According to salary.com, the average salary for LPN workers in the United States is approximately $50,316.
It breaks down to an hourly rate of $20 – $29 or a median wage of roughly $24.
That said, how much money LPNs make annually depends on numerous factors.
It includes the state they work in, their overall experience, education, and their employer.
Moreover, income is a wide disparity between the bottom 10% and the top 10% of LPNs.
The bottom 10% of LPNs make roughly $41,483 yearly, while the top 10% earn around $61,116.
The following section goes over multiple factors that affect how much money LPNs make annually.
That way, you better understand what influences their pay and how they can earn more.
Factors That Affect an LPN Salary
As previously mentioned, the average salary for LPNs is determined based on the following factors.
The primary income factors include career background, location, education, certification, additional skills, and employer.
Career Experience
Career experience correlates directly with income level.
Individuals who’ve worked longer and gained experience can command higher incomes because they signify trust.
A more satisfactory career history is also associated with better skills, knowledge, and capabilities.
Finally, some institutions pay more for long-term employees because of negotiated annual salary increases.
Most well-respected companies provide pay raises to dedicated, hard-working employees.
It allows them to maintain employee morale and loyalty.
Location | State and City
The location/state an employee works is directly tied to how much they earn.
According to Herzing University, LPNs in Missippii make approximately $40,340 a year or $19.39 per hour.
Contrarily, LPNs in Massachusetts earn around $60,400 annually or $29.04 hourly.
As you can see, the place an LPN lives can impact their salary significantly.
Nevertheless, the cost of living, state taxes, and overtime determine the amount of money they bring home.
LPNs need to subtract their immediate expenses from their salary to understand how much they earn.
An LPN in one state may make more money than a nurse in another.
However, they may not see any financial benefit once they deduct their cost of living and state taxes from their earnings.
Certifications and Skills
LPNs who pursue additional certifications and skills earn more money than nurses who remain at their current level.
Obtaining further certificates helps nurses show their dedication and prepares them for more advanced roles and duties.
As a result, they’re more likely to receive special assignments, get overtime, and be promoted.
Employer
The employer an LPN works for can dramatically impact their salary.
For instance, busy hospitals, surgical facilities, and emergency wars pay LPNs well.
These facilities are highly demanding and funded to ensure patients receive exceptional medical care.
As a result, they’re likely to pay high-performing medical staff well to keep them employed and satisfied with their work.
LPNs at hospices, nursing homes, or physicians’ offices may see their salary vary widely depending on the employer.
These facilities have different needs, and some physicians independently own their practices.
Therefore, they can determine how much they pay LPNs within state guidelines.
LPN Overview
A licensed practical nurse (LPN) is a general nurse who provides primary health care to sick, injured, or disabled patients.
With that said, some states refer to LPNs as licensed vocational nurses or LVNs.
LPNs are in charge of performing several healthcare-related tasks for patients who need medical assistance.
It includes performing lab tests, keeping records of patients’ conditions, and providing primary bedside care.
While providing bedside care, LPNs will move, lift, walk, bathe, dress, feed, and assist patients with hygiene.
They’ll also administer medication, perform various treatments, and provide other healthcare-related assistance.
Aside from the physical and technical LPN work, having a strong desire to help patients requiring medical assistance is essential.
LPNs must have plenty of patience in managing people needing care who cannot move well.
Being an LPN is just as emotional as it is physical.
Therefore, a positive attitude and a caring heart are vital.
Becoming an LPN
Those interested in becoming LPNs must take and pass an accredited LPN training program.
It generally takes one year to complete and requires students to pass the NCLEX-PN exam to earn their license at the end of their course study.
LPN students must also have a diploma or GED to qualify for the program.
Various vocational/technical schools and community colleges offer LPN programs.
Some high schools also offer LPN courses as part of the education curriculum.
Are LPNs Nurses?
LPNs, or licensed practical nurses, are general nurses.
Unfortabney, LPNs have neither the training nor education that registered nurses have acquired.
As a result, their career advancement is limited compared to registered nurses.
LPNs curious about becoming registered nurses can apply to a college or university offering an LPN to RN program.
It allows them to take further education courses and earn a degree as a registered nurse.
After LPNs complete the required coursework and pass the NCLEX-RN exam, they can work as registered nurses.
Depending on the degree, the RN program takes approximately 2 – 4 years to complete.
However, some take an LPN to RN bridge program to complete school faster if they fulfilled the corresponding coursework.
LPN Job Opportunities
The job market is consistently expanding for nurses of all backgrounds.
Many healthcare facilities need qualified LPNs to provide bedside care and support registered nurses and physicians.
The aid of LPNs allows registered nurses and physicians to focus on more advanced medical tasks and emergencies.
In addition, working as an LPN is a great way to get started in the healthcare field.
It allows aspiring healthcare workers to decide if becoming a registered nurse is the right career path.
Those who decide to pursue further education can expand their career opportunities tremendously.
For instance, registered nursing has over 100 specializations ranging from bedside care to research, legal consulting, and education.
The experience LPNs gain in the field also improves their resume when applying for positions as registered nurses.
Nevertheless, those who remain LPNs can expect their salary to increase as the demand for healthcare workers grows.
Healthcare is an essential part of any high-functioning economy.
As a result, it’s doubtful that nurses will experience a shortage of available careers.