LPNs remain very important to medical practitioners as they hold a very core aspect of health care services. Are you curious about how much these beloved LPNs make?
In this post, we’re going to be taking a look at how much LPNs earn. We’re also going to look at the top 10 LPN highest-paying states in the USA.
Make sure you read this post to the end as it’ll be very helpful.
Table of contents
- Who Is A Licensed Practical Nurse?
- How Much Does LPNs Make Per Hour?
- What Does a Licensed Practical Nurse Do?
- Where Do LPNs Work?
- What Are The Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for LPN Jobs
- What Factors Affect the Earnings of a Licensed Practical Nurse?
- Earnings in the 5 Industries that Hire the Most Licensed Practical Nurses
- Education and Training
- The Job Outlook For LPNs
- Conclusion
- FAQs On How Much Does LPNs Make Per Hour
- References
Who Is A Licensed Practical Nurse?
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) have similar titles, but their responsibilities are vastly different. Registered nurses have a higher level of education than LPNs and are responsible for dispensing medication as well as administering tests and treatments.
LPNs are in charge of providing basic patient care, such as checking blood pressure and vital signs, as well as assisting patients with eating and dressing. Both responsibilities are essential for patient care and comfort.
LPNs are unable to diagnose or prescribe medication for any medical condition. They can, however, undertake the majority of day-to-day medical activities. They usually dispense medication and do basic medical activities such as bandaging.
In much of the United States and Canada, a licensed practical nurse (LPN) is a nurse who looks after persons who are sick, injured, convalescent or incapacitated.
LPNs in the United States work under the supervision of physicians, mid-level practitioners, and in certain cases, registered nurses, depending on their jurisdiction.
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How Much Does LPNs Make Per Hour?
According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly income for an LPN in the United States is $22.25 as of March 2022.
Your income as an LPN will vary depending on your degree of experience, the type of healthcare facility for which you work, and the state in which you practice—the population and demand for LPNs in that state compared to other states will affect the yearly/hourly salary estimate.
What Does a Licensed Practical Nurse Do?
Licensed practical nurses are trained to perform a variety of tasks that are required to keep patients comfortable while they are in the hospital or other medical settings.
- LPNs are in charge of taking vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, and pulse.
- Notifying RNs and doctors of the patient’s condition and recording it in the patient’s chart.
- Changing the dressings on the wounds.
- Medications are administered.
- Patients are fed and bathed by LPNs
- Following healthcare programs devised by a nurse practitioner or a physician.
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Where Do LPNs Work?
1. Homes for the Elderly
LPNs are most typically found in long-term care facilities like nursing homes and hospice care centers. These are the medical facilities where patients require the greatest support on a daily basis. They will assist residents in self-care, distribute medication, and monitor their health in order to provide information to the residents’ primary care providers.
2. Home Health Care
If a medical practitioner visits a person’s house on a daily or weekly basis, it’s probable that they’re working with an LPN. LPNs in this situation give care similar to that provided in a nursing home or hospice center. They keep track of their clients’ health and assist them with daily duties that they are unable to complete on their own.
3. General Physician Offices
LPNs may be useful in some very busy general care offices to assist patients to have a more pleasant experience. Before the doctor arrives for your examination, an LPN may take your vitals.
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4. General Hospitals
LPNs are primarily responsible for responding to patient requests, administering medications, caring for wound dressings, and making patients feel at ease.
What Are The Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for LPN Jobs
| City | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
| Lakes, Ak | $55,079 | $26.48 |
| San Francisco, CA | $54.524 | $26.21 |
| Santa Clara, CA | $54.145 | $26.03 |
| Washington, DC | $53.540 | $25.74 |
| Paso Robles, CA | $53,454 | $25.70 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $52,971 | $25.47 |
| Fremont, CA | 52,431 | 25.21 |
| Jersey City, NJ | $52.334 | $25.16 |
| Framingham, MA | $52.144 | $25.07 |
| Green River, WY | $52,004 | $25.00 |
What Factors Affect the Earnings of a Licensed Practical Nurse?
An LPN’s hourly rate is determined by a number of factors, the most important of which is where the LPN practices. For example, an LPN practicing in Alabama will earn an average of $17.71 per hour, while an LPN practicing in Massachusetts will earn ten dollars more at $27.79 per hour.
Certifications can also increase an LPN’s pay by broadening their skill set and making them more useful to the team. IV therapy wound care and pharmacology are examples of certifications. Finally, the number of years of experience affects pay, with experienced LPNs earning more than newer LPNs.
You may want to see this: How Long Does It Take To Become An LPN?
Earnings in the 5 Industries that Hire the Most Licensed Practical Nurses
1. Nursing Care Facilities
In nursing care facilities, LPNs work with a care team that includes nurses, nursing assistants, and physical therapists or occupational therapists. The LPN, together with the rest of the team, is responsible for the patient’s care and support. LPNs can do this in a variety of ways, depending on their area of practice.
Passing out medication, doing focused assessments, wound care, and assistance with activities of daily life are just a few examples. In this scenario, LPNs can expect to earn around $47,030 per year.
2. Offices of Physicians
Outpatient treatment is provided by LPNs in medical offices in collaboration with a physician or registered nurse. LPNs frequently meet patients and gather essential information to relay to the doctor or nurse.
They can take vital signs and, in some areas, administer injections such as flu vaccinations or immunizations. LPNs can also collect samples and draw blood for testing, depending on their scope of practice in that state. The average compensation for a licensed practical nurse in this area is $42,470 per year.
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3. Hospitals
LPNs who work in hospitals provide care for patients in a unit alongside a physician or registered nurse. In this function, the LPN is bound by the state’s scope of practice, but they must also be mindful of institutional policies. There may be further limits, or the institution may require the LPN to get certain certificates before performing specific activities.
LPNs in the hospital system provide focused examinations, administer prescriptions, change dressings, take vital signs, and monitor a patient’s fluid intake and output. In this context, an LPN earns an average of $46,710 per year.
4. Home Health Care Services
LPNs who work in home health care have more autonomy than those who operate in other settings. While in the field, they are still under the supervision of a physician or nurse. Patients’ ages and ailments can vary, and they are frequently assigned to several distinct patients.
LPNs can work with newborns, children, adults, and the elderly. Many of these people have illnesses or injuries that make them unable to work. LPNs get to know their patients and their families, and they often develop caring relationships with them. LPNs in this industry earn an average of $46,320 per year.
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5. Assisted Living Facilities and Continuing Care Retirement Communities for the Elderly
LPNs who work in long-term care Patients on a spectrum of sicknesses are treated in retirement homes, ranging from those who are reasonably self-sufficient to those who require round-the-clock care.
In this setting, the LPN collaborates with a team of nurses, nursing assistants, and physical or occupational therapists to provide the best care possible for the patient. They often dispense medication, do health exams, provide wound care, and aid with daily chores. In this context, LPNs can expect to earn around $46,710 per year.
Education and Training
To obtain an LPN license, these nurses must finish a one-year training program that includes biology, pharmacology, and nursing classroom courses as well as supervised clinical experience. The majority of these programs are offered through technical or community colleges, but certain hospitals and high schools in the area also offer them.
LPNs take the National Council Licensure Examination at the completion of their study (NCLEX-PN). LPNs that pass this exam will receive their license and be able to work in their field.
Many Licensed Practical Nurses go on to improve their education. LPNs can obtain specialized certificates in areas such as IV treatment and neonatal care. They could potentially pursue additional medical training to become a registered nurse.
The Job Outlook For LPNs
LPNs have a bright future ahead of them in the next few years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, LPN/LVN jobs are expected to grow by 9% between 2020 and 2030. If you get your practical nursing diploma in the next several years, you’ll be able to compete for an increasing number of job openings.
Conclusion
Considering the value of work LPNs do, it’s quite normal that they earn this much. Although they can earn more. Nothing will be considered too much for these selfless nurses.
FAQs On How Much Does LPNs Make Per Hour
A diploma in practical nursing can be earned in as little as 12 months, compared to typically 2-3 years for an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing (ADN/ASN or BSN).
Registered nurses often receive substantial pay and benefits in exchange for their demanding but rewarding work. In 2019, the median annual compensation for RNs was $73,300, or $35.24 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
According to statistics in the United States, Connecticut is the state that pays the most to its LPN consultants. Rhode Island, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and Alaska are the next states on the list. In the Metropolitan, LPNs can also get the best jobs and pay.
Rehabilitation LPNs are tied for the highest-paying LPN position, with an average yearly compensation of $50,000. These LPNs provide direct and indirect patient care under the supervision of RNs and physicians.
References
- webmd.com – What is a Licensed Practical Nurse?
- nursingprocess.org– Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Salary – 2023
- ziprecruiter.com – How Much Do LPN Jobs Pay per Hour?
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