For those looking to start a new career, becoming an LPN offers a great opportunity to start their new career. LPNs salaries can be substantial depending on where the LPN lives, level of experience, and job setting. Positions in the health care industry are among the fastest growing positions in the industry. These individuals are valuable assets to the medical community. LPNs begin working in a fraction of the time that other health care professionals do. For those looking for an exciting new career with benefits, becoming an LPN is a great career choice.
What is an LPN?
A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is a nurse who cares for injured, disabled, sick, or convalescent people under the direct supervision of doctors and Registered Nurses. In Texas and California, LPNs are known as Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), but they are the same and perform the same duties.
LPNs who work outside of the United States are known by other names. In Ontario, they go by the named Registered Practical Nurse (RPNs), and in the United Kingdom, they are called State Enrolled Nurses (SENs). In places like New Zealand and Australia, LPNs are called Division 2 Nurses or Enrolled Nurses (ENs).
Licensed Practical Nurses have a number of job responsibilities, including:
- Giving injections
- Dressing wounds
- Giving enemas
- Assisting with bathing
- Monitoring catheters
- Assisting with personal hygiene
- Assisting with walking and standing
- Assisting with dressing
- Feeding patients
- Collecting samples for testing
- Recording fluid and food outtake and intake
- Cleaning medical equipment
- Monitoring medical equipment
- Helping care for, deliver, and feed babies
- Monitoring patients
- Reporting reactions to treatment and medication to doctors
- Collecting information from patients
- Completing insurance forms, referrals, and pre-authorizations
- Giving alcohol rubs
- Education patients and their families regarding good health habits
LPN Salary
According to information taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual LPN salary is $39,030. The middle 50% of LPNs make wages of $33,360 and $46,710 annually. The highest 10% of LPNs earn wages of $53,580 annually, while the lowest 10% earn wages of $28,260 annually.
The setting that Licensed Practical Nurses choose to practice in makes a substantial difference in the salary potential that they can earn. The annual salaries are as follows:
- employment services – $44,690
- doctor’s offices – $35,020
- nursing care facilities – $40,580
- general medical and surgical hospitals $38,080,
- home health care services – $39,510
Approximately 28% of LPNs work in nursing care facilities, 25% work in hospitals, and 12% work in doctor’s offices.
The salaries for LPNs can increase substantially with years of experience. The hourly rates are as follow: $15.95 for less than 1 year of experience, $17.25 for 1 to 4 years of experience, $19.76 for 5 to 9 years of experience, and $19.85 or higher for 10 years of experience or more.
Many of the LPN positions start nurses at $18 per hours. This salary is considered a great starting hourly salary for nurses since Registered Nurses have a starting hourly rate of around $23.
Highest Paying LPN Jobs
The highest paying LPN jobs are in the following areas:
- Massachusetts LPNs earn $22.80 hourly and make wages of $48,180 annually
- District of Columbia LPNs earn $21.85 hourly and make wages of $45,450 annually
- Rhode Island LPNs earn $20.21 hourly and make wages of $43,460 annually
- New Jersey LPNs earn $19.98 hourly and make wages of $41,240 annually
- Delaware LPNs earn $19.89 hourly and make wages of $41,460 annually
- Maryland LPNs earn $19.55 hourly and make wages of $41,462 annually
- Florida LPNs earn $19.03 hourly and make wages of $39,520 annually
- Guam LPNs earn $18.89 hourly and make wages of $39,230 annually
- California LPNs earn $18.27 hourly and make wages of $39,570 annually
- Nevada LPNs earn $18.02 hourly and make wages of $37,480 annually
- Alaska LPNs earn $18.02 hourly and make wages of $37,990 annually
- Washington LPNs earn $17.92 hourly and make wages of $35,680 annually
- Hawaii LPNs earn $17.35 hourly and make wages of $32,590 annually
- Oregon LPNs earn $17.27 hourly and make wages of $35,900 annually
- Colorado LPNs earn $17.27 hourly and make wages of $35,990 annually
- Michigan LPNs earn $17.11 hourly and make wages of $27,280 annually
- Pennsylvania LPNs earn $16.91 hourly and make wages of $34,950 annually
- Illinois LPNs earn $16.90 hourly and make wages of $35,010 annually
- Wisconsin LPNs earn $16.78 hourly and make wages of $34,120 annually
Beginning a career as an LPN holds a great deal of promise to those interested in entering the field of nursing. It only takes a short amount of time to earn an education as an LPN, and nurses can begin earning the lucrative salaries that the medical industry is famous for offering.