LPN Salary
Licensed Practical Nurses provide essential patient care under the supervision of registered nurses and doctors. Use this page to compare employer-posted base salary ranges by state and metro, with historical trends from current job postings. Excludes bonuses, equity, tips, and benefits. See methodology. Updated June 18, 2026.
Current salary snapshot
Select a role to focus the salary range.
LPN jobs by U.S. city
Open current LPN jobs in published city pages.
Role Group by State (Mid Salary)
Role Group Salary Range (Lower • Mid • Higher)
Salary by State and Role Snapshot
Top salaries by state
| Market | Higher salaries | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $98K | 18 |
| Oregon | $88K | 20 |
| Minnesota | $87K | 113 |
| Massachusetts | $85K | 134 |
| Washington | $84K | 52 |
| California | $80K | 219 |
| New Hampshire | $78K | 18 |
| Connecticut | $77K | 24 |
Top salaries after cost of living
| Market | Higher salaries, adjusted | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $108K | 18 |
| Minnesota | $89K | 113 |
| Oregon | $85K | 20 |
| Iowa | $84K | 33 |
| Massachusetts | $81K | 134 |
| Wisconsin | $80K | 32 |
| Missouri | $79K | 43 |
| New Mexico | $79K | 12 |
Top salaries by metro
| Market | Higher salaries | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Bay Area | $91K | 34 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $90K | 16 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $90K | 73 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $89K | 40 |
| Vallejo, CA | $88K | 17 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $88K | 12 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $88K | 51 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $88K | 38 |
Related salary pages
| Role | Mid salary | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Support | $47K | 23,974 |
| EMT | $66K | 20,780 |
| Private Duty Nursing | $68K | 8,478 |
| Home Health Aide | $42K | 6,740 |
| Medical Assistant | $48K | 6,102 |
| Registered Nurse | $106K | 5,335 |
| Patient Care Technician | $53K | 3,129 |
| Respiratory Care | $87K | 1,251 |
Figures shown here are grouped from postings that include salary ranges; lower (p25) is the lower listed range, mid (p50) is the middle listed salary, and higher (p75) is the higher listed range.
How to Read Salary Ranges
Salary ranges show what employers are currently advertising for a role. Start with the exact role or closest role group, compare pay across states and metros, and treat lower, mid, and higher values as market anchors rather than a strict experience ladder. Role scope, location, seniority, contract type, travel work, industry demand, and sample size can all move the numbers.
Using Salary Ranges in a Salary Conversation
- Lower salary range
- Useful for early-career roles, narrower scope, or stretch opportunities.
- Mid listed salary
- A practical anchor when your background closely matches the posting.
- Higher salary range
- Stronger anchor for scarce skills, senior experience, management responsibility, specialized expertise, or competing offers.
- Location salary gap
- Useful for discussing local market pay, relocation, remote compensation, or cost-of-living adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How should I use this salary tool?
- Compare pay across states and cities, then set a realistic target before applying or negotiating. State views show broad regional differences; metro views compare specific cities.
- What do lower, mid, and higher salaries mean?
- They show how advertised pay is distributed for a role. Lower is near the bottom of listed ranges, mid is around the middle, and higher is toward the top.
- Where does the salary data come from?
- Current U.S. job postings where employers list pay. The data is grouped by job type, state, metro area, and pay level; it does not use Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates.
- Does the salary data include bonuses, equity, or benefits?
- No. It reflects listed base pay. Tips, bonuses, commissions, equity, benefits, and other compensation are excluded when listed separately.
- Why do salaries differ by state and city?
- Markets differ by employer mix, industry, labor demand, competition, and cost of living. Higher pay in one city may not mean higher purchasing power.
How the Salary Numbers Are Calculated
Figures reflect base pay listed in job postings, not guaranteed pay, actual total earnings, Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates, or official wage statistics. Salaries are converted to yearly U.S. dollars where possible and grouped by role, location, and pay level. Lower is the lower listed range, mid is the middle listed salary, and higher is the higher listed range. Hourly wages are annualized using a 2,080-hour work year; cost-of-living adjustment uses Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities, or BEA RPP. Tips, bonuses, equity, commissions, and benefits are excluded when listed separately from base pay.
Important Notes About the Data
Only postings that list salary information are included, so coverage is stronger in some states than others. Current role mix can affect results, including contract work, travel work, senior roles, junior roles, specialized jobs, and industry-specific demand. On mobile, regional charts may default to areas with the most available data so the view stays readable.