Do you want to know complete details about LPN salary in the US? Just go through this guide and find a quick fix.
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) provide support to patients in crisis and emergencies. They are integral parts of a healthcare team. The basic roles of LPNs are medication administration, patient health monitoring, and assisting individuals with daily tasks placing them at the center of clinics, elder care facilities, hospitals, and private residences. Aspiring nurses should know how much they expect to earn so they will be able to choose their area of specialization wisely while at the same time gaining more insight into this fulfilling line of work’s monetary aspect.
Entry-level nurses who provide basic nursing care in patient homes, outpatient clinics, and nursing homes are known as licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). Their education gives them the autonomy to explore specialties and take certifications along with an upwardly mobile salary. In this article, we will discuss the factors that influence LPN salary and the current salary of LPNs in the United States.
Average Salary for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN Salary): What To Expect?
Per annum, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) earn an average of $51,850 or $24.93 an hour (BLS).
The salaries of LPNs depend on experience, skills, certification, geographical location, and area of specialization. According to the BLS data, the lowest-paid LPNs make less than $37,150 while the highest-paid ones earn more than $63,790.
Salaries of LPNs According to Their Specialization
Salaries vary among specializations for LPNs. The following list contains some of the most frequent LPN specialties alongside their associated median salaries, as per the 2020 Nursing Workforce Survey.
| LPN Specialization | Median Salary |
| Pediatrics | $40,000 |
| Home Health | $42,000 |
| Geriatric/Gerontology | $47,000 |
| Rehabilitation | $50,000 |
| Adult Health | $45,000 |
| Family Health | $38,000 |
| Palliative Care | $47,500 |
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Factors Influencing LPN Salary
Many factors influence LPN salary. Some of them are as follows:
Geographic Location:
- Geographical location affects a lot in salary. LPNs working in urban earn more as compared to rural workers. This is because of the higher cost of living and more demand for health care services in cities.
- States like California, Massachusetts, and Alaska typically provide higher wages to LPNs due to higher living costs and more demand for healthcare facilities.
Experience and Education:
- Beginning LPNs normally receive lesser pay than more experienced LPNs. Higher salaries may be earned by senior LPNs or those who take on supplementary duty.
- LPNs with further qualifications or specific areas, such as in the treatment of older people or intravenous transfusions could earn greater wages due to their enriched talents.
Different Types of Healthcare Facility:
- Typically, it is the case that LPNs in hospitals make more money than their counterparts at nursing homes or long-term care facilities because hospital jobs tend to be more intricate and tasking.
- Varied pay scales depend on the disciplines and types of patients in the respective practices where LPNs work like those employed by public institutions and those in private offices or specialized clinics.
Employment Status:
Full-Time versus Part-Time| Full-time LPNs usually earn more money every year than part-time LPNs. In addition to that, full-time jobs could include some benefits like health insurance and pension schemes that will add to your paycheck.
Highest-Paying States for Licensed Practical Nurses
Due to higher costs of living and quality workplaces, LPNs get paid more in states with high salaries. Among LPNs, the top four paying states are generally more expensive to live in. Alongside this, California and Massachusetts are home to three out of the fifteen best hospitals for nurses.
The states with the highest annual pay for LPNs are:
| State | Average Salary |
| California | $65,140 |
| Alaska | $63,650 |
| Washington | $63,250 |
| Massachusetts | $61,820 |
| Nevada | $60,490 |
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Highest-Paying Cities for Licensed Practical Nurses
California is where LPNs make the biggest bucks; it is also the state that comes fourth in terms of the highest cost of living in the US. Depending on where you live in California, you can get between $5,000 and $10,000 annually more than LPNs from other places within that same state.
The cities with the highest annual pay for LPNs are:
| State | Average Salary |
| Napa, CA | $76,890 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $75,880 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $75,410 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $71,180 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $70,720 |
Strategies to Increase Your Salary As a Licensed Practical Nurse
You can earn higher pay as an LPN if you pick up encounters, gain certifications, get your associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree, or alter your work setting.
Consider seeking after certifications
Following the selected state, certification programs furnish specialized endeavors in gerontology, hospice care, or intravenous treatment. LPNs who are certified within a specialized area have advanced knowledge and skills enabling them to provide services in more profitable settings.
Increase instruction level
An associate’s level as well as a bachelor’s degree in nursing can also earn LPNs more income. While it takes less time to get a practical certification or nursing recognition, degree holders enjoy higher salaries and more professional opportunities.
Gain experience
As per the 2020 Nursing Work Force Overview, the earning potential for LPNs with more than five years of experience is better. Based on Payscale figures for February 2023, LPNs may also earn more than average if they have over ten years of work history.
Switch hone settings
Changing work environments could lead to increased income for LPNs. According to BLS data as of March 2022, LPNs are paid the highest average salaries in skilled nursing facilities, outpatient care centers, and home health services.
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Benefits of Licensed Practical Nurse Job
Apart from getting a perfect salary LPNs get many other benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans, which can significantly enhance overall job satisfaction. Additionally, many LPNs find the work rewarding due to the direct impact they have on patient care and well-being.
Conclusion
LPN Salary within the United States offer useful perspectives on the monetary facets associated with practical nursing professions. Not considering the place, prior experience, and the different facilities they are found in; exerting pressure on them makes LPNs have good pay packages and cover a wide range of additional benefits. Thus, it is relevant for aspiring licensed practical nurses to use this knowledge in their decision-making as well as to help develop achievable objectives in terms of profession and finance.
FAQ’s:-
Q1. What is the salary of a LPN nurse in the USA?
Ans. Between now and July 26th, 2024, LPN nurses in the US are predicted to be paid $29.88 per hour on average.
Q2. Which is the highest-paying state for LPNs?
Ans. LVNs and LPNs from California receive the highest pay with an annual median income of $83,700. In second place is Alaska where LVN/LPN earn an average salary of $78,290 followed closely by Washington at $77,520. Demand for LVNs and LPNs is expected to maintain its positive trends with a projected growth rate of 11% between the year 2020 through 2030.
Q3. Who earns the most RN or LPNs?
Ans. RNs tend to secure higher salaries than those earned by LPNs since they have more advanced schooling backgrounds as well as greater responsibilities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that LPNs made an average annual wage of about $48,070 while RN made about $77,600 in 2021.