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verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Salary in California

Median Annual in California
$79,750/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$38.34/hr
▲ 24% above U.S. median

Salary Distribution in California

groups Employed in CA
82,850
public U.S. Median
$64,400
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$72,029 #11 of 51

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) pay in California, explained

Licensed practical nurses in California earn a median of $79,750 per year ($38.34 per hour), which is 24% above the national median of $64,400. Entry-level workers earn around $64,390, while the most experienced licensed practical nurses reach about $100,450. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within California.

Is $79,750 good pay in California?

Adjusted for California's cost of living (which runs 111% of the U.S. average), that $79,750 is worth about $72,029 in national buying power — ranking California #11 for real pay (vs #6 on the sticker number).

See the full Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) pay by experience in California

Entry level (10th pct)
$64,390
$30.96/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$79,750
$38.34/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$100,450
$48.29/hr

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs CA
California (here) $79,750 $72,029 —
Oregon $80,470 $77,853 −$720
Arizona $77,070 $76,552 +$2,680
Nevada $76,160 $76,176 +$3,590

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in California: FAQ

How much do licensed practical nurses make in California?

Licensed practical nurses in California earn a median of $79,750 per year ($38.34 per hour), compared with $64,400 nationally.

Does California pay licensed practical nurses well?

At $79,750, California pays 24% above the national median for licensed practical nurses. An estimated 82,850 work in the state.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) salary in other states

Washington · $83,150 Alaska · $80,800 Oregon · $80,470 Massachusetts · $80,220 Rhode Island · $80,090 New Hampshire · $77,110 Arizona · $77,070 Nevada · $76,160 District of Columbia · $75,740 New Jersey · $75,160 Illinois · $75,000 Maryland · $74,660

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in California

Registered Nurse $140,270/yr median Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) $47,630/yr median Nurse Practitioner $168,520/yr median