NC · Raleigh · Updated October 15, 2026

Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Raleigh, NC

Pay for licensed practical nurses in the Raleigh area centers on $29.76 per hour, or about $61,890 a year. The lower quarter earns under $27.74 and the upper quarter over $33.34. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Raleigh. That ranks 148th of 386 U.S. metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay, and 224th of 341 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Raleigh.

Open Licensed Practical Nurse roles in Raleigh

More open Licensed Practical Nurse roles in Raleigh

7 more open roles from employers in Raleigh. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

PermanentPosted 20 days ago

LPN/LVN

Universal Health Services · Raleigh, NC

Pay range with your report
  • Full Time Nursing 36
  • Req 371140
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Licensed Practical Nurse pay in Raleigh, NC

The metro median is 1% above the North Carolina statewide median of $29.51 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.97 per hour. BLS counts about 1,540 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed in the Raleigh-Cary metro area, 2.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.52).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$24.00$49,92020% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$27.74$57,7007% below U.S. median
Median$29.76$61,8901% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$33.34$69,35011% above U.S. median
Top 10%$37.73$78,48026% above U.S. median

How Raleigh ranks

  • 148th of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 224th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 7th of 13 North Carolina 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 Raleigh

  • Overall prices in Raleigh-Cary run 2% below the U.S. average (index 98.2, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 3% above the U.S. average (index 103.5).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $29.76 median hour buys what $30.32 buys at the national price level, 1% 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 Raleigh paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,071
  • Per year: $53,568
  • Per month: $4,464

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

Travel assignment per diem in Raleigh

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$131
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,435
13-week assignment$18,655

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 Raleigh

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Rex Hospital
Raleigh, NC
Acute careGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Wakemed, Raleigh Campus
Raleigh, NC
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Holly Hill Mental Health Services
Raleigh, NC
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Triangle Springs
Raleigh, NC
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

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

Primary care shortage areas in Wake County

HRSA lists 6 active primary care shortage designations that include Wake County (2 population-group, 4 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 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
Cary, NC11 mi$29.76/hr182,659
Wake Forest, NC12 mi$29.76/hr56,764
Durham, NC18 mi$30.27/hr301,870
Chapel Hill, NC23 mi$30.27/hr64,028
Rocky Mount, NC48 mi$28.98/hr54,541
Burlington, NC49 mi$32.48/hr61,365

Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in North Carolina · Licensed Practical Nurse jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in North Carolina

North Carolina 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 North Carolina license by endorsement.

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

North Carolina state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Raleigh

Raleigh city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do licensed practical nurses make in Raleigh, NC?

Licensed Practical Nurses in the Raleigh-Cary metro area have a median pay of $29.76 per hour, about $61,890 a year. The middle half earn between $27.74 and $33.34 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Raleigh-Cary ranks 224th of 341 metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 148th of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring licensed practical nurses in Raleigh?

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

Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Raleigh as a licensed practical nurse?

North Carolina 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 North Carolina license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Raleigh in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 6 active primary care shortage designations that include Wake 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 Raleigh?

The federal per diem benchmark in Raleigh is $131 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,435 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 Raleigh?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Raleigh and across North Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Raleigh.

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

Your LPN / LVN pay reportRaleigh, NC · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • AmedisysRaleigh, NC · 7 postings$29.42/ hr$24–$34
  • Advocate HealthCharlotte, NC · 33 postings$30.12/ hr$23–$38
  • ECU HealthRoanoke Rapids, NC · 2 postings$27.94/ hr$22–$34

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

2What they are offering now

Low$24Median$30.12High$36

45 LPN / LVN postings with published pay in North Carolina, 41 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 45 LPN / LVN roles

  1. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - Outpatient Behavioral HealthPermanent
    $24.10–$36.15/ hour
    Advocate Health · North Carolina · posted today
  2. Licensed Practical NursePermanent
    $26.00–$33.00/ hour
    Amedisys · Charlotte, NC · posted today

+ 43 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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