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Salary comparison

Nurse Anesthetists vs. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses: Who Earns More?

Nurse Anesthetists out-earn Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses by $172K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Nurse Anesthetists land at $236,590 and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses at $64,400. The education gap is real: nurse anesthetist programs typically require master's degree, while licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse programs require postsecondary nondegree award. Top-paying state for Nurse Anesthetists is Alaska ($341,210); for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses it's Washington ($83,150).

Nurse Anesthetists
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Median salary
$236,590
$64,400
Hourly rate
$113.75/hr
$30.96/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$155,250
$49,740
Senior level (90th %)
$339,500
$83,440
Education required
Master's degree
Postsecondary nondegree award
U.S. employment
51,840
648,410
Job growth (10-year)
8.6%
2.6%
Category
Healthcare
Healthcare
Top-paying state
Alaska
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Nurse Anesthetists median pay.

State
Nurse Anesthetists
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Alaska
$341,210
$80,800
New York
$321,030
$67,180
Massachusetts
$295,550
$80,220
California
$292,410
$79,750
New Jersey
$291,350
$75,160
Illinois
$286,830
$75,000
Vermont
$283,060
$69,930
New Hampshire
$275,980
$77,110
Washington
$274,390
$83,150
Oregon
$272,330
$80,470
Arizona
$248,660
$77,070
Maine
$247,470
$73,200
Michigan
$247,010
$65,460
Connecticut
$236,960
$73,690
Maryland
$223,140
$74,660

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Nurse Anesthetists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

Nurse Anesthetists earn more nationally. The median is $236,590 for Nurse Anesthetists versus $64,400 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, a difference of $172K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Nurse Anesthetists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

Nurse Anesthetists has the better 10-year outlook at 8.6% projected growth, compared to 2.6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Nurse Anesthetists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

Nurse Anesthetists typically requires master's degree. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses requires postsecondary nondegree award. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Nurse Anesthetists get paid the most?

Alaska is the top-paying state for Nurse Anesthetists at $341,210/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Nurse Anesthetists vs. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Nurse Anesthetists earn $341,210 vs. $80,800 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Nurse Anesthetists salary breakdownView →Full Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary breakdownView →Best cities for Nurse Anesthetists by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses by take-home payExplore →How to become a nurse anesthetistsGuide →How to become a licensed practical and licensed vocational nursesGuide →