CA · Tulare · Updated October 15, 2026

Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Tulare, CA

Licensed Practical Nurses in the Tulare area earn a median of $34.09 per hour, about $70,900 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $30.10 and $36.72. That ranks 63rd of 386 U.S. metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay, and 52nd of 341 once local prices are factored in. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Tulare and its metro area. The free report below lists employers near Tulare and what they pay.

Open Licensed Practical Nurse roles near Tulare

Roles in other cities of the Visalia area.

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

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Licensed Practical Nurse pay in Tulare, CA

The metro median is 8% below the California statewide median of $37.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.97 per hour. BLS counts about 790 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed in the Visalia metro area, 4.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.13).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$29.43$61,2102% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$30.10$62,610in line with U.S. median
Median$34.09$70,90014% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$36.72$76,38023% above U.S. median
Top 10%$40.93$85,13037% above U.S. median

How Tulare ranks

  • 63rd of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 52nd of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 23rd 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 Tulare

  • Overall prices in Visalia run in line with the U.S. average (index 99.8, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 16% below the U.S. average (index 84.1).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $34.09 median hour buys what $34.15 buys at the national price level, 14% 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 Tulare paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,227
  • Per year: $61,362
  • Per month: $5,114

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

Travel assignment per diem in Tulare

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$131
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,477
13-week assignment$19,201

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 Tulare

CMS lists 1 hospital in Tulare, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of licensed practical nurses.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Adventist Health Tulare
Tulare, CA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes

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

Primary care shortage areas in Tulare County

HRSA lists 21 active primary care shortage designations that include Tulare County (3 geographic, 2 population-group, 16 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 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
Visalia, CA9 mi$34.09/hr146,271
Porterville, CA20 mi$34.09/hr63,517
Hanford, CA20 mi$36.33/hr60,594
Delano, CA30 mi$35.86/hr53,198
Clovis, CA47 mi$35.26/hr127,993
Fresno, CA47 mi$35.26/hr550,105

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 Tulare

Tulare city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

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

Licensed Practical Nurses in the Visalia metro area have a median pay of $34.09 per hour, about $70,900 a year. The middle half earn between $30.10 and $36.72 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Visalia ranks 52nd of 341 metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 63rd of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run in line with the U.S. average.

Who is hiring licensed practical nurses in Tulare?

We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in the Visalia area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Tulare.

Do I need a California license to work in Tulare 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 Tulare in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 21 active primary care shortage designations that include Tulare 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 Tulare?

The federal per diem benchmark in Tulare is $131 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,477 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 Tulare?

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

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

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

Your LPN / LVN pay reportTulare, 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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