and the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology offers hemodialysis certification. Most work in dialysis clinics, hospitals, physicians' offices, or patients' homes. The role suits nurses who prioritize patient safety, follow protocols closely, and bring patience and empathy to families.

• Average Salary: $46,600
• Percentage of LPNs in This Specialty: 0.9%
• Total LPNs in This Specialty: 6,140

The LPN Outlook

LPNs enter a growing field. HRSA has projected a national shortage of 151,500 LPNs by 2030. The profession also offers a wide range of specialties, so you can focus on the populations or conditions you care most about, and you can earn your credential in under 12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which LPN specialties pay the most? In the 2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey, occupational health and rehabilitation LPNs reported the highest averages at about $50,000, followed by palliative and hospice, geriatric, and nephrology roles.

How much do LPNs earn on average? The median LPN/LVN wage was $62,340 in May 2024, according to the BLS. The lowest 10% earned under $47,960 and the top 10% more than $80,510.

What is the most common LPN specialty? Geriatric and gerontology nursing, which accounted for more than a quarter of LPNs in the 2020 workforce survey, with roughly 179,000 practitioners.

Is demand for LPNs growing? Yes. The BLS projects 3% growth from 2024 to 2034 with about 54,400 openings a year, and HRSA has projected a national LPN shortage, so demand should stay steady.

Can an LPN earn more without becoming an RN? Yes. Moving into a higher-paying specialty, working in a top-paying state, or adding certifications (for example dialysis through nephrology nursing) can raise pay. Bridging to an RN raises it further.