CA · Fresno · Updated October 15, 2026

Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Fresno, CA

Licensed Practical Nurses in the Fresno area earn a median of $35.26 per hour, about $73,340 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $30.47 and $37.64. That ranks 48th of 386 U.S. metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay, and 49th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Fresno. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Fresno.

Licensed Practical Nurse pay in Fresno, CA

The metro median is 5% below the California statewide median of $37.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.97 per hour. BLS counts about 2,380 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed in the Fresno metro area, 5.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.23).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$29.30$60,9402% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$30.47$63,3802% above U.S. median
Median$35.26$73,34018% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$37.64$78,29026% above U.S. median
Top 10%$46.91$97,57057% above U.S. median

How Fresno ranks

  • 48th of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 49th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 20th of 24 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (SOC 29-2061), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Fresno

  • Overall prices in Fresno run 2% above the U.S. average (index 102.2, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 4% below the U.S. average (index 95.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $35.26 median hour buys what $34.52 buys at the national price level, 15% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

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Named employers near Fresno, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Fresno paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,269
  • Per year: $63,468
  • Per month: $5,289

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Fresno metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Fresno

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$129
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,505
13-week assignment$19,565

Travel licensed practical nurse assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Licensed Practical Nurse roles in California

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Fresno as they open.

PermanentPosted today

LVN

CommonSpirit Health · Woodland, CA

$45.27–$51.06/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 102006734368
Top 25% payNew this week
View role
PermanentPosted today

Vocational Nurse-Primary Care

Veterans Health Administration · San Francisco, CA

$58k–$106k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 888957600
Top 25% payNew this week
View role

All Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in California

Hospitals in Fresno

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Fresno, 2 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of licensed practical nurses.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Fresno Va Medical Center (Va Central California Healthcare System)
Fresno, CA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fresno
Fresno, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Saint Agnes Medical Center
Fresno, CA
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Community Regional Medical Center
Fresno, CA
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes
Fresno Surgical Hospital
Fresno, CA
Acute careFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Fresno County

HRSA lists 36 active primary care shortage designations that include Fresno County (3 geographic, 3 population-group, 30 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 24 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Licensed Practical Nurse pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Clovis, CA7 mi$35.26/hr127,993
Madera, CA21 mi$35.26/hr69,094
Hanford, CA32 mi$36.33/hr60,594
Visalia, CA41 mi$34.09/hr146,271
Tulare, CA47 mi$34.09/hr72,601
Merced, CA52 mi$34.34/hr96,073

Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in California · Licensed Practical Nurse jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the California board for a license by endorsement before working here.

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Fresno

Fresno city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do licensed practical nurses make in Fresno, CA?

Licensed Practical Nurses in the Fresno metro area have a median pay of $35.26 per hour, about $73,340 a year. The middle half earn between $30.47 and $37.64 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Fresno a good place for licensed practical nurses once cost of living is counted?

Fresno ranks 49th of 341 metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 48th of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% above the U.S. average.

Where do licensed practical nurses work in Fresno?

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Fresno, led by Fresno Va Medical Center (Va Central California Healthcare System). Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a California license to work in Fresno as a licensed practical nurse?

California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the California board for a license by endorsement before working here. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Fresno in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 36 active primary care shortage designations that include Fresno County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Fresno?

The federal per diem benchmark in Fresno is $129 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,505 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place licensed practical nurses in Fresno?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Fresno and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Fresno.

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What do employers near Fresno pay licensed practical nurses? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · LPN / LVN near Fresno, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your LPN / LVN pay reportFresno, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • CommonSpirit HealthWOODLAND, CA · 5 postings$41.23/ hr$31–$51
  • Enloe Medical CenterChico, CA · 2 postings$40.37/ hr$34–$48
  • Veterans Health AdministrationSan Francisco, CA · 8 postings$39.44/ hr$27–$57
  • AccentCarePetaluma, CA · 2 postings$36.94/ hr$23–$47

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$28Median$35.27High$44

73 LPN / LVN postings with published pay in California, 67 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 73 LPN / LVN roles

  1. Vocational Nurse (Wound Care)Permanent
    $91k–$118k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Palo Alto, CA · posted today
  2. LVNPermanent
    $45.27–$51.06/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Woodland, CA · posted today

+ 71 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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