According to the Department of Labor (DOL), in May of 2015 (when the most recent data was available on a large scale) the average annual pay for Licensed Practical Nurses in the United States was $44,030, making the average wage $21.17 per hour. Though this was the average, salaries ranged from $32,040 (lowest 10%) to $59,510 (top 90%).

Average LPN Salaries by Industry

Annual pay varies amongst industries where LPNs may find employment, though the most common industries don’t see much variance in their annual LPN salary:

  • Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities): $45,060
  • General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $42,940
  • Offices of Physicians: $40,950
  • Home Health Care Services: $45,460
  • Retirement and Assisted Living Communities: $45,070

Certain specific industries, while they encompass fewer opportunities for LPN employment, may see higher annual salaries:

  • Insurance carriers: $50,230
  • Agencies, brokerages, and other insurance-related activities: $48,210
  • Management, scientific, and technical consulting services: $47,480
  • Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories: $46,670
  • Religious Organizations: $46,610

Average LPN Salaries by State

Not surprisingly, states with the highest employment level for Licensed Practical Nurses are generally those with higher populations. California and Texas each employ more than 65,000 LPNs, while New York, Florida, and Ohio employ more than 40,000 each. The salaries for these states range from $41,000 to $51,000 or more annually, as shown below:

  • Texas: $45,130
  • California: $51,870
  • New York: $46,500
  • Florida: $42,320
  • Ohio: $41,060

Other average annual salaries for LPNs by state include:

  • Illinois: $47,190
  • Pennsylvania: $44,570
  • Georgia: $38,820
  • Michigan: $45,530
  • North Carolina: $41,940
  • New Jersey: $53,300
  • Virginia: $41,190
  • Washington: $49,980
  • Massachusetts: $54,160
  • Arizona: $49,970
  • Indiana: $40,730
  • Tennessee: $37,270
  • Missouri: $38,380
  • Maryland: $51,140
  • Wisconsin: $43,140
  • Minnesota: $42,440
  • Colorado: $47,530
  • Alabama: $36,100
  • South Carolina: $39,410
  • Louisiana: $37,960
  • Kentucky: $39,180
  • Oregon: $49,160
  • Oklahoma: $38,590
  • Connecticut: $55,630

Average LPN Salaries by Metropolitan Areas

Salary rates are also dependent on the market of metropolitan areas. Average annual wages for LPNs in large metropolitan areas include:

  • New York/Jersey City, NY-NJ: $52,690
  • Los Angeles, CA: $49,630
  • Houston, TX: $49,830
  • Dallas, TX: $47,210
  • San Francisco, CA: $61,820
  • Atlanta, GA: $40,730
  • Chicago, IL: $51,310
  • Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN: $44,560
  • Salem, MA: $59,130
  • Washington /Alexandria, DC/VA: $49,380
  • Tampa, FL: $44,000

Average RN Salary

In contrast, the average annual salary for Registered Nurses is $71,000, or $34.14/hour. The lowest-paid 10% of RNs receive $46,360 annually, while the top 90% receive $101,630.

Because RNs have a larger breadth of responsibilities and depth of education, their salaries are markedly higher than LPNs in most industries.

  • Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities): $45,060 LPN/$63,490 RN
  • General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $42,940 LPN/$72,980 RN
  • Offices of Physicians: $40,950 LPN/$65,350 RN
  • Home Health Care Services: $45,460 LPN/$68,510 RN

Registered Nurses are also eligible for more opportunities that allow them to find positions in different industries, including outpatient care centers ($73,620 average annual salary), nursing careers in the Federal Executive Branch ($82,620 average annual salary), and psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals ($67,580 average annual salary).

RN vs LPN Salary

The average annual salary of Registered Nurses is more varied than the average annual salary of Licensed Practical Nurses. Here is how LPN salary compares to RN salary in several states and metropolitan areas:

  • Texas: $45,130 LPN/$69,890 RN
  • California: $51,870 LPN/$101,260 RN
  • New York: $46,500 LPN/$78,950 RN
  • Florida: $42,320 LPN/$63,960 RN
  • Pennsylvania: $44,570 LPN/$67,550 RN
  • Massachusetts: $54,160 LPN/$88,650 RN
  • Arizona: $49,970 LPN/$71,790 RN
  • Indiana: $40,730 LPN/$58,910 RN
  • Tennessee: $37,270 LPN/$57,560 RN
  • Minnesota: $42,440 LPN/$72,310 RN
  • New York/Jersey City, NY-NJ: $52,690 LPN/$86,410 RN
  • Los Angeles, CA: $49,630 LPN/$96,960 RN
  • Dallas, TX: $47,210 LPN/$72,570
  • San Francisco, CA: $61,820 LPN/$133,650 RN
  • Atlanta, GA: $40,730 LPN/$65,990 RN
  • Chicago, IL: $51,310 LPN/$74,800 RN
  • Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN: $44,560 LPN/$76,960 RN

For additional compensation information, see the full 50 state LPN salary breakdown here.