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Salary comparison

Exercise Physiologists vs. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses: Who Earns More?

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess out-earn Exercise Physiologistss by $5K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Exercise Physiologistss land at $59,460 and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess at $64,400. The education gap is real: exercise physiologist programs typically require bachelor's degree, while licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse programs require postsecondary nondegree award. Top-paying state for Exercise Physiologistss is Washington ($81,310); for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess it's Washington ($83,150).

Exercise Physiologists
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Median salary
$59,460
$64,400
Hourly rate
$28.59/hr
$30.96/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$42,760
$49,740
Senior level (90th %)
$80,560
$83,440
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Postsecondary nondegree award
U.S. employment
8,560
648,410
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Healthcare
Healthcare
Top-paying state
Washington
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Exercise Physiologists median pay.

State
Exercise Physiologists
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Washington
$81,310
$83,150
Oregon
$71,630
$80,470
Massachusetts
$65,950
$80,220
New Jersey
$64,680
$75,160
Colorado
$63,800
$73,880
New Hampshire
$63,590
$77,110
Connecticut
$62,510
$73,690
California
$62,440
$79,750
Arizona
$62,350
$77,070
Maryland
$62,220
$74,660
Illinois
$60,130
$75,000
New York
$59,940
$67,180
Delaware
$57,940
$68,710
Nevada
$55,240
$76,160
Indiana
$49,740
$65,720

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Exercise Physiologistss or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess?

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess earn more nationally. The median is $59,460 for Exercise Physiologistss versus $64,400 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess, a difference of $5K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Exercise Physiologists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Exercise Physiologists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

Exercise Physiologists typically requires bachelor's degree. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses requires postsecondary nondegree award. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Exercise Physiologistss get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Exercise Physiologistss at $81,310/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Exercise Physiologists vs. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Exercise Physiologistss earn $81,310 vs. $83,150 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Exercise Physiologists salary breakdownView →Full Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary breakdownView →Best cities for Exercise Physiologistss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess by take-home payExplore →How to become a exercise physiologistsGuide →How to become a licensed practical and licensed vocational nursesGuide →