Licensed practical nurse (LPN) pay by city
Across the 50 largest US metros, typical licensed practical nurse (lpn) pay ranges from $59,140 in Memphis, TN to $95,320 in San Jose, CA. After taxes and local prices, it goes furthest in San Jose, CA, Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, SOC 29-2061).
| Rank | Metro | Typical pay | Worth after taxes and prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $95,320 | $64,500 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $85,690 | $62,200 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $75,920 | $62,100 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $94,310 | $61,100 |
| 5 | Providence, RI | $78,990 | $61,000 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $78,080 | $60,000 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $81,570 | $58,900 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $82,190 | $58,000 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $78,070 | $57,900 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $83,510 | $57,800 |
| 11 | Riverside, CA | $76,970 | $56,400 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $75,810 | $56,200 |
| 13 | Hartford, CT | $72,800 | $56,100 |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | $64,420 | $55,400 |
| 15 | San Diego, CA | $79,720 | $55,200 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $67,200 | $55,200 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $64,580 | $55,100 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $62,280 | $55,100 |
| 19 | St. Louis, MO | $65,120 | $54,400 |
| 20 | Cleveland, OH | $63,900 | $54,300 |
| 21 | Milwaukee, WI | $65,410 | $54,300 |
| 22 | Louisville, KY | $64,460 | $54,200 |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | $79,310 | $54,100 |
| 24 | Houston, TX | $63,670 | $54,100 |
| 25 | Cincinnati, OH | $64,180 | $54,100 |
| 26 | Washington, DC | $75,860 | $53,900 |
| 27 | Charlotte, NC | $65,140 | $53,900 |
| 28 | Nashville, TN | $61,940 | $53,900 |
| 29 | Memphis, TN | $59,140 | $53,900 |
| 30 | Baltimore, MD | $74,860 | $53,500 |
| 31 | Grand Rapids, MI | $65,230 | $53,500 |
| 32 | Oklahoma City, OK | $59,860 | $53,200 |
| 33 | Detroit, MI | $69,300 | $53,100 |
| 34 | Raleigh, NC | $64,080 | $52,600 |
| 35 | Salt Lake City, UT | $66,970 | $52,500 |
| 36 | Buffalo, NY | $63,370 | $52,500 |
| 37 | Philadelphia, PA | $70,710 | $52,400 |
| 38 | Dallas, TX | $64,370 | $52,300 |
| 39 | Jacksonville, FL | $62,070 | $52,300 |
| 40 | Birmingham, AL | $61,040 | $52,200 |
| 41 | Virginia Beach, VA | $64,370 | $52,100 |
| 42 | Tampa, FL | $62,490 | $51,900 |
| 43 | Columbus, OH | $61,910 | $51,800 |
| 44 | Richmond, VA | $64,030 | $51,800 |
| 45 | Atlanta, GA | $65,060 | $51,700 |
| 46 | Pittsburgh, PA | $63,060 | $51,700 |
| 47 | Orlando, FL | $61,030 | $50,500 |
| 48 | New York, NY | $75,910 | $49,900 |
| 49 | Minneapolis, MN | $65,660 | $49,600 |
| 50 | Miami, FL | $62,610 | $46,000 |
“Worth” is take-home pay at the typical salary (single filer, 2026 income taxes), divided by local prices, so every city is in the same typical-US-city dollars.
Common questions
Which city pays licensed practical nurses the most?
Before taxes, San Jose, CA has the highest typical licensed practical nurse (lpn) pay among the 50 largest US metros: $95,320 a year. The lowest is Memphis, TN at $59,140. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Where does licensed practical nurse (lpn) pay go furthest after cost of living?
After federal, state, and local income taxes and local prices, typical licensed practical nurse (lpn) pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA, Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV. It goes the least far in Miami, FL, where it's worth about $46,000 in typical-US-city dollars.