Licensed practical nurse (LPN) pay in San Jose, CA
Licensed practical nurses in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a typical $95,320 a year. The middle half earn $84,000 to $100,950, and the top 10% earn more than $113,220. About 3,290 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 | $77,320 |
| 25th percentile | $84,000 |
| Median (typical) | $95,320 |
| 75th percentile | $100,950 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $113,220 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 1 of 50 large metros for licensed practical nurses before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $95,320, a single filer keeps about $71,300 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and California state income tax. Prices in San Jose are 10% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $64,500 would in a typical US city. That ranks San Jose No. 1 of 50 large metros for licensed practical nurses after cost of living.
Where licensed practical nurses’ pay goes furthest
- 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
- Providence, RI$78,990 typical · worth $61k
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 Jose, CA?
The typical (median) licensed practical nurse (lpn) in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earns $95,320 a year. The middle half earn between $84,000 and $100,950, and the top 10% earn more than $113,220. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a licensed practical nurse (lpn) in San Jose?
Anything above $95,320 pays more than half of licensed practical nurses in San Jose. $100,950 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $113,220 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 Jose take home after taxes?
At the typical $95,320, a single filer keeps about $71,300 a year ($5,940 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax. With local prices 10% above the US average, that buys what $64,500 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 Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV, San Francisco, CA. San Jose, CA ranks No. 1.
More: Licensed practical nurse (LPN) pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in San Jose, CA
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.