While almost no one becomes a Licensed Practical Nurse for the money alone, it is important to feel like you are being paid what you are worth; understanding the factors that impact your LPN salary can help you make the most of your LPN career. As with any career, there are many variables at play in determining your salary, and it is no different for LPNs or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). Salary is most impacted by place of work, location within the country, and experience.
Workplace Setting and LPN Salary
According to the Beurau of Labor Statistics, the types of employers that employ the greatest number of LPNs are Nursing Care Facilities, General and Surgical Hospitals, doctor’s offices and clinics, home healthcare services, and retirement homes. While the general duties are similar in each setting, the specific responsibilities and roles can vary, leading to a variance in LPN salary.
Nursing care facilities are the largest employer of LPNs, with nearly 213,000 employed as of May 2009. Of the largest five employers of LPNS, nursing homes have the highest average salary. The average LPN salary at a nursing home is $42,320 annually. Since Nursing homes often only employ a few RNs, LPNs often have more responsibilities than in other settings. In addition to standard care of patients, LPNs typically supervise nurses aids, and can even advance to charge nurses over other LPNs.
While there are only 64,000 LPNs employed by home healthcare services, this industry pays nearly as much as nursing care facilities. LPNs in this setting travel to patient’s homes and help them with everything from medication management, to personal hygiene, mobility, and meals. The average annual salary in the home healthcare industry is $42,300.
LPNs in retirement communities perform similar duties to those in nursing care facilities; however, since patients in retirement homes tend to be more able-bodied, the average LPN salary in this industry is slightly less, at $41,950. This industry employs just over 39,000 LPNs as of May 2009.
Hospitals are the second largest employer of LPNs, and provide the most traditional setting. In hospitals, LPNs provide basic bedside care, and work directly under RNs to monitor patients and assist with personal hygiene and mobility. Hospitals employ about 159,000 LPNs, and the average LPN salary is $39,980.
Finally, doctors’ offices and clinic have the lowest annual LPN salary, at $36,770. LPNs in this setting typically bring patients into exam rooms, take blood pressure and weight, and get a general idea of patient concerns. Their responsibilities are fairly limited, which likely accounts for the lower salary. This industry employs about 89,000 LPNs.
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Where to Live to Earn the Highest LPN Salary
LPN salary varies greatly by geographical location. In general, the Northeast and California have the highest annual salaries. Connecticut comes in first with an annual salary of $52,300. New Jersey and Rhode Island are very close in second and third place with $50,350 and $50,010, respectively. California and Massachusetts have the fourth and fifth highest salaries, at $49,940 and $49,760, respectively.
By contrast, southern states tend to have lower salaries. West Virginia has the lowest annual salary, at $32,250. Oklahoma is not far behind with an annual salary of $32,790. Other states with low annual LPN salaries are South Dakota ($33,390), Alabama ($33,490), and Arkansas ($33,750). With a difference of over $20,000 between the highest paying state and the lowest paying state, it is clear that location plays a big part in LPN salary. This is important data to have, particularly if you are considering where to live; however, keep in mind that states with higher salaries likely also have a higher cost of living.
Experience Makes a Difference
The experience of the LPN plays a significant role in determining LPN salary. LPNs with less than a year of experience can expect to make between $27,000 and $39,000 annually. Compare that with LPNs who have 20 or more years of experience and make between $34,000 and $48,000 a year.
Getting specific certifications can also increase an LPN salary. LPNs can become certified in IV therapy, gerontology (work with the elderly), long-term care, and pharmacology.
As mentioned before, licensed practical nurses in certain settings can become Charge Nurses who supervise other LPNs. The LPN salary of a charge nurse ranges from $29,000 to $58,000 depending on years of experience.
Some of the options available to LPNs pay significantly more than others. While you should never make a career choice based on salary, knowing your potential earnings may help you decided between two similar workplaces, or even between two states. Of course, the more training you get, and the longer you stay in the field, the better chances you have of maximizing your LPN salary.
How to Increase Your LPN Salary
An LPN’s salary range is somewhat limit. Educational level is the main determining factor when it comes to a nurse’s salary range. State and federal regulations determine the highest level of care that can be offered is solely determined by education level. The more services and responsibilities a nurse can offer a healthcare employer and its patients, the higher the salary you can demand.
The single best cure to the limitations of an LPN’s salary is by earning an advanced nursing degree. Earn an RN degree and earn an RN Salary. Today, there are many more educational opportunities available to an LPN or LVN. Healthcare degrees can be earned online and from out-of-state colleges. Clinicals can be completed locally. The variety of online RN programs, LPN to RN, and LPN to BSN degree programs is plentiful today and growing.
Additional LPN Salary Resources
- LPN Job Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- LPN Salary Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Payscale.com Statistics for LPN Salary
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If you don't have a doctor's note, or a really good reason, you'll lose you salary
[...] How to Increase Your LPN Salary [...]
I found an article entitled Worst-Paying College degrees posted by Charles Purdy. This hits home for all us college students. “According to recent U.S. Census surveys, the median salary for college grads is more than $20,000 higher than that of people with only a high school diploma.” In this article they listed the highest paying degrees to the lowest. The top five highest are drama (starting annual salary: $35,600; mid-career annual salary: $56,600), fine arts (starting annual salary: $35,800; mid-career annual salary: $56,300), hospitality and tourism (starting annual salary: $37,000; mid-career annual salary: $54,300), education (starting annual salary: $36,200; mid-career annual salary: $54,100), and horticulture (starting annual salary: $37,200; mid-career annual salary: $53,400).
The five lowest are Spanish (starting annual salary: $35,600; mid-career annual salary: $52,600), music (starting annual salary: $34,000; mid-career annual salary: $52,000), Theology (starting annual salary: $34,800; mid-career annual salary: $51,500), elementary education (starting annual salary: $33,000; mid-career annual salary: $42,400), and social work (starting annual salary: $33,400; mid-career annual salary: $41,600).
I thought that this information was shocking, not so much the lower degrees but the higher degrees. I already know that teachers do not really get paid a ton. I mean come on now drama over doctors, nurses, lawyers, are they serious?
Would a job be out of the question?
never found out why guys were so obsessed with breasts. they are just purely ornamental. if anything we should be more obsessed with their vag. It's so warm, wet and tight. Dunno why it doesn't get the attention it deserves.
Thou hast asked thee most importantist question. Thou shalt not fret if thou doest not get the correctest answer.
Hast thou consider that those are merely archaic? Trow not.
I just want to say that I read your comment on Nurses and I really like what you had to say. I am an LPN in the state of PA and I agree, RN's and all medical professionals need to get off their “high horses” and concentrate on what we are all working for …. The Patients and and their families…
Although LPN's can't do a great deal in the ICU, they can be a great asset…
I have an interview on Monday to work in our local SICU and it's my best friend who is a BSN studying to be a doctor that recommended me….her daughter-in-law, who is an RN, also works in the SICU….
There is good and bad in all…I've met great LPN's and I've met horrible RN's…the same goes for doctors….
God Bless YOU…
Please feel free to contact me…
Susan
s1ingram@aol.com
Try going to get your STNA/ CNA, which is a State Tested Nursing Assistant/ Certified Nursing Assistant. You will be able to work in a Nursing home. They pay is about $9-11 hour.
you could always…if you can sing/learn additional instruments or go to school for a bit longer….get like a MAT in Music Education and teach….
Alot of state education departments will reimburse you for the money….
You maybe able to find a job with like a community college with just BM in Music as a Lecturer or even possible as local 4 yr college as a lecturer or instructer.
chat
You line your knuckles up like that so you don't roll your wrists over on all of your swings. Meaning when you roll your wrists you pull off of the ball decreasing your chances of hitting a pitch that is middle out and will more likely hit lots of ground balls!
Your 'old' hair turns white.
we put fruit in it with lots of ice
All this is mostly just a cover for racism.
I only write short stories, but for me it's pretty simple. If I feel compelled to figure out the world in which the story takes place and the characters within, I start writing.
If you don't have a doctor's note, or a really good reason, you'll lose you salary
Could it possibly be an LPN Med Nurse? I know some LPN's are med nurses also, and some aren't… not sure why they wouldn't be though. I was an LPN for 3 yrs before I got my RN. Hadn't heard of LPN+ before, but that's all I can think of… maybe had a bit more training and can do more than the usual LPN can?
Great Post, even though I have some problems with it. Instead of nit-picking point by point I'll just give you a different point of view. While I agree that we have “dumbed down” the EMT class to the level of Junior High, I don't think that the EMT-Basic curriculm should be viewed as a pre-paramedic class. They are meant to be distinct and seperate entities. Our current Nursing education model may be a route to follow. Most college based Paramedic courses follow this model as well. Devote a semester or more to the art and science of BLS. This would include A&P, skills, basic cardiology, acid-base balance, etc. At the end the student would be tested at the EMT-B level. Then, after at least 1 year and 100 patient contacts, they could test to enter paramedic training. Would EMT-B be a pre-req. Yes. But it would NOT be pre-paramedicine. Compare this to the LPN graduating from a vocatonal program who then must compete to enter a BSN program to earn their RN. Are the skills of an LPN a great building block for future RNs? Sure. IS LPN an honorable practice in its own right? Yep, that too.
Thanks for sharing your views with this piece. Hopefully they are the nucleus of a valuable, national conversation.
You can't.
G Because the others weren't allowed to ask and besides, you are not including Zoroaster.
There should be MANDATORY labor certification for even "guest workers" such as H1-B in which the employer is required to show that he cannot get an American to do the work–and Americans should be given specific preferences in hiring and lay offs.
As it is, H1-B employers do NOT generally have to do any of the above. For that matter, now that the DOL has extended OPT to 29 months, employers never have to advertise an H1-B position because they can bring in someone on OPT, get an H1-B for him, and move him into the position.
Well when it's as complicated to score a guy as it is to score a girl, then you can be called a Stud like guys are.
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