Licensed practical nurses (LPN), or licensed vocational nurses (LVN) as they are known in some states, work in varied healthcare settings, including skilled nursing facilities, physician offices, home health care agencies, hospitals, and assisted living centers. As of May 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that nearly 698,000 LPNs and LVNs were employed in the the U.S. The BLS further estimated that, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for LPNs and LVNs was $48,500 per year, which compared to a $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S. From state-to-state there was considerable variation in the average annual wages earned by LPNs and LVNs, with practitioners in some regions of the country earning 50% or more than their counterparts elsewhere. From BLS data of May 2019, the ten states where licensed practical or vocational nurses earned the most were:
| Alaska | $63,850 |
| Massachusetts | $60,340 |
| California | $60,240 |
| Rhode Island | $59,860 |
| Nevada | $58,470 |
| Washington | $57,940 |
| New Jersey | $57,510 |
| Connecticut | $57,380 |
| Maryland | $55,020 |
| Oregon | $54,740 |
Bringing up the rear for LPN/LVN pay were these ten states:
| Georgia | $42,570 |
| South Carolina | $42,190 |
| Oklahoma | $42,090 |
| Tennessee | $41,270 |
| Arkansas | $40,760 |
| Louisiana | $40,300 |
| Alabama | $39,310 |
| Mississippi | $39,020 |
| South Dakota | $38,760 |
| West Virginia | $37,500 |
So where does your state rank for LPN/LVN pay?
Refer to Licensed Practical Nurse Average Wages by State for more information.
