California Median
$79,750
per year
Hourly Rate
$38.34
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+24% vs US median
US median $64,400
State Rank
#6 of 51
82,850 employed here
How much do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses make in California?
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in California take home a median of $79,750 annually — roughly $38.34 an hour — which runs 24% above the national median of $64,400.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $64,390 while the top 10% make $100,450 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $74,840 and $93,720 a year.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,390 | $30.96 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $74,840 | $35.98 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $79,750 | $38.34 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $93,720 | $45.06 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,450 | $48.29 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in other states
Washington $83,150Alaska $80,800Oregon $80,470Massachusetts $80,220Rhode Island $80,090New Hampshire $77,110Arizona $77,070Nevada $76,160District of Columbia $75,740New Jersey $75,160Illinois $75,000Maryland $74,660Colorado $73,880Connecticut $73,690Maine $73,200Hawaii $71,140Vermont $69,930Delaware $68,710New York $67,180Indiana $65,720Michigan $65,460Virginia $64,920Pennsylvania $63,940Idaho $63,800Wisconsin $63,760Minnesota $63,750Wyoming $63,460North Carolina $63,270Utah $63,230Nebraska $62,660Iowa $62,630North Dakota $62,300Texas $62,240Montana $62,210Georgia $62,030Ohio $61,950South Carolina $61,820Florida $61,770Kansas $61,760Missouri $61,530Kentucky $60,460New Mexico $59,330Tennessee $58,870Oklahoma $58,320Louisiana $57,470Alabama $57,030Arkansas $56,620West Virginia $55,360South Dakota $52,750Mississippi $50,220
Working as Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in California
Nationally, about 648,000 people work as Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($79,750) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses make in California?
The median Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in California is $79,750 per year, or about $38.34 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $64,390 at the entry level to $100,450 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses about 24% more than the national median of $64,400. California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $79,750 a year. About 82,850 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.