Licensed Practical Nurse salary in California
Licensed Practical Nurses in California earn a median of $37.10 per hour, about $77,170 a year, 24% above the U.S. median of $29.97. The middle half earn between $33.15 and $41.20 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, at $44.64 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $37.10median pay per hour
- $77,170median pay per year
- 79,610employed in California
- #4of 50 states by median pay
Licensed Practical Nurse pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $30.00 | $62,400 | $23.06 |
| Lower quartile | $33.15 | $68,950 | $26.55 |
| Median | $37.10 | $77,170 | $29.97 |
| Upper quartile | $41.20 | $85,700 | $35.17 |
| Top 10% | $48.00 | $99,840 | $38.71 |
Licensed Practical Nurse pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44.64 | $92,840 | 2,930 | 20% above | $40.43 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $43.66 | $90,810 | 8,290 | 18% above | $37.76 |
| Napa, CA | $39.34 | $81,820 | 320 | 6% above | $34.95 |
| Salinas, CA | $38.75 | $80,600 | 630 | 4% above | $35.54 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38.64 | $80,380 | 800 | 4% above | $35.62 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38.55 | $80,180 | 820 | 4% above | $35.77 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $38.26 | $79,580 | 350 | 3% above | $34.81 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38.20 | $79,460 | 4,350 | 3% above | $35.81 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $37.26 | $77,500 | 430 | in line with | $34.31 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $37.16 | $77,280 | 6,640 | in line with | $33.21 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $36.85 | $76,640 | 740 | 1% below | $33.87 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $36.84 | $76,620 | 1,160 | 1% below | $33.33 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $36.68 | $76,290 | 32,320 | 1% below | $32.30 |
| Yuba City, CA | $36.55 | $76,030 | 280 | 1% below | $35.07 |
| Modesto, CA | $36.44 | $75,800 | 1,030 | 2% below | $35.00 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $36.33 | $75,560 | 280 | 2% below | $35.75 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $36.33 | $75,560 | 8,460 | 2% below | $34.13 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $36.33 | $75,560 | 1,390 | 2% below | $34.57 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $35.86 | $74,580 | 1,480 | 3% below | $35.55 |
| El Centro, CA | $35.46 | $73,760 | 310 | 4% below | — |
| Fresno, CA | $35.26 | $73,340 | 2,380 | 5% below | $34.52 |
| Merced, CA | $34.34 | $71,430 | 270 | 7% below | $34.94 |
| Redding, CA | $34.27 | $71,280 | 450 | 8% below | $34.04 |
| Visalia, CA | $34.09 | $70,900 | 790 | 8% below | $34.15 |
| Chico, CA | $33.66 | $70,020 | 530 | 9% below | $33.26 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Licensed Practical Nurse pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 73roles with published pay
- $35.27median pay per hour
- $28–$44typical published range
- 17employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp HealthCare | 24 | $35.27 |
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 13 | $32.84 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 8 | $39.44 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 7 | $35.27 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 5 | $41.23 |
| AccentCare | 2 | $36.94 |
| Enloe Medical Center | 2 | $40.37 |
| Kaweah Delta Health Care District | 2 | $33.36 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 73 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in California · Licensed Practical Nurse salary nationwide · California state guide · California licensing guide
Common questions
How much does a licensed practical nurse make in California?
The median is $37.10 per hour, about $77,170 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $30.00 and the top 10% earn over $48.00 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays licensed practical nurses the most?
Among California metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median at $44.64 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for licensed practical nurse pay?
California ranks 4th of 50 states by median licensed practical nurse pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you 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.
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The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
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Your LPN / LVN pay reportCalifornia · 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
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.