Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (SOC 29-2061) employed 648,410 people in May 2025. The median pay is $64,400 a year ($30.96 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,740 and the highest-paid 10% more than $83,440. BLS projects its employment to change by +3.0% between 2025 and 2035 (about 51,800 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Highest median pay: Washington ($83,150), Alaska ($80,800), Oregon ($80,470). Most jobs: California (82,850), Texas (57,560), Ohio (39,900).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| 25th percentile | $59,000 | $28.37 |
| Median | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Mean | $67,050 | $32.24 |
| 75th percentile | $76,030 | $36.55 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $83,440 | $40.12 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 666,900 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 686,700 |
| Change in jobs | 19,700 |
| Percent change | +3.0% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 51,800 |
| Self-employed share | 0.9% |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 11,580 | 1.31 | $57,030 | $39,880 | $69,120 | -11% | 23% |
| Alaska | 290 | 0.21 | $80,800 | $62,400 | $96,700 | +25% | 21% |
| Arizona | 6,530 | 0.48 | $77,070 | $61,050 | $89,850 | +20% | 26% |
| Arkansas | 10,010 | 1.84 | $56,620 | $44,670 | $65,020 | -12% | 21% |
| California | 82,850 | 1.09 | $79,750 | $64,390 | $100,450 | +24% | 32% |
| Colorado | 4,920 | 0.41 | $73,880 | $50,820 | $84,440 | +15% | 30% |
| Connecticut | 8,540 | 1.21 | $73,690 | $62,610 | $81,060 | +14% | 25% |
| Delaware | 2,240 | 1.11 | $68,710 | $59,210 | $77,580 | +7% | 27% |
| District of Columbia | 1,040 | 0.36 | $75,740 | $62,880 | $87,470 | +18% | 31% |
| Florida | 38,620 | 0.93 | $61,770 | $50,450 | $74,320 | -4% | 35% |
| Georgia | 21,060 | 1.03 | $62,030 | $46,010 | $76,690 | -4% | 29% |
| Hawaii | 840 | 0.32 | $71,140 | $59,620 | $88,340 | +10% | 33% |
| Idaho | 1,880 | 0.53 | $63,800 | $47,890 | $77,850 | -1% | 26% |
| Illinois | 17,440 | 0.69 | $75,000 | $58,880 | $89,810 | +16% | 21% |
| Indiana | 14,480 | 1.08 | $65,720 | $50,550 | $77,220 | +2% | 20% |
| Iowa | 5,510 | 0.85 | $62,630 | $50,550 | $77,710 | -3% | 19% |
| Kansas | 7,530 | 1.26 | $61,760 | $49,780 | $77,290 | -4% | 21% |
| Kentucky | 8,570 | 1.03 | $60,460 | $48,420 | $73,220 | -6% | 20% |
| Louisiana | 17,600 | 2.18 | $57,470 | $45,810 | $66,150 | -11% | 22% |
| Maine | 760 | 0.28 | $73,200 | $56,160 | $82,600 | +14% | 20% |
| Maryland | 9,560 | 0.83 | $74,660 | $60,720 | $90,010 | +16% | 28% |
| Massachusetts | 13,210 | 0.87 | $80,220 | $61,690 | $93,980 | +25% | 28% |
| Michigan | 10,880 | 0.59 | $65,460 | $56,160 | $77,780 | +2% | 21% |
| Minnesota | 12,840 | 1.04 | $63,750 | $51,700 | $77,380 | -1% | 24% |
| Mississippi | 9,850 | 2.03 | $50,220 | $39,320 | $60,910 | -22% | 24% |
| Missouri | 14,700 | 1.20 | $61,530 | $48,580 | $77,120 | -4% | 21% |
| Montana | 1,620 | 0.76 | $62,210 | $49,230 | $74,330 | -3% | 23% |
| Nebraska | 4,580 | 1.07 | $62,660 | $50,890 | $77,940 | -3% | 21% |
| Nevada | 3,350 | 0.52 | $76,160 | $61,750 | $89,420 | +18% | 27% |
| New Hampshire | 2,220 | 0.78 | $77,110 | $59,860 | $93,660 | +20% | 24% |
| New Jersey | 17,410 | 0.97 | $75,160 | $63,210 | $85,400 | +17% | 29% |
| New Mexico | 2,460 | 0.68 | $59,330 | $38,090 | $78,110 | -8% | 23% |
| New York | 39,400 | 0.98 | $67,180 | $54,480 | $81,530 | +4% | 29% |
| North Carolina | 18,010 | 0.87 | $63,270 | $50,480 | $74,730 | -2% | 25% |
| North Dakota | 1,920 | 1.07 | $62,300 | $50,950 | $74,130 | -3% | 19% |
| Ohio | 39,900 | 1.72 | $61,950 | $50,030 | $74,120 | -4% | 21% |
| Oklahoma | 11,540 | 1.62 | $58,320 | $45,440 | $66,410 | -9% | 21% |
| Oregon | 4,260 | 0.52 | $80,470 | $64,000 | $98,990 | +25% | 24% |
| Pennsylvania | 38,260 | 1.51 | $63,940 | $51,500 | $77,750 | -1% | 23% |
| Rhode Island | 1,290 | 0.62 | $80,090 | $65,650 | $94,540 | +24% | 21% |
| South Carolina | 9,400 | 0.98 | $61,820 | $50,370 | $76,420 | -4% | 25% |
| South Dakota | 2,050 | 1.08 | $52,750 | $40,770 | $67,700 | -18% | 23% |
| Tennessee | 20,830 | 1.52 | $58,870 | $41,110 | $67,540 | -9% | 26% |
| Texas | 57,560 | 0.98 | $62,240 | $48,910 | $76,140 | -3% | 28% |
| Utah | 1,680 | 0.23 | $63,230 | $37,480 | $77,540 | -2% | 30% |
| Vermont | 1,130 | 0.89 | $69,930 | $50,230 | $84,710 | +9% | 23% |
| Virginia | 15,550 | 0.91 | $64,920 | $50,580 | $79,170 | +1% | 30% |
| Washington | 6,780 | 0.46 | $83,150 | $64,230 | $100,950 | +29% | 26% |
| West Virginia | 6,050 | 2.07 | $55,360 | $45,690 | $70,960 | -14% | 19% |
| Wisconsin | 7,390 | 0.60 | $63,760 | $51,820 | $78,490 | -1% | 21% |
| Wyoming | 480 | 0.41 | $63,460 | $46,700 | $77,000 | -1% | 19% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 3,290 | $95,320 | $77,320 | $113,220 | 0.70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 8,800 | $94,310 | $75,900 | $109,120 | 0.89 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 870 | $92,580 | $74,280 | $110,300 | 1.01 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,470 | $85,690 | $70,380 | $103,310 | 0.40 |
| Vallejo, CA | 870 | $85,430 | $68,730 | $106,490 | 1.44 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,250 | $83,510 | $65,060 | $102,780 | 0.45 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 8,410 | $82,190 | $61,680 | $94,110 | 0.75 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 4,760 | $81,570 | $65,670 | $104,880 | 1.06 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 330 | $81,350 | $63,520 | $98,800 | 0.62 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 370 | $81,250 | $65,590 | $98,800 | 0.93 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 340 | $81,000 | $64,510 | $101,820 | 0.82 |
| Salinas, CA | 710 | $80,910 | $64,340 | $96,370 | 0.92 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 440 | $79,940 | $65,690 | $107,280 | 0.87 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 6,610 | $79,720 | $64,950 | $96,390 | 1.03 |
| Salem, OR | 660 | $79,600 | $65,420 | $95,370 | 0.83 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 33,590 | $79,310 | $64,200 | $96,630 | 1.28 |
| Worcester, MA | 2,030 | $79,060 | $63,530 | $97,190 | 1.39 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,230 | $79,020 | $64,530 | $95,270 | 0.91 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 650 | $79,010 | $65,410 | $95,650 | 0.78 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 2,540 | $78,990 | $63,010 | $90,530 | 0.85 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 670 | $78,950 | $61,810 | $96,140 | 0.63 |
| Chico, CA | 380 | $78,750 | $63,470 | $92,660 | 1.16 |
| Reno, NV | 510 | $78,600 | $62,800 | $90,970 | 0.44 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 380 | $78,480 | $65,070 | $90,370 | 1.60 |
| Yuba City, CA | 330 | $78,260 | $64,750 | $90,770 | 1.54 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,120 | $78,200 | $61,940 | $102,830 | 1.37 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 4,450 | $78,080 | $62,720 | $93,750 | 0.45 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 11,420 | $78,070 | $62,200 | $96,530 | 0.61 |
| Springfield, MA | 920 | $77,850 | $59,180 | $88,060 | 1.10 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1,430 | $77,830 | $63,390 | $96,150 | 1.19 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 590 | $77,790 | $63,180 | $94,530 | 0.90 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 310 | $77,650 | $63,760 | $77,960 | 1.52 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 8,200 | $76,970 | $62,480 | $93,180 | 1.15 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 1,480 | $76,130 | $62,070 | $91,460 | 1.05 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 760 | $76,090 | $59,510 | $86,080 | 0.91 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 300 | $75,950 | $63,430 | $83,060 | 0.25 |
| Tucson, AZ | 1,150 | $75,940 | $59,890 | $87,860 | 0.71 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 350 | $75,920 | $58,300 | $90,940 | 0.70 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 2,600 | $75,920 | $61,200 | $88,580 | 0.55 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 32,410 | $75,910 | $62,570 | $87,420 | 0.82 |
| Merced, CA | 300 | $75,890 | $61,840 | $83,200 | 0.91 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 7,170 | $75,860 | $61,880 | $87,470 | 0.55 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 2,700 | $75,810 | $51,610 | $89,550 | 0.40 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 590 | $75,610 | $61,120 | $83,720 | 1.13 |
| Fresno, CA | 2,360 | $75,580 | $62,160 | $94,420 | 1.19 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 880 | $75,380 | $62,840 | $80,890 | 0.87 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,860 | $75,180 | $63,810 | $87,780 | 1.10 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 5,120 | $74,860 | $61,130 | $96,130 | 0.90 |
| El Centro, CA | 300 | $74,710 | $62,140 | $91,180 | 1.11 |
| Redding, CA | 510 | $74,140 | $60,460 | $91,900 | 1.72 |
| New Haven, CT | 1,560 | $73,820 | $62,280 | $80,220 | 1.33 |
| Visalia, CA | 830 | $73,540 | $61,070 | $89,270 | 1.16 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 3,010 | $72,800 | $61,870 | $80,050 | 1.20 |
| Peoria, IL | 630 | $72,270 | $58,040 | $78,870 | 0.91 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 1,030 | $71,850 | $63,010 | $78,510 | 1.54 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 520 | $71,840 | $59,620 | $90,790 | 0.28 |
| Vineland, NJ | 370 | $71,410 | $58,080 | $74,910 | 1.44 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 15,920 | $70,710 | $60,620 | $79,690 | 1.32 |
| Rockford, IL | 440 | $70,090 | $52,170 | $82,460 | 0.76 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 4,540 | $69,300 | $61,550 | $77,790 | 0.57 |
The median is $64,400 a year ($30.96 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $49,740 and the highest-paid tenth over $83,440 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
648,410 in May 2025, and BLS projects +3.0% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS).
Washington, with a median of $83,150 (among states with published figures).