Salaries › Licensed Practical Nurse › California
Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in California (2026)
$38.34 per hour · take-home ≈ $61,594/year ($5,133/month) for a single filer
Licensed Practical Nurse pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $64,390 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $74,840 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $79,750 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $93,720 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $100,450 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 82,850 Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in California (occupation code 29-2061, “Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Licensed Practical Nurse salary of $79,750 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $61,594 — an effective tax rate of 22.8%.
| Gross (median) | $79,750 |
| Federal income tax | −$8,715 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$6,101 |
| California state income tax | −$3,340 |
| Take-home (annual) | $61,594 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $5,133 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Licensed Practical Nurse make in California?
- The median Licensed Practical Nurse salary in California is $79,750 per year ($38.34 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $74,840 and $93,720.
- What is the take-home pay for a Licensed Practical Nurse in California?
- On the median salary of $79,750, a single filer in California takes home about $61,594 per year ($5,133 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 22.8%.
- How many Licensed Practical Nurse jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 82,850 Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Licensed Practical Nurses
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.