LPN Salary Calculator: Compare Salaries by State
Use this interactive calculator to see exactly what Licensed Practical Nurses earn in your state. Select any state below to see the median salary, percentile breakdown, top-paying cities, career comparisons, and cost-of-living adjusted pay — all sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2024 data.
The national median LPN salary is $59,730 per year, but pay varies dramatically by state — from $42,720 in Mississippi to $67,010 in California. Find out where your state ranks.
$59,730 $70,000
Salary Percentiles
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Top-Paying Cities
| City | Median Salary |
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CNA vs LPN vs RN Salary
| Role | Median Salary | Difference |
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Cost of Living Adjustment
Nominal Salary
COL-Adjusted
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Methodology & Data Sources
All salary data in this calculator comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) program, May 2024 release. LPN/LVN salaries use SOC code 29-2061; CNA salaries use SOC 31-1131; RN salaries use SOC 29-1141.
State-level percentile estimates (10th, 25th, 75th, 90th) are derived by applying national percentile ratios to each state's median salary. While this provides a reliable estimate, actual state percentile distributions may vary slightly from these projections.
Cost-of-living adjustments use the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities (RPPs), 2023 release. A COL index of 100 represents the national average. States below 100 have lower living costs (your dollar goes further); states above 100 have higher costs.
For complete salary analysis including metro-area data and work-setting breakdowns, visit our full LPN salary guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is this salary calculator?
This calculator uses official salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2024 release. State median salaries and employment figures are exact BLS numbers. Percentile estimates for individual states are derived by applying national percentile ratios to state medians. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities. While no calculator can predict your exact salary, this tool provides the most reliable publicly available data for LPN compensation by state.
What affects LPN salary by state?
LPN salaries vary by state due to several factors: cost of living (higher-cost states like California pay more in nominal terms), local demand for nurses (states with nursing shortages often pay premiums), employer type (government positions pay the most, nursing homes the least), experience level, specialty certifications (IV therapy, wound care), and shift differentials (night and weekend shifts add 10-20% to base pay). Urban metro areas within each state also tend to pay more than rural areas.
Where does this data come from?
All salary data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) program, May 2024 release, SOC code 29-2061 (Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses). CNA data uses SOC 31-1131 and RN data uses SOC 29-1141. Cost-of-living indices are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities, 2023 release.