Licensed practical nurse (LPN) pay in San Diego, CA
Licensed practical nurses in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a typical $79,720 a year. The middle half earn $75,440 to $89,040, and the top 10% earn more than $96,390. About 6,610 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, SOC 29-2061).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $64,950 |
| 25th percentile | $75,440 |
| Median (typical) | $79,720 |
| 75th percentile | $89,040 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $96,390 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 7 of 50 large metros for licensed practical nurses before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $79,720, a single filer keeps about $61,700 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and California state income tax. Prices in San Diego are 12% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $55,200 would in a typical US city. That ranks San Diego No. 15 of 50 large metros for licensed practical nurses after cost of living.
Where licensed practical nurses’ pay goes furthest
- San Jose, CA$95,320 typical · worth $64.5k
- Seattle, WA$85,690 typical · worth $62.2k
- Las Vegas, NV$75,920 typical · worth $62.1k
- San Francisco, CA$94,310 typical · worth $61.1k
All 50 metros for licensed practical nurses →
Where does your salary land?
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Common questions
How much does a licensed practical nurse (lpn) make in San Diego, CA?
The typical (median) licensed practical nurse (lpn) in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earns $79,720 a year. The middle half earn between $75,440 and $89,040, and the top 10% earn more than $96,390. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a licensed practical nurse (lpn) in San Diego?
Anything above $79,720 pays more than half of licensed practical nurses in San Diego. $89,040 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $96,390 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a licensed practical nurse (lpn) in San Diego take home after taxes?
At the typical $79,720, a single filer keeps about $61,700 a year ($5,140 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax. With local prices 12% above the US average, that buys what $55,200 would in a typical US city.
Where do licensed practical nurses get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical licensed practical nurse (lpn) pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in San Jose, CA, Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV. San Diego, CA ranks No. 15.
More: Licensed practical nurse (LPN) pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in San Diego, CA
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.