SalaryByCity

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses vs Medical Assistants: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

$62,340

Median annual salary

632,430 employed nationally

Medical Assistants

$44,200

Median annual salary

793,460 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses professionals earn $18,140 more per year than Medical Assistants professionals — that's 41.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earns $80,510 compared to $57,830 for Medical Assistants.

Salary Range Comparison

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$47,960 – $80,510
Medical Assistants$35,020 – $57,830
$35,020$80,510

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileLicensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesMedical AssistantsDifference
10th Percentile$47,960$35,020+$12,940
25th Percentile$55,220$37,610+$17,610
Median (50th)$62,340$44,200+$18,140
75th Percentile$73,160$48,160+$25,000
90th Percentile$80,510$57,830+$22,680
Mean (Average)$64,150$44,720+$19,430

Employment Numbers

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

632,430

employed nationwide

Medical Assistants

793,460

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$92,840
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$90,810
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$80,480
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$79,460
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$78,870

Best Cities for Medical Assistants

CityMedian
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$62,570
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$62,290
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$59,910
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$58,850
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$52,040

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses or Medical Assistants?
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $18,140 (41.0% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salaries range from $47,960 (10th percentile) to $80,510 (90th percentile), with a median of $62,340.
What is the salary range for Medical Assistants?
Medical Assistants salaries range from $35,020 (10th percentile) to $57,830 (90th percentile), with a median of $44,200.
How many Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses and Medical Assistants jobs are there?
There are approximately 632,430 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses positions and 793,460 Medical Assistants positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Medical Assistants to Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses has a median salary of $62,340 while Medical Assistants earns $44,200. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS