PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
LVN-SNF
CommonSpirit Health · Santa Maria, CA
$33.18–$41.44/ hour
Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Santa Barbara, CA
Licensed Practical Nurses in the Santa Barbara area earn a median of $36.85 per hour, about $76,640 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $33.58 and $39.25. That ranks 23rd of 386 U.S. metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay, and 57th of 341 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Santa Barbara and its metro area. The free report below lists employers near Santa Barbara and what they pay.
- $36.85median pay per hour, Santa Maria
- $34–$39typical range per hour
- 740licensed practical nurses employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Licensed Practical Nurse roles near Santa Barbara
Roles in other cities of the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara area.
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Named employers near Santa Barbara, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportLicensed Practical Nurse pay in Santa Barbara, CA
The metro median is 1% below the California statewide median of $37.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.97 per hour. BLS counts about 740 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, 3.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.89).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $31.11 | $64,710 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $33.58 | $69,850 | 12% above U.S. median |
| Median | $36.85 | $76,640 | 23% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $39.25 | $81,640 | 31% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $46.94 | $97,640 | 57% above U.S. median |
How Santa Barbara ranks
- 23rd of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 57th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 11th 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 Santa Barbara
- Overall prices in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $36.85 median hour buys what $33.87 buys at the national price level, 13% 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.
Estimate your Santa Barbara paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,327
- Per year: $66,330
- Per month: $5,528
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Barbara
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $214 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,142 |
| 13-week assignment | $27,846 |
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).
Hospitals in Santa Barbara
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of licensed practical nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Santa Barbara, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Santa Barbara, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Barbara, CA | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Santa Barbara County
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Barbara County (1 population-group, 8 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 18 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
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Buenaventura, CA | 28 mi | $36.84/hr | 109,831 |
| Oxnard, CA | 32 mi | $36.84/hr | 200,616 |
| Camarillo, CA | 41 mi | $36.84/hr | 69,881 |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | 50 mi | $36.84/hr | 124,229 |
| Santa Maria, CA | 55 mi | $36.85/hr | 111,346 |
| Simi Valley, CA | 56 mi | $36.84/hr | 125,778 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do licensed practical nurses make in Santa Barbara, CA?
Licensed Practical Nurses in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area have a median pay of $36.85 per hour, about $76,640 a year. The middle half earn between $33.58 and $39.25 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Barbara a good place for licensed practical nurses once cost of living is counted?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks 57th of 341 metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 23rd of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring licensed practical nurses in Santa Barbara?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Santa Barbara.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Barbara is $214 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,142 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 Santa Barbara?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Barbara and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Barbara.
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What do employers near Santa Barbara pay licensed practical nurses? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your LPN / LVN pay reportSanta Barbara, 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
- Vocational Nurse (Wound Care)Permanent$91k–$118k/ year
- LVNPermanent$45.27–$51.06/ hour
+ 71 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.