KS · Lawrence · Updated October 15, 2026

Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Lawrence, KS

The median licensed practical nurse pay in the Lawrence area is $27.65 per hour ($57,500 a year), with the typical range running from $25.71 to $30.58. That ranks 291st of 386 U.S. metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay, and 205th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Lawrence. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Lawrence.

Licensed Practical Nurse pay in Lawrence, KS

The metro median is 4% below the Kansas statewide median of $28.81 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.97 per hour. BLS counts about 130 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed in the Lawrence metro area, 2.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.64).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$25.14$52,29016% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$25.71$53,48014% below U.S. median
Median$27.65$57,5008% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$30.58$63,6102% above U.S. median
Top 10%$34.11$70,95014% above U.S. median

How Lawrence ranks

  • 291st of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 205th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th of 4 Kansas 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 Lawrence

  • Overall prices in Lawrence run 10% below the U.S. average (index 90.2, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 28% below the U.S. average (index 71.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $27.65 median hour buys what $30.64 buys at the national price level, 2% 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 Lawrence Licensed Practical Nurse pay report

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

Get my free pay report

Estimate your Lawrence paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$995
  • Per year: $49,770
  • Per month: $4,148

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

Travel assignment per diem in Lawrence

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$110
Meals and incidentals per day$68
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,246
13-week assignment$16,198

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 (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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 Kansas

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

All Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Kansas

Hospitals in Lawrence

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Lmh
Lawrence, KS
Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes

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

Primary care shortage areas in Douglas County

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Douglas County (1 population-group, 2 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 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
Topeka, KS24 mi$28.94/hr125,467
Olathe, KS25 mi$30.15/hr149,035
Lenexa, KS25 mi$30.15/hr59,427
Shawnee, KS25 mi$30.15/hr69,724
Kansas City, KS30 mi$30.15/hr156,752
Overland Park, KS31 mi$30.15/hr202,893

Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Kansas · Licensed Practical Nurse jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Kansas

Kansas is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Kansas license by endorsement.

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

Kansas state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Lawrence

Lawrence city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do licensed practical nurses make in Lawrence, KS?

Licensed Practical Nurses in the Lawrence metro area have a median pay of $27.65 per hour, about $57,500 a year. The middle half earn between $25.71 and $30.58 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Lawrence ranks 205th of 341 metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 291st of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% below the U.S. average.

Where do licensed practical nurses work in Lawrence?

CMS lists 1 hospital in Lawrence, led by Lmh. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Kansas license to work in Lawrence as a licensed practical nurse?

Kansas is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Kansas license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Lawrence in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Douglas 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 Lawrence?

The federal per diem benchmark in Lawrence is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 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 Lawrence?

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

Free for every candidate

What do employers near Lawrence 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.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

  3. 3
    Roles open for you right now

    Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.

Get your free pay report

40+ Licensed Practical Nurse roles in Kansas, sent free by email

Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.

Please enter your first name.
Please enter your last name.
That email doesn't look quite right.
Please choose your role.
Please enter your city or ZIP.

Free for candidates. No phone number, no cold calls. One-click unsubscribe.

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 Lawrence, KS
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your LPN / LVN pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Kansas list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • MaineGeneral HealthAugusta, ME · 4 postings$47.83/ hr$32–$63
  • CommonSpirit HealthWOODLAND, CA · 5 postings$41.23/ hr$31–$51
  • Boston Medical CenterMassachusetts · 3 postings$40.82/ hr$33–$48
  • Veterans Health AdministrationSan Francisco, CA · 8 postings$39.44/ hr$27–$57

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Kansas list

2What they are offering now

Low$22Median$31.53High$42

855 LPN / LVN postings with published pay in the US, 720 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 1 LPN / LVN roles

  1. Practical Nurse (Outpatient)Permanent
    $58k–$76k/ year
    Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Fort Riley, KS · posted 21 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
Check my pay