How Much Money Do Licensed Practical Nurses Make?

The salary of licensed practical nurses varies from state to state, as well as between areas within a state. The facility in which the nurse is working also affects the amount the LPN will make. The United States Department of Labor Statistics estimated the salaries of various LPN jobs in May of 2006. You can get an idea of how much you might make as an LPN from these numbers.

At that time, the median annual pay of LPNs was $36,550. The middle 50% of LPNs made between $31,080 and $43,640. At the bottom, the lowest 10% made less than $26,380 and the top 10% made more than $50,480. Looking at the industries in which the most LPNs worked, the median income for those working for an employment service was $42,110. The median pay for LPNs working in nursing care facilities was $38,320. For those in home health care services, it was $37,880. LPNs working in hospitals doing general medical/surgical nursing had a median annual income of $35,000, and those working in physicians’ offices had a median income of $32,710 a year.

LPNs who supervise clinical aides in nursing homes make significantly more than those working in the hospital.

Wages for LPNs rose over the next two years, during a period of time in which many workers saw no increase in pay. In 2008, the median annual wage for LPNs was $39,030 (or $18.77 an hour), $2,480 more than two years previously. LPNs working for employment services were still making the most, with mean annual wages of $44,860 (or $21.57 an hour). Licensed practical nurses employed in nursing care facilities earned a mean annual wage of $41,660. Those working in home health care had a mean annual wage of $41,410. LPNs doing medical/surgical nursing in hospitals made $39,340, and those in physicians’ offices made a mean annual wage of $35,940 ($17.28 an hour).

Another way of looking at how much LPNs can earn is geographical. The top four paying states (and one district) in 2008, from fifth to first respectively were California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, and Connecticut. The mean annual wage in Connecticut was $51,780.

The top five metropolitan areas in terms of annual wages for LPNs were, from fifth to first respectively, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, California; San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, California; Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, California; and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California. The top mean annual wage was $57,570.

One factor which increases the pay for LPNs is supervisorial duties. LPNs who supervise clinical aides in nursing homes make significantly more than those working in the hospital. If you are willing to work in a nursing home, there is room for advancement. That possibility is not available to LPNs working in the hospital.

You can also expect to make more money if you can add to your clinical skills. If you earn a certificate allowing you to start and maintain intravenous lines, for example, you will make more money. If you go back to school to become an RN, your wages will eventually be significantly higher.

The best way to get more specific numbers for your area is to look at the employment section of the newspaper or at job boards online, checking your area. You can also get information from the school you attend.

If you are willing to consider all the different areas of nursing, you can get a job more easily as well as a job that pays more. The same is true if you are willing to look both at exactly where you live as well as outlying areas.

LPNs get paid enough, and will continue to be paid enough, and that it is a strong inducement for many people to train as an LPN, go to work, and maybe finish schooling to become an RN after they are already in the workforce.