SalaryByCity

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses vs Pharmacy Technicians: 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

Pharmacy Technicians

$43,460

Median annual salary

487,920 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses professionals earn $18,880 more per year than Pharmacy Technicians professionals — that's 43.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earns $80,510 compared to $59,450 for Pharmacy Technicians.

Salary Range Comparison

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$47,960 – $80,510
Pharmacy Technicians$35,100 – $59,450
$35,100$80,510

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileLicensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPharmacy TechniciansDifference
10th Percentile$47,960$35,100+$12,860
25th Percentile$55,220$36,920+$18,300
Median (50th)$62,340$43,460+$18,880
75th Percentile$73,160$48,580+$24,580
90th Percentile$80,510$59,450+$21,060
Mean (Average)$64,150$44,800+$19,350

Employment Numbers

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

632,430

employed nationwide

Pharmacy Technicians

487,920

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 Pharmacy Technicians

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$70,740
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$61,990
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$59,960
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$55,810
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$54,740

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses or Pharmacy Technicians?
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $18,880 (43.4% 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 Pharmacy Technicians?
Pharmacy Technicians salaries range from $35,100 (10th percentile) to $59,450 (90th percentile), with a median of $43,460.
How many Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses and Pharmacy Technicians jobs are there?
There are approximately 632,430 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses positions and 487,920 Pharmacy Technicians positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Pharmacy Technicians 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 Pharmacy Technicians earns $43,460. 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