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Licensed Practical Nurse

O*NET-SOC: 29-2061.00

Healthcare

Provides basic nursing care under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians, including monitoring vital signs, administering medications, changing wound dressings, and assisting patients with daily activities.

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$62K

Median Salary

+5%

Stable

High School Diploma

Min. Education

Demanding

Work-Life Balance

About This Role Licensed practical nurses provide hands-on patient care under the direction of registered nurses and doctors, handling many of the day-to-day tasks that keep patients comfortable, safe, and on track with their treatment plans. A shift typically begins with a handoff from the outgoing nurse, where they learn about each patient's condition, medications, and any changes that happened overnight.

From there, the day is a steady cycle of checking vital signs, administering medications, changing wound dressings, helping patients with bathing and mobility, and documenting everything in the electronic health record.

A Day in the Life

6:30 AM

Shift report handoff

Meet with the outgoing nurse to review each patient's condition, new lab results, and any orders that came in overnight.

7:00 AM

Morning assessments

Check vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, pulse), do basic neurological checks, and weigh patients as needed.

8:30 AM

Medication round

Administer scheduled medications by mouth or injection, scanning each patient's wristband to verify the right drug and dose.

11:00 AM

Wound care

Assess and clean wounds, change dressings, and document how each wound is healing for the supervising nurse.

12:30 PM

Lunch and charting

Take a break, then record the morning's observations, fluid intake, and output in the electronic health record.

1:30 PM

IV and infusion care

Start or monitor intravenous medications such as antibiotics, flush IV lines, and check the insertion sites for problems.

3:30 PM

Patient education

Teach a patient how to use a blood sugar monitor at home or walk a family through discharge instructions.

6:30 PM

Handoff prep

Update the incoming shift on each patient's status, tidy up supply areas, and finish any remaining documentation.

Tools & Technologies

• Medical & Health Records
• eClinicalWorks

• Epic Systems

• MEDITECH
• Electronic medical record EMR software

• HCPCS

• Video Conferencing

• Zoom

• FaceTime

• Email

• Microsoft Outlook

• Microsoft Exchange

• Spreadsheets

• Microsoft Excel

• Office Suites

• Microsoft Office

• Operating Systems

• Microsoft Windows

Salary Details

Salary Distribution

Salary distribution for Licensed Practical Nurse: 10th percentile $48K, 25th $55K, median $62K, 75th $73K, 90th $81K Median $48K $55K $62K $73K $81K

Most professionals earn between $55K and $73K

Licensed Practical Nurse salary percentile distribution Percentile Salary 10th $48K 25th $55K 50th (Median) $62K 75th $73K 90th $81K

Salary by State

Licensed Practical Nurse salary by state map

Licensed Practical Nurse salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range Washington $80K $62K - $97K Rhode Island $78K $63K - $91K Alaska $78K $60K - $96K California $77K $62K - $100K Oregon $77K $63K - $95K Massachusetts $77K $63K - $90K New Hampshire $75K $55K - $94K Arizona $74K $58K - $83K Nevada $74K $59K - $85K New Jersey $71K $60K - $80K Maine $71K $51K - $100K District of Columbia $70K $59K - $81K Maryland $70K $59K - $86K Connecticut $69K $59K - $80K Colorado $67K $52K - $83K Delaware $66K $55K - $76K Illinois $66K $51K - $84K Hawaii $66K $54K - $81K Vermont $65K $50K - $99K New York $64K $51K - $80K Michigan $64K $53K - $77K Indiana $64K $50K - $75K Virginia $62K $48K - $77K Pennsylvania $62K $49K - $77K Wyoming $62K $48K - $74K Idaho $62K $28K - $76K Utah $62K $42K - $79K North Carolina $61K $49K - $76K Wisconsin $61K $51K - $75K Ohio $61K $48K - $74K Minnesota $61K $50K - $73K North Dakota $61K $49K - $73K New Mexico $61K $38K - $76K Nebraska $61K $47K - $74K Texas $60K $48K - $74K Florida $60K $49K - $73K Kansas $60K $49K - $73K Montana $60K $47K - $75K Iowa $59K $49K - $75K South Carolina $59K $48K - $70K Missouri $59K $46K - $75K Georgia $58K $45K - $73K Kentucky $58K $46K - $69K Oklahoma $56K $43K - $65K Tennessee $55K $39K - $65K Louisiana $54K $43K - $64K Arkansas $51K $39K - $63K Alabama $50K $36K - $63K West Virginia $50K $40K - $64K South Dakota $49K $39K - $61K Mississippi $49K $38K - $61K

Licensed Practical Nurse salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range Washington $80K $62K - $97K Rhode Island $78K $63K - $91K Alaska $78K $60K - $96K California $77K $62K - $100K Oregon $77K $63K - $95K Massachusetts $77K $63K - $90K New Hampshire $75K $55K - $94K Arizona $74K $58K - $83K Nevada $74K $59K - $85K New Jersey $71K $60K - $80K Maine $71K $51K - $100K District of Columbia $70K $59K - $81K Maryland $70K $59K - $86K Connecticut $69K $59K - $80K Colorado $67K $52K - $83K Delaware $66K $55K - $76K Illinois $66K $51K - $84K Hawaii $66K $54K - $81K Vermont $65K $50K - $99K New York $64K $51K - $80K Michigan $64K $53K - $77K Indiana $64K $50K - $75K Virginia $62K $48K - $77K Pennsylvania $62K $49K - $77K Wyoming $62K $48K - $74K Idaho $62K $28K - $76K Utah $62K $42K - $79K North Carolina $61K $49K - $76K Wisconsin $61K $51K - $75K Ohio $61K $48K - $74K Minnesota $61K $50K - $73K North Dakota $61K $49K - $73K New Mexico $61K $38K - $76K Nebraska $61K $47K - $74K Texas $60K $48K - $74K Florida $60K $49K - $73K Kansas $60K $49K - $73K Montana $60K $47K - $75K Iowa $59K $49K - $75K South Carolina $59K $48K - $70K Missouri $59K $46K - $75K Georgia $58K $45K - $73K Kentucky $58K $46K - $69K Oklahoma $56K $43K - $65K Tennessee $55K $39K - $65K Louisiana $54K $43K - $64K Arkansas $51K $39K - $63K Alabama $50K $36K - $63K West Virginia $50K $40K - $64K South Dakota $49K $39K - $61K Mississippi $49K $38K - $61K

Lower ($49K-$64K)Middle (~$64K)Higher ($64K-$80K)

Highest Paying States

• 1.Washington$80K
• 2.Rhode Island$78K
• 3.Alaska$78K
• 4.California$77K
• 5.Oregon$77K

Lowest Paying States

• 1.Mississippi$49K
• 2.South Dakota$49K
• 3.West Virginia$50K
• 4.Alabama$50K
• 5.Arkansas$51K

Certifications, Training & Memberships Essential NCLEX-PN Licensure

National Council of State Boards of Nursing

Certification

Exam post-program for LPN practice authorization.

BLS Provider

American Heart Association

Certification

Basic life support required for healthcare.

Recommended

IV Therapy Certification

State Board of Nursing

Certification

Covers infusion skills for LPN scope.

Professional Memberships

National Association of Practical Nurse Education and Service Membership

NAPNES

Membership

Resources and advocacy for LPNs.

Work Environment

Remote Work Mostly On-site

Work Setting Traditional office / indoor

Physical Activity Physically active — significant time on your feet

Social Interaction Highly collaborative — frequent team interaction

Schedule Extended hours common

Your Skills & Attributes

Skills & Competencies Matches (44)

• Complex Problem Solving

Moderate Match

• Learning Strategies

Moderate Match

• Instructing

Moderate Match

• Systems Evaluation

Moderate Match

• Systems Analysis

Moderate Match

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Licensed Practical Nurse a good career?

Licensed Practical Nurse can be a rewarding career choice. Based on current data, the median salary is $62K and job outlook is stable (5% projected growth). Whether it's a good fit depends on your skills, interests, and values — take our quiz to find out how well you match.

What degree do you need to become a Licensed Practical Nurse?

The typical education requirement for a Licensed Practical Nurse is a High School Diploma. However, requirements can vary by employer and specialization. Some professionals enter the field with alternative credentials or relevant work experience.

How long does it take to become a Licensed Practical Nurse?

Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse typically requires about 4 years of high school education. Additional time may be needed for certifications, internships, or on-the-job training depending on the specific role and employer requirements.

What is the work-life balance like for a Licensed Practical Nurse?

The work-life balance for a Licensed Practical Nurse is demanding, often requiring long hours, irregular schedules, or high-pressure situations. Individual experiences vary based on employer, specialization, seniority level, and geographic location.

What is the job outlook for Licensed Practical Nurse?

The job outlook for Licensed Practical Nurse is stable. Employment is projected to grow by 5% over the coming decade. Labor market conditions can vary by region and specialization.

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