🏥 Healthcare ↑ 5% growth · Average

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

LPNs provide basic nursing care under RN/physician supervision — taking vitals, administering meds, dressing wounds. One of the fastest paths into full-time healthcare with a real clinical role.

$54,620 Median Salary

742K US Jobs

12–18 months Training

$10,000–$25,000 Typical Cost

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💰 Salary & Earning Potential

Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Figures represent national averages — local wages vary by state, city, and employer.

LPNs typically earn $22–$32 per hour, or $46,000–$66,000 annually. Long-term care facility LPNs in California, Washington, and Massachusetts earn at the top of the national range. Hospital-based LPNs typically earn above nursing home LPNs due to higher acuity environments and shift differential premiums. Union LPNs in SEIU and state nursing union bargaining units earn the highest wages with comprehensive benefits. Annual earnings with overtime are common — facilities with staffing shortages rely heavily on LPN overtime, which significantly boosts take-home pay.

Entry Level

$41,000

Median

$54,620

Experienced

$67,000

Want your state's salary? Select a state below to see local wage data, demand, and training programs.

📈 Job Outlook

Projected Growth (10yr)

Average

742K

Total US Jobs

Active positions nationwide

LPN/LVN License

Required Credential

LPN/LVN License (NCLEX-PN)

LPNs are employed in long-term care facilities, hospitals, physician offices, home health agencies, and correctional facilities. The BLS projects faster-than-average employment growth driven by the aging population requiring long-term care, the expanded role of nurse practitioners requiring LPN support in primary care, and the persistent RN shortage that has elevated LPN responsibilities in some settings. The transition toward team-based care models recognizes the LPN's value in managing stable patients and routine care tasks, freeing RNs for higher-acuity clinical work. States that have expanded LPN scope of practice to include IV therapy and medication management have broadened the practice environment.

🎓 Training & Education

Typical Program

Practical Nursing Diploma

Program Length

12–18 months

Typical Tuition

$10,000–$25,000

Work Setting

Nursing homes, clinics, hospitals, home health

LPN programs are offered at community colleges and vocational schools, typically running 12–18 months. Programs cover anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, nursing fundamentals, medical-surgical nursing, geriatric care, and maternal-child nursing. Clinical rotations in hospitals, nursing homes, and physician offices provide hands-on patient care experience. After completing the program, graduates must pass the NCLEX-PN examination to receive state licensure. Many LPNs pursue LPN-to-RN bridge programs after working — leveraging their LPN education and experience toward an RN associate degree through an accelerated pathway that acknowledges prior learning.

🏆 Credential Required: LPN/LVN License (NCLEX-PN)

☀️ Day in the Life

A Licensed Practical Nurse begins the shift at a long-term care facility by receiving report on each resident assigned to their care — noting medication administration changes, physician order updates, wound care orders, and any acute issues to monitor. They begin the medication administration pass — pulling medications from the dispensing cabinet, checking the five rights for each administration, and documenting each medication in the eMAR. A resident's wound dressing change follows — cleaning the wound, assessing for signs of infection or healing progress, applying the prescribed dressing according to the care plan, and documenting the wound assessment with measurements. Throughout the shift, LPNs monitor resident conditions, obtain and document vital signs, respond to call lights, and communicate abnormal findings to the supervising registered nurse. In a physician's office, an LPN performs intake vitals, administers injections, processes lab specimens, and assists the physician with procedures.

⚖️ Pros & Cons

Pros

Faster entry into nursing practice than RN programs: LPN programs take 12–18 months compared to 2–4 years for RN programs — a faster path to clinical practice and healthcare income.
Strong and growing demand in long-term care: Aging population demand for skilled nursing facility and assisted living care is creating persistent LPN hiring needs with multiple competing job offers available.
LPN-to-RN bridge pathway supports career advancement: The LPN credential provides a foundation for bridge programs that allow advancement to RN licensure with credit for prior nursing education.
Meaningful direct patient care role: LPNs provide hands-on nursing care — dressing changes, medication administration, and patient monitoring — directly improving patient outcomes.
Geographic flexibility in employment: LPN positions are available in every community where healthcare is provided — one of the most geographically portable healthcare credentials.

Cons

Scope of practice limitations relative to RN: LPN scope is restricted compared to RNs — they cannot independently assess patients, make nursing diagnoses, or initiate care without RN delegation in most states.
Long-term care work is physically and emotionally demanding: The workload of caring for multiple medically complex residents — managing medications, wounds, and acute changes — is intense and emotionally taxing.
Wages below RN for comparable clinical demands: LPNs in some settings manage nearly as complex a patient load as RNs while earning significantly less — a compensation equity issue recognized in the field.
Night shifts and holiday coverage required: 24-hour facility care requires LPN rotation through nights, weekends, and holidays — schedule demands that affect quality of life.

📍 Stratford, CT

Award

How to compare these options

Look for programs that align with the most common hiring path for Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in your state.
Ask whether graduates are prepared for any required credential, license, or employer screening step.
Compare cost, completion time, and schedule before making a final decision.

🗺️ Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) by State

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