Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
SOC code 29-2061 · O*NET-SOC 29-2061.00 · Medium preparation needed · Healthcare
LPN/LVN programs take about a year and end in a state licence — the fastest route to a nursing credential. Many practical nurses later bridge to registered nursing through LPN-to-RN programs while working.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$64,400
a year
Hourly
$30.96
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$67,050
$32.24 per hour
Middle 50%
$59,000 – $76,030
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$49,740 – $83,440
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
648,410
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $49,740
- $23.91/hr
- 25th percentile
- $59,000
- $28.37/hr
- Median percentile
- $64,400
- $30.96/hr
- 75th percentile
- $76,030
- $36.55/hr
- 90th percentile
- $83,440
- $40.12/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+3%
Growing about as fast as average
651,400
jobs in 2024
668,500
projected for 2034
About 17,100 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses do?
Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
- Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
- Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
- Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.
- Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.
- Provide medical treatment or personal care to patients in private home settings, such as cooking, keeping rooms orderly, seeing that patients are comfortable and in good spirits, or instructing family members in simple nursing tasks.
- Supervise nurses' aides or assistants.
- Sterilize equipment and supplies, using germicides, sterilizer, or autoclave.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold some college courses — 38% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Some College Courses38%
- Post-Secondary Certificate35%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree16%
- Bachelor's Degree11%
Common questions
How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn?
The national median is $64,400 a year. The full range runs from $49,740 at the 10th percentile to $83,440 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 3% between 2024 and 2034 — growing about as fast as average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.0/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Psychology3.7/5
- Medicine and Dentistry3.7/5
- Administration and Management3.3/5
- Education and Training3.2/5
- Therapy and Counseling3.1/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.