SalaryByCity

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses vs Registered Nurses: 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

Registered Nurses

$93,600

Median annual salary

3,282,010 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Registered Nurses professionals earn $31,260 more per year than Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses professionals — that's 50.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earns $80,510 compared to $135,320 for Registered Nurses.

Salary Range Comparison

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$47,960 – $80,510
Registered Nurses$66,030 – $135,320
$47,960$135,320

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileLicensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesRegistered NursesDifference
10th Percentile$47,960$66,030$-18,070
25th Percentile$55,220$78,610$-23,390
Median (50th)$62,340$93,600$-31,260
75th Percentile$73,160$107,960$-34,800
90th Percentile$80,510$135,320$-54,810
Mean (Average)$64,150$98,430$-34,280

Employment Numbers

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

632,430

employed nationwide

Registered Nurses

3,282,010

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 Registered Nurses

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$208,940
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$188,020
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$169,210
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$133,440
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$133,090

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses or Registered Nurses?
Registered Nurses professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $31,260 (50.1% 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 Registered Nurses?
Registered Nurses salaries range from $66,030 (10th percentile) to $135,320 (90th percentile), with a median of $93,600.
How many Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses and Registered Nurses jobs are there?
There are approximately 632,430 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses positions and 3,282,010 Registered Nurses positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Registered Nurses 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 Registered Nurses earns $93,600. 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