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Salary comparison

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

Registered Nurses out-earn Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses by $33K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Registered Nurses land at $97,550 and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses at $64,400. The education gap is real: registered nurse programs typically require bachelor's degree, while licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse programs require postsecondary nondegree award. Top-paying state for Registered Nurses is California ($140,270); for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses it's Washington ($83,150).

Registered Nurses
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Median salary
$97,550
$64,400
Hourly rate
$46.9/hr
$30.96/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$68,940
$49,740
Senior level (90th %)
$137,470
$83,440
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Postsecondary nondegree award
U.S. employment
3,379,720
648,410
Job growth (10-year)
4.9%
2.6%
Category
Healthcare
Healthcare
Top-paying state
California
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Registered Nurses median pay.

State
Registered Nurses
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
California
$140,270
$79,750
Oregon
$129,010
$80,470
Washington
$124,200
$83,150
Alaska
$109,480
$80,800
New Jersey
$106,500
$75,160
Massachusetts
$104,550
$80,220
Nevada
$103,670
$76,160
Connecticut
$102,740
$73,690
District of Columbia
$102,540
$75,740
Rhode Island
$100,640
$80,090
Colorado
$100,260
$73,880
Maryland
$99,790
$74,660
New Hampshire
$99,700
$77,110
Arizona
$99,500
$77,070
Illinois
$95,990
$75,000

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

Registered Nurses earn more nationally. The median is $97,550 for Registered Nurses versus $64,400 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, a difference of $33K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

Registered Nurses has the better 10-year outlook at 4.9% projected growth, compared to 2.6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

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

Registered Nurses 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 Registered Nurses get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Registered Nurses at $140,270/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Registered Nurses earn $140,270 vs. $79,750 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

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