Licensed Practical Nurse Salary

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) care for patients under the leadership of physicians and registered nurses. Among many other important duties, they take vital signs, administer injections, dress wounds and assist patients with activities of daily living such as bathing and getting dressed. For those interested in building a career in this profession, knowing what the licensed practical nurse salary is can be an important part of the decision.

Licensed Practical Nurse Salary Averages

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), of the more than 728,000 individuals employed as LPNs, the mean annual salary in 2009 was $40,900 or approximately $19.66 per hour. The highest licensed practical nurse salary for 2009 was in the employment services industry where practitioners averaged $46,190 per year or $22.21 hourly.

Employment prospects are expected to be very good for LPNs nationwide. However, candidates may choose to relocate to the following states, which offered the highest licensed practical nurse salary annually in 2009:

• Connecticut: $52,300 annually, $25.15 hourly
• New Jersey: $50,350 annually, $24.21 hourly
• Rhode Island: $50,010 annually, $24.04 hourly
• California: $49,940 annually, $24.01 hourly
• New Mexico: $49,760, $23.92 hourly

The BLS reports that once a nursing student completes practical nursing coursework, he or she must participate in a state-approved training program to be eligible for licensure. Licensure can be obtained through the successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination, administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.