PermanentPosted today
Vocational Nurse (Wound Care)
Veterans Health Administration · Palo Alto, CA
$91k–$118k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Santa Cruz, CA
The median licensed practical nurse pay in the Santa Cruz area is $38.26 per hour ($79,580 a year), with the typical range running from $36.52 to $46.00. That ranks 11th of 386 U.S. metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay, and 41st of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Santa Cruz.
- $38.26median pay per hour, Santa Cruz
- $37–$46typical range per hour
- 350licensed practical nurses employed in the metro area
- 110cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Licensed Practical Nurse pay in Santa Cruz, CA
The metro median is 3% above the California statewide median of $37.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.97 per hour. BLS counts about 350 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.86).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $32.16 | $66,890 | 7% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $36.52 | $75,960 | 22% above U.S. median |
| Median | $38.26 | $79,580 | 28% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $46.00 | $95,680 | 53% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $49.56 | $103,080 | 65% above U.S. median |
How Santa Cruz ranks
- 11th of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 41st of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 7th 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 Cruz
- Overall prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville run 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 64% above the U.S. average (index 164.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $38.26 median hour buys what $34.81 buys at the national price level, 16% 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.
Get the Santa Cruz Licensed Practical Nurse pay report
Named employers near Santa Cruz, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Santa Cruz paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,377
- Per year: $68,868
- Per month: $5,739
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Cruz
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $148 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,638 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,294 |
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 Santa Cruz as they open.
PermanentPosted today
LVN
CommonSpirit Health · Woodland, CA
$45.27–$51.06/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
340+ more Licensed Practical Nurse roles for you in California
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PermanentPosted today
Licensed Vocational Nurse, Home Health, Part Time
AccentCare · Petaluma, CA
$87k–$97k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted today
Vocational Nurse-Primary Care
Veterans Health Administration · San Francisco, CA
$58k–$106k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted today
PACT Licensed Vocational Nurse-Ukiah
Veterans Health Administration · Ukiah, CA
$55k–$99k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Licensed Vocational Nurse - Community Living Center - 215-2
Veterans Health Administration · Los Angeles, CA
$59k–$93k/ year
New this week
Hospitals in Santa Cruz
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of licensed practical nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Of Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Santa Cruz County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Cruz, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | 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 Cruz County
HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Cruz County (1 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville, CA | 15 mi | $38.26/hr | 51,320 |
| Cupertino, CA | 24 mi | $44.64/hr | 58,710 |
| Gilroy, CA | 25 mi | $44.64/hr | 60,390 |
| San Jose, CA | 25 mi | $44.64/hr | 997,368 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 27 mi | $44.64/hr | 133,132 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 28 mi | $44.64/hr | 156,792 |
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 Cruz
Santa Cruz city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do licensed practical nurses make in Santa Cruz, CA?
Licensed Practical Nurses in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area have a median pay of $38.26 per hour, about $79,580 a year. The middle half earn between $36.52 and $46.00 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Cruz a good place for licensed practical nurses once cost of living is counted?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville ranks 41st of 341 metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 11th of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.
Where do licensed practical nurses work in Santa Cruz?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, led by Dominican Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Cruz 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 Cruz?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Cruz is $148 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,638 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 Cruz?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Cruz and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Cruz.
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What do employers near Santa Cruz pay licensed practical nurses? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 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
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your LPN / LVN pay reportSanta Cruz, 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.