LPN salary by state: licensed practical nurse pay in every state, ranked
The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the U.S. median for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses at $64,400 a year (about $30.96 an hour), across 648,410 jobs. Pay depends heavily on the state: Washington has the highest median at $83,150 and Puerto Rico the lowest at $30,760, a gap of $52,390. 24 of 54 states and territories are above the national median.
LPN pay by state, ranked by median
All employers, all experience levels. Hourly figures are annual ÷ 2,080, the conversion BLS uses. Middle 50% means the 25th to 75th percentile.
| # | State | Median | Hourly | Middle 50% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $83,150 | $39.98 | $76,920–$93,970 | 6,780 |
| 2 | Alaska | $80,800 | $38.85 | $70,490–$87,380 | 290 |
| 3 | Oregon | $80,470 | $38.69 | $73,040–$90,690 | 4,260 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $80,220 | $38.57 | $72,610–$84,570 | 13,210 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $80,090 | $38.50 | $77,890–$81,170 | 1,290 |
| 6 | California | $79,750 | $38.34 | $74,840–$93,720 | 82,850 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $77,110 | $37.07 | $67,650–$82,760 | 2,220 |
| 8 | Arizona | $77,070 | $37.05 | $66,770–$81,860 | 6,530 |
| 9 | Nevada | $76,160 | $36.62 | $65,930–$79,570 | 3,350 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $75,740 | $36.41 | $63,960–$81,400 | 1,040 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $75,160 | $36.13 | $66,890–$79,980 | 17,410 |
| 12 | Illinois | $75,000 | $36.06 | $63,580–$79,560 | 17,440 |
| 13 | Maryland | $74,660 | $35.89 | $65,300–$79,670 | 9,560 |
| 14 | Colorado | $73,880 | $35.52 | $61,890–$79,800 | 4,920 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $73,690 | $35.43 | $66,660–$76,830 | 8,540 |
| 16 | Maine | $73,200 | $35.19 | $63,530–$77,420 | 760 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $71,140 | $34.20 | $62,460–$75,250 | 840 |
| 18 | Vermont | $69,930 | $33.62 | $61,490–$78,230 | 1,130 |
| 19 | Delaware | $68,710 | $33.03 | $64,420–$75,020 | 2,240 |
| 20 | New York | $67,180 | $32.30 | $61,400–$76,960 | 39,400 |
| 21 | Indiana | $65,720 | $31.60 | $61,060–$73,430 | 14,480 |
| 22 | Michigan | $65,460 | $31.47 | $62,050–$73,880 | 10,880 |
| 23 | Virginia | $64,920 | $31.21 | $59,610–$74,540 | 15,550 |
| 24 | Virgin Islands | $64,660 | $31.09 | $54,820–$76,850 | 50 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $63,940 | $30.74 | $60,350–$72,810 | 38,260 |
| 26 | Idaho | $63,800 | $30.67 | $58,310–$74,050 | 1,880 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $63,760 | $30.65 | $59,620–$75,010 | 7,390 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $63,750 | $30.65 | $59,960–$71,270 | 12,840 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $63,460 | $30.51 | $58,810–$70,840 | 480 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $63,270 | $30.42 | $59,270–$69,700 | 18,010 |
| 31 | Utah | $63,230 | $30.40 | $53,480–$74,580 | 1,680 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $62,660 | $30.13 | $59,080–$71,860 | 4,580 |
| 33 | Iowa | $62,630 | $30.11 | $56,400–$70,840 | 5,510 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $62,300 | $29.95 | $58,290–$65,020 | 1,920 |
| 35 | Texas | $62,240 | $29.92 | $57,110–$68,410 | 57,560 |
| 36 | Montana | $62,210 | $29.91 | $58,130–$66,850 | 1,620 |
| 37 | Georgia | $62,030 | $29.82 | $52,900–$70,690 | 21,060 |
| 38 | Ohio | $61,950 | $29.78 | $56,860–$65,900 | 39,900 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $61,820 | $29.72 | $57,390–$71,220 | 9,400 |
| 40 | Florida | $61,770 | $29.70 | $58,540–$64,710 | 38,620 |
| 41 | Kansas | $61,760 | $29.69 | $56,260–$69,470 | 7,530 |
| 42 | Missouri | $61,530 | $29.58 | $56,280–$70,230 | 14,700 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $60,460 | $29.07 | $54,290–$65,090 | 8,570 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $59,330 | $28.52 | $39,370–$73,090 | 2,460 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $58,870 | $28.30 | $49,170–$62,650 | 20,830 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $58,320 | $28.04 | $50,040–$62,060 | 11,540 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $57,470 | $27.63 | $49,650–$61,220 | 17,600 |
| 48 | Alabama | $57,030 | $27.42 | $48,150–$61,800 | 11,580 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $56,620 | $27.22 | $49,550–$61,220 | 10,010 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $55,360 | $26.62 | $49,320–$61,300 | 6,050 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $52,750 | $25.36 | $49,680–$61,300 | 2,050 |
| 52 | Mississippi | $50,220 | $24.14 | $46,790–$58,030 | 9,850 |
| 53 | Guam | $42,870 | $20.61 | $37,620–$49,510 | 90 |
| 54 | Puerto Rico | $30,760 | $14.79 | $24,910–$46,820 | 2,990 |
How to use this
A state median is a starting point, not your number: metro pay inside one state can differ by 20% or more, and BLS covers all experience levels together. Look up your metro, then run the free check to see your percentile. If you’re below the 75th percentile for your metro (lpn nationally: $76,030), that gap is usually a reasonable ask.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; U.S. Department of Labor OFLC LCA disclosure data, FY2026 Q3 (certified, full-time). Base wages only. Not financial advice.
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