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Licensed Practical Nurse Salary by State (2026)
Licensed Practical Nurses (Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses) hold 648,450 jobs across the US. Typical pay is $66,500 per year, but the median ranges from $50,220 in Mississippi to $83,150 in Washington. Pick your state for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Licensed Practical Nurse salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| Washington | $83,150 | 6,780 |
| Alaska | $80,800 | 290 |
| Oregon | $80,470 | 4,260 |
| Massachusetts | $80,220 | 13,210 |
| Rhode Island | $80,090 | 1,290 |
| California | $79,750 | 82,850 |
| New Hampshire | $77,110 | 2,220 |
| Arizona | $77,070 | 6,530 |
| Nevada | $76,160 | 3,350 |
| District of Columbia | $75,740 | 1,040 |
| New Jersey | $75,160 | 17,410 |
| Illinois | $75,000 | 17,440 |
| Maryland | $74,660 | 9,560 |
| Colorado | $73,880 | 4,920 |
| Connecticut | $73,690 | 8,540 |
| Maine | $73,200 | 760 |
| Hawaii | $71,140 | 840 |
| Vermont | $69,930 | 1,130 |
| Delaware | $68,710 | 2,240 |
| New York | $67,180 | 39,400 |
| Indiana | $65,720 | 14,480 |
| Michigan | $65,460 | 10,880 |
| Virginia | $64,920 | 15,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,940 | 38,260 |
| Idaho | $63,800 | 1,880 |
| Wisconsin | $63,760 | 7,390 |
| Minnesota | $63,750 | 12,840 |
| Wyoming | $63,460 | 480 |
| North Carolina | $63,270 | 18,010 |
| Utah | $63,230 | 1,680 |
| Nebraska | $62,660 | 4,580 |
| Iowa | $62,630 | 5,510 |
| North Dakota | $62,300 | 1,920 |
| Texas | $62,240 | 57,560 |
| Montana | $62,210 | 1,620 |
| Georgia | $62,030 | 21,060 |
| Ohio | $61,950 | 39,900 |
| South Carolina | $61,820 | 9,400 |
| Florida | $61,770 | 38,620 |
| Kansas | $61,760 | 7,530 |
| Missouri | $61,530 | 14,700 |
| Kentucky | $60,460 | 8,570 |
| New Mexico | $59,330 | 2,460 |
| Tennessee | $58,870 | 20,830 |
| Oklahoma | $58,320 | 11,540 |
| Louisiana | $57,470 | 17,600 |
| Alabama | $57,030 | 11,580 |
| Arkansas | $56,620 | 10,010 |
| West Virginia | $55,360 | 6,050 |
| South Dakota | $52,750 | 2,050 |
| Mississippi | $50,220 | 9,850 |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average Licensed Practical Nurse salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Licensed Practical Nurse salary in the US is about $66,500 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 648,450 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Licensed Practical Nurses the most?
- Washington has the highest median Licensed Practical Nurse salary at $83,150 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Licensed Practical Nurses the least?
- Mississippi has the lowest median at $50,220 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, code 29-2061). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.